# Zero 2 W won't boot - 7 flashes

**URL:** <https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/zero-2-w-wont-boot-7-flashes/28644>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [January 27, 2026, 9:52am UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/zero-2-w-wont-boot-7-flashes/28644 "2026-01-27T09:52:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pootle42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@pootle42](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/pootle42)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 9:52am UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/zero-2-w-wont-boot-7-flashes/28644/1 "2026-01-27T09:52:49Z")

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Just bought 2 zero 2 W’s and 2 uSD cards, neither will boot - just instantly go into 7 flashes mode. Bit baffled, seems strange they should both be doa, but there seems so little I could be doing wrong.

I re-imaged 1 card with raspberry pi OS lite - no change. I tried a card that works in a pi3 B+ and the same. Pu the card back in the 3B+ and it boots no problem.

 ![20260127_0939071](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/pimoroni/original/2X/d/d2c8ae76441d7fdb2eb7675ba38b909cc9017ffe.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 10:44am UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/zero-2-w-wont-boot-7-flashes/28644/2 "2026-01-27T10:44:42Z")

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Latest version of the raspberry pi imager?  
You can download an image file and flash that. It saves the Pi imager from having to get it online.  
[Raspberry Pi OS downloads – Raspberry Pi](https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/operating-systems/)  
Also have a look see here,  
[STICKY: Is your Pi not booting? (The Boot Problems Sticky) - Raspberry Pi Forums](https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=58151)

- 7 flashes: kernel.img not found

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**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 10:47am UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/zero-2-w-wont-boot-7-flashes/28644/3 "2026-01-27T10:47:57Z")

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The Pi in your posted image is a Zero W, not a **2** W.  
[Buy a Raspberry Pi Zero W – Raspberry Pi](https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-zero-w/)

If your flashing the 64 bit version of Pi OS, try 32 bit instead.

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**Author:** ![pootle42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@pootle42](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/pootle42)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 1:47pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/zero-2-w-wont-boot-7-flashes/28644/4 "2026-01-27T13:47:45Z")

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Dammmit you’re right, Managed to order 2 X zero W and not zero 2 W. Dunno how I managed that!

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**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 3:37pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/zero-2-w-wont-boot-7-flashes/28644/5 "2026-01-27T15:37:05Z")

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That sucks, but at least what you bought is usable.