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Download and prepare your SD card

CoCo-Pi uses a complete Linux SD-card image. Download it to your Windows, Linux or Mac computer, extract it, then write the image to a dedicated card.

The new site's image download is not available yet. The selected archive is CoCoPi-Community-Edition-64bit-2026-rc1.zip. Its .md5 file applies to the extracted CoCoPi-Community-Edition-64bit-2026-rc1.img. These instructions explain the process; they do not link to an unreleased image. Supported Pi models will be confirmed with the download's release information.

1. Check the image and your equipment

• Use a card reader and a dedicated SD card. Back up anything you need from that card: writing an image replaces its existing contents.
• Choose an image that explicitly supports your Raspberry Pi model. A smaller compressed download does not mean the image will fit a smaller card.
• Have enough free computer storage for both the ZIP and the extracted .img.
• Use a suitable power supply and the correct HDMI cable for your Pi.

Use a 64GB or larger SD card, with 128GB or larger recommended on the original page. The selected image expands to approximately 35.8GB, so a 32GB card cannot hold it. Allow at least 60GB free on the computer if keeping both the 17.2GB ZIP and the extracted image. The older text file's 16GB guidance does not apply to this image.

2. Download and extract

Download the image ZIP and its published checksum information from the release page when available. Let the download finish completely, then extract the ZIP. The file to write is the extracted .img. Do not simply copy the ZIP or the .img into a folder on the SD card.

3. Check the download

Match the filename and algorithm in the checksum information. A checksum for the ZIP must be checked against the ZIP; a checksum for the extracted image must be checked against the .img. Your original CoCo-Pi instructions used MD5 for the extracted image. If that is the checksum supplied with your release, these examples apply:

Windows

Open a terminal in the folder containing your extracted image and run:

certutil -hashfile "CoCoPi-Community-Edition-64bit-2026-rc1.img" MD5

Use the extracted image filename and compare every character of the result with the value in its matching .md5 file. A .zip.md5 or .zip.sha256 sidecar instead checks the ZIP; an .img.sha256 sidecar checks the image.

Linux

md5sum "CoCoPi-Community-Edition-64bit-2026-rc1.img"

macOS

md5 "CoCoPi-Community-Edition-64bit-2026-rc1.img"

MD5 can detect an incomplete or corrupted legacy download; it is not proof of authenticity. Use the published SHA-256 instead when a release supplies it, and obtain the image from the intended release source. If the checksum does not match, stop and download/extract again before writing a card.

4. Write with balenaEtcher

balenaEtcher provides a graphical image writer for Windows, Linux and macOS. Obtain the appropriate version from its official site. You do not need to format the card separately first.

1. Insert the destination card. Disconnect other removable disks where practical.
2. Choose Flash from file and select the verified, extracted .img.
3. Choose Select target. Check the card reader, capacity and destination carefully. Never select your computer's system disk or a backup disk.
4. Choose Flash! and accept the required administrator prompt only after checking the selected image and card.
5. Wait for writing and validation to finish successfully. Do not unplug the reader or remove power during either operation.
6. Safely eject the card. If the computer offers to format an unfamiliar partition after writing, cancel that prompt.

Etcher validation checks the write; it does not replace checking the downloaded file against its published checksum. No card was formatted to prepare this guide.

5. Boot CoCo-Pi

With the Pi powered off, insert the card and connect the display, keyboard, mouse and suitable power supply. Ethernet is a useful first-boot network option. Power on and allow the desktop to start.

If the card does not boot, check that the release supports your exact Pi model, the checksum matched, flashing validated and the power/display connections are correct. Keep the original image and any working card while diagnosing it.

Guide edition: November 2, 2026.