Win64 Disk Imager May 2026

Win64 Disk Imager is a Windows utility for writing disk image files (usually .img or .iso) to removable storage (USB flash drives, SD cards) and for creating raw image backups from such devices.

If you have ever needed to install a Linux distribution, create a bootable diagnostic tool, or set up a Raspberry Pi, you have likely come across the need to write a raw disk image to a USB drive or SD card. While modern tools like BalenaEtcher or Rufus are popular, one tool has stood the test of time for its simplicity and reliability: Win32 Disk Imager.

Despite the name, this utility is fully compatible with 64-bit versions of Windows (which is why it is frequently searched for as "Win64 Disk Imager"). In this article, we will explore what this tool is, why you need it, and how to use it safely.

Do not click "Write" – click "Read". This tells the software to copy from the card to the file.

Win64 Disk Imager is a portable, open-source utility for writing raw disk images (.img, .bin, .raw) to removable drives (USB, SD cards) and creating backups from those drives. It’s widely used for burning OS images like Raspberry Pi, LibreELEC, or Ubuntu to bootable media. win64 disk imager

Despite the name, it works on both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows (XP through Windows 11).

Step 1: Insert your SD card or USB drive. Do not mount any folders from the card. If Windows asks to "Format disk," click Cancel.

Step 2: Run Win64 Disk Imager as Administrator. Right-click the icon > "Run as administrator." Without admin rights, the program cannot access the hardware directly.

Step 3: Select your Image File. Click the small folder icon next to "Image File." Navigate to your .img file (e.g., 2023-05-03-raspios-bullseye-arm64.img). Win64 Disk Imager is a Windows utility for

Step 4: Select the correct Device. This is the most dangerous step.

Step 5: Write the Image. Click the "Write" button.

Step 6: Wait. The progress bar will move slowly. A 4GB image takes about 2-5 minutes on USB 3.0. A 32GB image takes longer. Do not unplug the card during this process.

Step 7: Success. You will see "Write Successful." Click OK, close the program, and safely eject the drive (right-click the drive in Explorer > Eject). Step 1: Insert your SD card or USB drive

| Tool | Best for | |------|-----------| | Rufus | Writing images to USB drives (more user-friendly, better UI) | | Balena Etcher | Cross-platform, validates writes, impossible to select wrong drive | | DD for Windows | Command-line, scriptable | | Raspberry Pi Imager | Official tool for Pi OS (downloads+flashes in one step) |

Since a raw 64GB backup is huge, you should compress it:

Click the folder icon. Navigate to your backup folder (e.g., D:\Backups\). In the "File name" box, type a name like My_Raspberry_Pi_Backup.img.