# Program\_usb\_boot\_mode

**URL:** <https://forums.balena.io/t/program-usb-boot-mode/32033>\
**Category:** balenaFin\
**Created:** [September 13, 2019, 12:19am UTC](https://forums.balena.io/t/program-usb-boot-mode/32033 "2019-09-13T00:19:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![amangu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b77776/32.png) [@amangu](https://forums.balena.io/u/amangu)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 12:19am UTC](https://forums.balena.io/t/program-usb-boot-mode/32033/1 "2019-09-13T00:19:41Z")

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If program\_usb\_boot\_mode=1 is set in /boot/config.txt on a flashed Rabian distro on the balenaFin eMMC, will the system be able to boot from a USB stick (HOST)?

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**Author:** ![imrehg](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/balena/user_avatar/forums.balena.io/imrehg/32/36_2.png) [@imrehg](https://forums.balena.io/u/imrehg)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://forums.balena.io/t/program-usb-boot-mode/32033/14 "2019-09-16T22:13:33Z")

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Hey @amangu, I was checking out the `program_usb_boot_mode` setting from [the Raspberry Pi documentation](https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/hardware/raspberrypi/bootmodes/msd.md), and that a) seems to be something that changes the device permanently; b) it might be only on the normal Raspberry Pi 3 only.

For the Fin USB boot, there was another question you asked, and sorry for the late follow up, maybe what we’ve mentioned there is somethin you could try?

> [@Boot from USB stick/msd](https://forums.balena.io/t/boot-from-usb-stick-msd/31487/11):
>
> Hey @amangu, we have a work-in-progress documentation how to boot the Fin from external storage. Would you maybe give it a try? [Booting balenaOS on fin without eMMC.pdf](https://forums.balena.io/uploads/short-url/ntULx3i5rAE4GTv7cqrbsXTAboq.pdf) (145.9 KB) Would be keen to hear what’s your experience. Please note that this is indeed work in progress.