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Download openSUSE: choose an ISO and prepare installation
To install openSUSE on a PC, first choose Leap or Tumbleweed, then the appropriate image and architecture. Download from the official project, verify the file and prepare USB media before installation.
Direct links: official Leap 16.0 downloads and official Tumbleweed downloads. To compare update schedules, read the Leap and Tumbleweed category.
1. Choose the right image: offline, network or live
On 19 October 2026, the official page offered Leap 16.0 and separately announced Leap 16.1 RC for testing. An RC is a pre-release. Tumbleweed follows continuous updates: check the available image when you download.
| Image | Purpose | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Offline Image | Larger installation media offered for Leap and Tumbleweed. | Architecture, file size and included software; later updates require connectivity. |
| Network Image | Installation that downloads components over the network. | Usable Internet access during installation. |
| Tumbleweed Live | Exploring the system within live-media limitations. | The project says not to use it for installation or upgrades. Limited drivers do not validate all hardware. |
For Leap 16.0 on Intel/AMD PCs, the CPU must support x86-64-v2 or newer. “64-bit” is insufficient. For ARM or another architecture, check the image’s target hardware: machines in the same processor family are not all interchangeable.
2. Check SHA256 and signature
From your edition’s page, obtain the ISO, its SHA256 checksum file and matching signature. Keep original filenames and check that they concern the same image and architecture. With Tumbleweed, avoid mixing files downloaded on different dates.
On Windows, open PowerShell in the download folder and calculate the hash using Get-FileHash, documented by Microsoft:
Get-FileHash -LiteralPath '.\EXACT-NAME.iso' -Algorithm SHA256Replace EXACT-NAME.iso with your actual filename. Compare the entire Hash value with the matching official SHA256 file.
On Linux, with the ISO and checksum file in one folder, the Agama documentation shows verification using sha256sum -c. Adapt the name to your downloaded file:
sha256sum -c 'EXACT-NAME.iso.sha256'Resolve failures before creating USB media. Checksums compare file contents; alone, they do not prove who published them. For authenticity, also follow signature and trusted-key instructions on your edition’s official page. Do not trust an unknown key merely because a signature can be read.
3. Write the image to USB
Preparation erases the selected USB drive. Copy its files elsewhere first and choose capacity greater than the ISO size. Simply copying the ISO into a USB folder does not create the expected installation media.
- Choose a tool for your system. On Windows, Rufus creates USB media from ISOs and lists openSUSE among supported systems. For Linux and macOS, the Agama documentation above links to project media-creation procedures.
- Select ISO and destination USB. Check name and capacity before confirming. Follow instructions for the image; do not change boot options at random.
- Wait for writing to finish, then eject properly. If Rufus encounters an openSUSE-specific media problem, consult its openSUSE FAQ before retrying.
4. Start installation with a backup ready
Insert USB and use your computer’s boot menu; the key depends on the manufacturer. Before confirming installation, check the target disk, retained or erased partitions and your independent backup. Keep recovery methods for an existing system you want to retain.
Leap 16 uses Agama for installation. The Agama getting-started guide explains its settings. The Leap 16.0 notes also explain the replacement of YaST with Cockpit for administration: a Leap 15 tutorial is not automatically applicable.
Already using openSUSE? Fresh installation and migration are different operations. Read your version’s notes and planned migration method before launching an installer; do not assume it retains files or applications by default.
After installation, apply updates and check essential tasks: networking, audio, suspend, peripherals and applications. Find tools, hardware and backup guidance in the openSUSE profile.