Use the Unraid Installer
The Unraid Installer boots on the target machine and prepares a device for an Unraid installation. It can create a USB flash boot device or an internal boot device.
Use this tool when you work directly on the target machine or through a remote or virtual console. For most users who create a USB drive on a laptop or desktop, use the Unraid USB Creator instead.
The Unraid Installer supports the internal boot workflow introduced in Unraid 7.3.
When to use the Unraid Installer
Choose the tool that matches your installation path:
| Tool | Use it when | Where it runs |
|---|---|---|
| Unraid USB Creator | You want to prepare a USB drive from a laptop or desktop. | Your laptop or desktop |
| Unraid Installer | You want to prepare the boot device on the target machine, use internal boot, or install in a remote or virtualized environment. | The target machine |
The USB Creator does not require a display on the server while it prepares the USB drive. The Unraid Installer requires display or console access to the target machine because you must boot and use the installer there.
Before you start
Prepare these items:
- A target machine with display or console access.
- An installer asset from the latest stable Unraid Installer release.
- A USB drive or virtual media for the installer.
- A target disk that you can erase.
- Network access if you use the online installer and need to download the Unraid OS ZIP during installation.
Back up any data that you need before you select a target disk.
The Create Flash Boot and Create Internal Boot actions erase the selected target disk or disks. Read the disk name and size before you confirm the operation.
Choose an installer asset
The release page provides assets for ISO and USB boot paths:
| Asset | Use it when | Network requirement |
|---|---|---|
unraid-installer-<version>-online.iso | You will boot the installer through virtual media or a remote console. | The target must reach the release service when it downloads the OS ZIP. |
unraid-installer-<version>-online.img.zip | You will write the installer image to a USB drive. Extract the ZIP before you write the IMG file. | The target must reach the release service when it downloads the OS ZIP. |
unraid-installer-<version>-bundled.img.zip | You want the installer media to contain the OS ZIP already. Extract the ZIP before you write the IMG file. | The OS ZIP is already on the installer media. |
Use the online installer for a smaller download when the target has network access. Use the bundled installer when the target cannot download the OS ZIP during the installation.
The release page also provides checksum files for the downloadable assets. Use them when your download or imaging tool supports checksum verification.
Boot the installer
- Download an installer asset from the latest stable release.
- Extract an IMG ZIP if you downloaded one.
- Start the target machine from the installer:
- Attach an ISO through virtual media or a virtual machine console.
- Write an IMG file to a USB drive with a disk imaging tool, such as Rufus or Balena Etcher.
- Select the installer device in the target machine boot menu.
- Wait for the Unraid ISO Installer menu.
Select the whole USB device, not a partition. Disconnect other removable drives before you write the installer image.
Use the installer menu
The installer menu provides these actions:
| Menu action | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Download ZIP | Download an Unraid OS ZIP and save it for the boot actions. |
| Set Internal Boot Size | Set the size of the internal boot pool before you create an internal boot device. |
| Create Internal Boot | Prepare one or two internal disks for Unraid boot. Two disks create a mirrored boot device set. |
| Create Flash Boot | Prepare one USB disk as an Unraid flash boot device. |
| Show Network Status | Show interfaces, IP addresses, and routes. |
| Retry Network (DHCP) | Bring up network interfaces and retry DHCP. |
| Connect Wi-Fi + DHCP | Connect a detected wireless interface when Wi-Fi support is available. |
| Shell | Open a shell for advanced troubleshooting. |
| Resize Persistence | Resize the installer persistence area when the image supports it. |
| Power Off and Reboot | Shut down or restart the target machine. |
If a graphical menu is not available, the installer uses a text prompt.
Create a flash boot device
Use this path when the target machine will boot Unraid from a USB flash drive.
- Select Download ZIP and select an Unraid release. Skip this step when a bundled installer already contains the required ZIP.
- Select Create Flash Boot.
- Select the target USB disk. Select the whole disk, not a partition.
- Read the warning and confirm that the disk can be erased.
- Wait for the installer to create a FAT32 partition labeled
UNRAID, copy the Unraid files, and make the device bootable. - Reboot the target and select the new flash boot device.
For USB boot and licensing guidance, see Create an Unraid USB drive.
Create an internal boot device
Use this path when the target machine should boot Unraid from internal storage. This path is useful for direct server installs and remote or virtualized environments.
- Select Download ZIP and select an Unraid release. Skip this step when a bundled installer already contains the required ZIP.
- Select Set Internal Boot Size if the default size is not suitable.
- Select Create Internal Boot.
- Select one disk or two disks. Select two disks to create a mirrored boot device set.
- Select the boot pool size. Use Dedicated to use the disk as a dedicated boot device, or select a fixed or custom size.
- Enter a boot pool name. The name must start with a lowercase letter and can
contain lowercase letters, numbers,
-, and_. - Verify the selected disks and confirm the destructive action.
- Wait while the installer creates the partition layout, copies the Unraid files, validates the files, and writes the boot configuration.
- Reboot the target and select the new internal boot device.
For internal boot questions, see the Internal Boot FAQ (7.3+).
The installer refuses to overwrite the device that is running the installer or the active root disk. It still erases any other disk that you select.
Troubleshooting
The installer says that a ZIP is required
Select Download ZIP first. If the download fails, select Show Network Status, then select Retry Network (DHCP). Use a bundled installer when the target cannot download the OS ZIP.
The installer cannot find a release
Check that the target has a usable IP address and default route. Retry the network setup, then select Download ZIP again.
The target disk is not listed
Confirm that the disk is connected and available to the target machine. For a
virtual machine, pass the disk through to the virtual machine. Select the whole
disk, such as /dev/sdb or /dev/nvme1n1, not a partition.
The installer refuses to use a disk
The installer refuses to overwrite the device that is running the installer or the active root disk. Boot the installer from a different device and select the intended target disk.
The target does not boot after installation
Open the target firmware or virtual machine boot settings. Move the new flash or internal boot device to the top of the boot order, then restart the target.
Continue setup
After Unraid starts from the new boot device, continue with Deploy and configure Unraid OS.
For the source code and current release assets, see the Unraid Installer repository.