Search Help
Search help articles by title or topic

Installing BlossomOS

This guide walks you through downloading, flashing, and installing BlossomOS from scratch.

Before You Start

Back up your data Installing BlossomOS will erase the drive you install it on. Back up anything important from that drive before continuing.

  • A 16GB or larger USB flash drive
  • A modern 64-bit computer post-2010
  • More than 35GB of free disk space
  • 2GB of RAM or more

Download BlossomOS

Download the BlossomOS ISO from blossom.computer. Pick the ISO that matches your GPU: the standard ISO for Intel/AMD, or the NVIDIA ISO if you have an NVIDIA graphics card. The website usually auto-detects your GPU and suggests the appropriate ISO file.

Flash the ISO

Once downloaded, write the ISO to your USB drive with one of these tools:

  • Etcher (recommended): Free, open-source, and available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • ISO Image Writer: BlossomOS’s own built-in USB flasher. Use this if you already have a BlossomOS (or other Linux) machine handy and want to create the installer drive without installing anything extra.

Flashing overwrites everything on the USB drive. Double-check you’ve selected the right device before continuing.

Using Etcher:

  1. Open Etcher, select the BlossomOS ISO, and select your USB drive.

  2. Click Flash! and wait for it to finish and verify.

  3. Eject the drive once flashing is done.

If you plan to use Ventoy make sure you select the GRUB option when booting the ISO file.

Using ISO Image Writer:

  1. Open ISO Image Writer, select the BlossomOS ISO, and select your USB drive.

  2. Confirm the selection and wait for the process to complete. As the data is synchronised directly to the USB drive, it can be removed immediately.

org.kde.isoimagewriter
org.kde.isoimagewriter

Boot the Installer

  1. Plug the USB drive into the PC you want to install BlossomOS on.
  2. Restart the PC and open its boot menu. This is usually a function key like F9, F11, or F12 pressed right after powering on. Check your motherboard’s manual if you’re not sure which key it is.
  3. Select the USB drive from the boot menu.

Live Environment

BlossomOS boots into a live desktop first, letting you try it out before installing anything.

Performance in the live environment isn’t representative of a real install, and an internet connection isn’t required to install BlossomOS.

Open the installer from the desktop when you’re ready to proceed.

Language, Region, and Keyboard

Select your system language, timezone, and keyboard layout.

Partitioning

This will erase the selected drive Make sure you select the correct drive. Any other drives connected to the PC should be safely removed if you’re not sure which one you’re picking.

Select the drive you want to install BlossomOS on.

Dual booting with Windows

If you want to keep an existing Windows installation:

  1. In Windows, disable BitLocker and Fast Startup, then reboot.
  2. Shrink the Windows partition in Disk Management to free up space for BlossomOS.
  3. Run the BlossomOS installer and choose automatic partitioning. It will use the freed-up space alongside Windows.

Installing BlossomOS on a separate drive from Windows is simpler and avoids partition-resizing issues entirely, if you have one available.

Disk Encryption

Disk encryption is optional. Skip it unless you specifically need it, for example if someone else might have physical access to the drive.

If you forget your encryption password, your data cannot be recovered.

Installing

Review the summary and confirm to start the install. This can take a while depending on your drive speed.

Reboot

Once installation finishes, reboot and remove the USB drive as your PC powers back on.

Secure Boot

BlossomOS supports Secure Boot on most hardware. If your PC doesn’t boot after installing and Secure Boot is enabled, either disable Secure Boot in your BIOS, or follow the on-screen key enrollment prompt if one appears at boot.

The password for the Secure Boot key enrollment is universalblue.

Post-installation

Once the PC reboots, you will be taken to the setup screen. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your language, WiFi, user credentials, and other settings.

Troubleshooting

The PC won't boot from the USB drive

Double-check the drive was flashed correctly and that USB boot is enabled in your BIOS. Some PCs also need Secure Boot temporarily disabled to boot from a USB drive at all.

No Wi-Fi in the live environment

An internet connection isn’t required to install BlossomOS, so you can continue without it. If you need it for downloading things during setup, connect via the network icon on the desktop, or use a wired connection instead.