Kernel panic - not syncing
Raspberry Pi Single-Board Computer
Severity: CriticalWhat Does This Error Mean?
Kernel panic means the Linux kernel encountered a fatal error and cannot continue. The most common causes on a Pi are a corrupted SD card, insufficient power, or a bad kernel update. Try re-flashing the SD card with a fresh Raspberry Pi OS image.
Affected Models
- Raspberry Pi 5
- Raspberry Pi 4B
- Raspberry Pi 3B+
- Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
- Raspberry Pi 400
Common Causes
- Corrupted SD card — the most common cause
- Insufficient power supply — the Pi needs at least 3A for Pi 4/5
- Failed kernel or system update leaving an unbootable system
- Overclocking instability
- Bad USB device causing a driver crash at boot
How to Fix It
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Re-flash the SD card using Raspberry Pi Imager.
Download Raspberry Pi Imager from the official site. Select your Pi model, choose Raspberry Pi OS, and flash to a fresh SD card. This is the fastest and most reliable fix.
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Try a different SD card.
Cheap or worn SD cards develop bad sectors that cause kernel panics. Use a name-brand card (SanDisk, Samsung) rated A1 or A2.
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Use the official power supply.
Raspberry Pi 4: USB-C, 5V 3A (15W). Raspberry Pi 5: USB-C, 5V 5A (25W). Underpowered supplies cause random crashes, including kernel panics.
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Disconnect all USB devices and try booting with just the Pi, power, and SD card.
A faulty USB device can crash the kernel during boot. If the Pi boots without USB devices, reconnect them one at a time to find the culprit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover files from a Pi that kernel panics?
Sometimes. Put the SD card in another Linux computer (or use a USB SD reader on another Pi). If the filesystem is not too corrupted, you can copy your files off before re-flashing.
Does the Raspberry Pi support booting from USB instead of SD?
Yes. Pi 3B+ and later can boot from USB drives or SSDs. USB/SSD boot is more reliable than SD cards for always-on projects. Configure USB boot in raspi-config under Advanced Options.