# Write the image


> Write ScreenlyOS to a microSD card with the Raspberry Pi Imager, or with any flashing tool from a downloaded image, and pair the screen.
Most Raspberry Pi units keep the microSD card in a slot on the underside of the board. If yours is in a case, open it and take the card out before you start.

You need the card, a card reader if your computer has no slot, and a tool to write the image. [Raspberry Pi Imager](https://www.raspberrypi.org/software/) is the one we suggest, because it downloads the image for you.

## With Raspberry Pi Imager

1. Download and install the latest version of Raspberry Pi Imager.
2. Power off the Raspberry Pi, open the case if it has one, remove the SD card, and insert it into your computer's card reader.
3. If Windows offers to format the card, format it as FAT32.
4. Open Raspberry Pi Imager.
5. Under **Choose Device**, select your model: Raspberry Pi 4 or 5. The Pi 3 is also selectable, though it is [not what we recommend for a new screen](/docs/screenlyos/hardware/raspberry-pi/reference/supported-boards/).
6. Under **Choose OS**, select **Freemium and Paid-For OS**, then **Digital Signage OS**, then **Screenly Digital Signage**, and pick the image.
7. Under **Choose Storage**, select your SD card.
8. Click **Next** to start writing. The defaults are correct, so no customization is needed if you are prompted.
9. When it finishes, eject the card safely and remove it.
10. Put the card back in the slot on the Raspberry Pi, reassemble the player, and power it on.

## From a downloaded image

If you would rather not use Raspberry Pi Imager, download the image and write it with any flashing tool.

1. Download the latest image: [screenly-latest-pi64-stable.img.zip](https://disk-images.screenlyapp.com/screenly-latest-pi64-stable.img.zip).
2. Install a flashing tool. [balenaEtcher](https://etcher.balena.io/) is a common choice, though any image writer works.
3. Open the tool and select the downloaded ScreenlyOS image as the source.
4. Select your SD card as the target.
5. Start writing and wait for it to finish.
6. Eject the card safely, put it in the Raspberry Pi, and power it on.

## Pair the screen

Whichever method you used, the device shows a pairing code on the display when it boots. In your dashboard, open **Screens**, click **Connect screen**, and enter the code.

[Boot and pair the device](/docs/screenlyos/first-device/boot-and-pair-the-device/) covers what first boot does and what to expect.

## How much space it takes

The install itself is around 1 GB, though that moves as we extend the operating system. The rest of the card is working space for the content a screen caches, which is why the 16 GB minimum on [SD cards](/docs/screenlyos/hardware/raspberry-pi/reference/sd-cards/) is about your playlists rather than about the install.

## Always write the latest image

ScreenlyOS updates itself once it is online, so an older image will catch up on its own. Starting from the latest image skips that first round of updates and gets the screen playing sooner.

## Building a player from parts

If you are assembling a player from scratch, [Build your own player](/docs/screenlyos/hardware/raspberry-pi/guides/build-your-own-player/) covers the parts to buy and how to put them together.