Live install images

A live install image contains a Debian system that can boot without modifying any files on the hard drive and also allows installation of Debian from the contents of the image.

Is a live image suitable for me? Here are some things to consider that will help you decide.

Flavors: The live images come in several "flavors" providing a choice of desktop environments (GNOME, KDE, LXDE, Xfce, Cinnamon and MATE). Many users will find these initial package selections suitable, installing any additional packages they need from the network afterwards.

The live images come in several "flavors" providing a choice of desktop environments (GNOME, KDE, LXDE, Xfce, Cinnamon and MATE). Many users will find these initial package selections suitable, installing any additional packages they need from the network afterwards. Architecture: Only images for the two most popular architectures, 32-bit PC (i386) and 64-bit PC (amd64), are currently provided.

Only images for the two most popular architectures, 32-bit PC (i386) and 64-bit PC (amd64), are currently provided. Size: Each image is much smaller than the full set of DVD images, but larger than the network install media.

Each image is much smaller than the full set of DVD images, but larger than the network install media. Languages: The images do not contain a complete set of language support packages. If you need input methods, fonts and supplemental language packages for your language, you'll need to install these afterwards.

The following live install images are available for download:

Official live install images for the stable release — see below

Official live install images for the stable release

Offered in different flavours, each differing in size as discussed above, these images are suitable for trying a Debian system comprised of a selected default set of packages and then install it from the same media.

DVD/USB (via BitTorrent) Hybrid ISO image files suitable for writing to DVD-R(W) media, and also USB keys of the appropriate size. If you can use BitTorrent, please do, as it reduces the load on our servers. amd64

i386 DVD/USB Hybrid ISO image files suitable for writing to DVD-R(W) media, and also USB keys of the appropriate size. amd64

i386

For information about what these files are and how to use them, please see the FAQ.

If you intend to install Debian from the downloaded live image, be sure to have a look at the detailed information about the installation process.

See the Debian Live Project page for more information about the Debian Live systems provided by these images.