How-to guide

Reflash to upgrade

You will move an existing SD-card device onto a newer image.

This page only applies when you deploy to an SD-card device.

Upgrading an SD-card device means writing a new image over the old one, on the same card. The mechanical steps are the same as a first flash.

  1. Download or build the new image.
  2. Flash it onto the card. See Flash a card with balena Etcher for the steps.
  3. Insert the card back into your board.
  4. Power on the board.

Caution

Reflashing the exact same image file wipes the card’s saved settings. Build or download a new image first, even for a same-version reflash, if you want your settings to survive.

See Why credentials survive a reflash for the full explanation of why this happens.

Once the board is back up, confirm it started correctly. See Is it healthy?.