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If you’re a tech-savvy user, you may be interested in installing Linux on your Mac. Linux is an open-source operating system that is versatile, flexible, and widely used by software developers. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to install and set up Linux on your Mac.
Which Version of Linux to Choose
The first thing to know is that there are different versions of Linux, called “distributions.” Each distribution offers a different experience. Here are some popular distributions to choose from:
- Ubuntu: The most popular choice for beginners. Uses a desktop interface called Unity, which is similar to macOS.
- Linux Mint: A great alternative to Ubuntu. You can choose a range of desktops, but it feels more like Windows than macOS.
- Kubuntu: Combines the Ubuntu version of Linux with another desktop called KDE Plasma, which is more powerful and has many more features.
- Debian: A bit more complex to set up than Ubuntu or Mint but offers many features and is widely used in server software.
- Fedora: Tends to be on the forefront of technology, but it crashes a lot and is not great for beginners.
We recommend starting with Ubuntu, but there’s nothing stopping you from trying all the different distributions before settling on the one you want.
Installing Linux on a Virtual Machine
The easiest way to install Linux on a Mac is to use virtualization software, such as VirtualBox or Parallels Desktop. Since Linux can run on older hardware, it’s normally fine to run in a virtual environment inside macOS.
Parallels Desktop is more powerful and easier to install, so we recommend using it. Here are the steps to install Linux on a Mac with Parallels Desktop:
- Download a Linux distribution file and save it in your Downloads folder. The file has the extension “.iso”.
- Open Parallels Desktop and select File > New.
- Choose Install Windows or another operating system from a DVD or image file. Click Continue.
- Parallels automatically finds all compatible ISO files on your system. Highlight the Linux distribution you want to install and click Continue.
- Complete the fields for Full Name, Username, Password, and Verify Password. Click Continue.
- Choose where the virtualization file will be saved in your Users folder, or change it if you want. Click Continue.
- Parallels installs Linux in the virtual environment. Click it in the Parallels Desktop Control Center to use it.
Replacing macOS with Linux
If you’re a more experienced Linux user, you may want to completely replace macOS and use only Linux. Here’s how to install Linux on a Mac:
- Download your Linux distribution to the Mac. We recommend Ubuntu if this is your first Linux installation. Save the file in your Downloads folder.
- Download and install an app called Etcher from Etcher.io. This is used to copy the ISO file for Linux installation to your USB drive.
- Open Etcher and click on the Settings icon in the top right corner. Place a checkmark in unsafe mode and click Yes, proceed. Then click Back.
- Click Select Image. Choose the ISO file you downloaded in step 1.
- Insert your USB stick. The US flash drive will be erased during this installation process.
- Click Change under Select drive. Select the disk that matches the size of your USB Thumb Drive. It should be /dev/disk1 if you only have a single hard drive in your Mac. Or /dev/disk2, /dev/disk3, and so on if you have more disks attached. Do not select /dev/disk0. That’s your hard drive. Choose /dev/disk0 and you wipe your macOS hard disk.
- Click Flash! Wait for the ISO file to be copied to the USB flash drive.
- Remove the USB flash drive from your Mac.
- Shut down the Mac on which you want to install Linux and plug in the USB stick.
- Turn on the Mac while holding down the Option key.
- Choose the EFI Boot option from the boot screen and press Return.
- You will see a black and white screen with options to try Ubuntu and install Ubuntu. Choose neither but press “e” to edit the startup items.
- Edit the line starting with Linux and put the word “nomodeset” after “quiet splash”. The entire line should read: “linux /casper/vmlinuz.efi file = / cdrom / preseed / ubuntu.seed boot = casper quiet splash nomodeset -.
- Press F10.
- Ubuntu boots in trial mode.
- Double-click the icon marked “Install Ubuntu”.
- Select English and choose Continue.
- Select the “Install this third-party software” option and click Continue.
- Click Yes for the /dev/sdb warning.
- Select “Erase Disk and Install Ubuntu” and click Continue.
- Make sure that Select Drive shows the main hard drive. Click Install Now. Click Continue in the warning window.
- Select your location on the map and click Continue.
- Choose your keyboard layout and click Continue.
- Enter the name and password you want to use.
- Click Continue and Linux will start installing.
- When the installation is complete, you can log in with the name and password you chose.
FAQs
Can I dual boot macOS and Linux on my Mac?
We don’t recommend dual-booting macOS and Linux on your Mac because they use different file systems and there are many reported issues. If you want to switch between macOS and Linux, we recommend using virtualization software, such as VirtualBox or Parallels Desktop.
How do I reinstall macOS after installing Linux?
When you install Linux on your Mac, it will remove all macOS installations, including the recovery partition. To reinstall macOS, you need to create an OS X recovery disc with the thumbstick.