Home Assistant has released an alpha version of a new installer that offers a live USB installation option for generic x86-64 computers. This update aims to make setting up Home Assistant OS on mini PCs and older devices easier, though the feature is still experimental.
Previously, installing Home Assistant OS required preparing bootable media and flashing the OS image to a target drive. The new installer provides a full-screen interface, clearer drive identification, and verification of OS images against signed checksums to reduce installation errors.
Experimental but promising
The live USB installer is currently a proof of concept and not a fully tested replacement for existing installation methods. Users must still carefully select the correct drive to avoid data loss. Home Assistant has not announced when this installation method will be officially supported.For now, the official installation instructions remain the recommended approach for setting up Home Assistant OS on compatible hardware.
Source: Notebookcheck, Home Assistant adds new USB installer that could make setting up mini PCs easier
