Skip to Content

How Can You Solve the balenaEtcher White Screen Problem? Effective Solutions for a Smooth Experience

Why Does balenaEtcher Get Stuck on a White Screen? Proven Fixes for Frustrating Windows Errors

The balenaEtcher white screen error on Windows 10/11 can interrupt your workflow and prevent you from creating bootable USB drives. This issue often arises due to software incompatibilities, corrupted system files, or hardware problems. Here’s a comprehensive guide to resolving the white screen error efficiently.

Common Causes

  • Recent software updates leading to incompatibility
  • Corrupted or missing Windows system files
  • Disk or USB drive errors
  • Insufficient permissions when launching the application

Solution 1: Run balenaEtcher as Administrator

  1. Right-click balenaEtcher.exe.
  2. Select “Run as administrator“.
  3. Confirm the prompt to grant necessary permissions.

This helps bypass permission issues that may block the software from running properly.

Solution 2: Install a Different Version of Etcher

The white screen error is frequently reported on specific versions such as v1.10.2.

Download an older or the latest stable version from the official balenaEtcher website.

To revert to a previous version:

  1. Right-click the Etcher shortcut.
  2. Go to Properties > Previous Versions.
  3. Select and restore an earlier version, then restart the application.

Solution 3: Reinstall or Update Windows

  • Corrupted Windows files can trigger the white screen error.
  • Download a fresh copy of Windows 10/11 from Microsoft’s website.
  • Use the new installation files to flash your USB drive with balenaEtcher.

Solution 4: Run in Compatibility Mode

  1. Right-click balenaEtcher.exe or its shortcut.
  2. Select Properties > Compatibility tab.
  3. Check “Run this program in compatibility mode for” and choose Windows 7 or an earlier version.
  4. Apply and save the changes, then relaunch Etcher.

Solution 5: Check for Disk or USB Drive Errors

Faulty storage devices can cause Etcher to malfunction.

  1. Run Windows’ built-in error checking tool:
  2. Right-click your USB drive in File Explorer.
  3. Select Properties > Tools > Check.
  4. Follow prompts to scan and fix detected errors.

Implementing these steps should restore balenaEtcher’s functionality and streamline your USB flashing tasks.