Running Batocera from a USB flash drive is great for testing, but installing it to a dedicated hard drive or SSD offers better performance, more storage, and a cleaner setup.
In this blog post, we will walk through how to install Batocera to an internal drive or external hard drive using Batocera’s built-in installer — without dual-booting or modifying an existing operating system.
- Important Notes Before You Start
- Choosing a Drive
- Booting into Batocera
- Installing Batocera to a New Drive
- Completing the Installation
- Booting from the Installed Drive
- External Drive Alternative
- Final Thoughts
Important Notes Before You Start
This guide assumes:
- You are installing Batocera to a clean drive
- The target drive does not contain another operating system
- You are not dual-booting or multi-booting
Installing Batocera will erase the target drive completely.
Choosing a Drive
Batocera works well on many types of storage:
- Internal HDDs (mechanical drives)
- Internal SSDs (recommended)
- External USB hard drives or SSDs
A 240 GB to 500 GB drive is more than sufficient for most setups, but larger drives can be used if supported by your system.
Booting into Batocera
To install Batocera to another drive, you must first boot into Batocera itself.
- Flash Batocera to a USB drive (temporary boot media)
- Boot your system from that USB drive
- Ensure the system is connected to the internet (Ethernet or Wi-Fi)
An internet connection is required because Batocera downloads the installer image during the process.
Installing Batocera to a New Drive
Once Batocera is running:
- Press Start on your controller
- Go to System Settings
- Scroll to the bottom and select Install Batocera – New Disk
Configure the installer options:
- Target Device: Select the drive you want to install Batocera to
- Target Architecture: Match your system (for example, x86_64 for most PCs)
- Validation: Set to Yes, I’m sure
Double-check the selected drive before proceeding.
Select Install to begin the process. Batocera will download and write everything to the target disk.
Completing the Installation
When installation finishes:
- Press OK at the completion prompt
- Shut down the system
- Remove the USB drive you originally booted from
Booting from the Installed Drive
After removing the USB drive:
- Power on the system
- Enter your BIOS or UEFI boot menu if necessary
- Set the newly installed drive as the primary boot device
The first boot may take longer than usual. Subsequent boots will be faster.
External Drive Alternative
If you prefer:
- You can install Batocera to an external USB hard drive or SSD
- The steps are identical — simply select the external drive as the target device
This is a good option if you want a portable Batocera setup that can move between systems.
Final Thoughts
Installing Batocera to a dedicated hard drive or SSD is one of the best upgrades you can make. It improves performance, increases storage capacity, and removes the limitations of running from a USB flash drive.
As long as you verify the target disk before installing, Batocera’s built-in installer makes the process straightforward and safe.
