Install Linux on M1 MacBook: Step-by-Step Guide for Easy Installation
Are you a proud owner of an M1 MacBook and want to explore the world of Linux? Look no further! In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of installing Linux on your M1 MacBook. Whether you’re a developer, a tech enthusiast, or simply curious about the Linux operating system, this guide will help you get started with ease.
1. Prepare a USB drive
The first step in installing Linux on your M1 MacBook is to prepare a USB drive with at least 16GB of storage. This USB drive will be used to create a bootable installer for the Linux distribution of your choice. Make sure to back up any important data on the USB drive, as it will be formatted during the process.
2. Download the Linux distribution
Next, you’ll need to download the Linux distribution that you want to install on your M1 MacBook. There are several popular distributions available, such as Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian, all of which have ARM64 versions compatible with the M1 architecture. Visit the official website of your chosen distribution and download the ARM64 version.
3. Connect the USB drive to your M1 MacBook
Once you have downloaded the Linux distribution, connect the USB drive to your M1 MacBook. Ensure that the USB drive is properly recognized by your MacBook before proceeding to the next step.
4. Open Terminal
To perform the necessary steps for creating a bootable installer, you’ll need to open Terminal on your M1 MacBook. You can do this by searching for “Terminal” in Spotlight or by navigating to the Utilities folder in the Applications folder.
5. Identify the disk identifier of the USB drive
In Terminal, run the command diskutil list to display a list of all connected disks and their identifiers. Look for the entry that corresponds to your USB drive and make note of its disk identifier (e.g., /dev/disk2).
6. Unmount the USB drive
Before proceeding with the installation process, you need to unmount the USB drive. Run the command diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX (replace X with the disk identifier of the USB drive) to unmount the USB drive.
7. Download and install Raspberry Pi Imager
To create a bootable installer for the Linux distribution, we will be using the Raspberry Pi Imager tool. Download and install Raspberry Pi Imager from the official website (https://www.raspberrypi.org/software/) by following the provided instructions.
8. Open Raspberry Pi Imager and choose OS
Once Raspberry Pi Imager is installed, open the application. You will be presented with a list of operating systems to choose from. Scroll down and select “Use custom” to manually select the Linux distribution image that you downloaded earlier.
9. Select “Use custom” and choose the Linux distribution image
After selecting “Use custom,” navigate to the location where you downloaded the Linux distribution image and choose it. Raspberry Pi Imager will now use this image to create the bootable installer.
10. Choose the USB drive as the target storage
In Raspberry Pi Imager, select the USB drive that you connected to your MacBook as the target storage for the bootable installer. Double-check that you have selected the correct USB drive, as all data on it will be erased during the process.
11. Write the Linux image to the USB drive
Click the “Write” button in Raspberry Pi Imager to start the process of writing the Linux image to the USB drive. This may take a few minutes, so be patient and let the process complete.
12. Close Raspberry Pi Imager
Once the write process is complete, close Raspberry Pi Imager. You now have a bootable installer for the Linux distribution on your USB drive.
13. Restart your MacBook and enter startup options
Restart your M1 MacBook and hold down the power button until the startup options appear. This will allow you to choose the bootable installer from the USB drive.
14. Boot into macOS Recovery
In the startup options, select “Options” and then “Continue” to boot into macOS Recovery. This will provide you with the necessary tools to modify the startup security settings of your MacBook.
15. Open Startup Security Utility
In macOS Recovery, select “Utilities” from the menu bar and then choose “Startup Security Utility.” This utility allows you to modify the security settings of your MacBook.
16. Disable Secure Boot and set Full Security to No Security
In the Startup Security Utility, enter your administrator password if prompted. Then, disable “Secure Boot” and set “Full Security” to “No Security.” These settings are necessary to allow the installation of Linux on your M1 MacBook.
17. Restart your MacBook and enter startup options again
Restart your MacBook once again and hold down the power button until the startup options appear. This time, we need to enter startup options to disable System Integrity Protection (SIP).
18. Boot into macOS Recovery
In the startup options, select “Options” and then “Continue” to boot into macOS Recovery once again.
19. Open Terminal
In macOS Recovery, select “Utilities” from the menu bar and then choose “Terminal.” This will open a Terminal window where we can disable SIP.
20. Disable System Integrity Protection (SIP)
In Terminal, run the command csrutil disable to disable System Integrity Protection (SIP). This step is necessary to allow the installation of Linux on your M1 MacBook.
21. Restart your MacBook normally
After disabling SIP, restart your MacBook normally. This will ensure that the changes take effect.
22. Connect the USB drive to your MacBook
Once your MacBook has restarted, connect the USB drive with the bootable installer to your MacBook.
23. Open Terminal
Open Terminal on your MacBook to perform the necessary steps for installing Linux.
24. Identify the disk identifier of the USB drive
In Terminal, run the command diskutil list to display a list of all connected disks and their identifiers. Find the entry that corresponds to your USB drive and make note of its disk identifier (e.g., /dev/disk2).
25. Unmount the USB drive
Before proceeding with the installation, unmount the USB drive by running the command diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX (replace X with the disk identifier of the USB drive).
26. Write the Linux image to the USB drive using the dd command
Using the Terminal, run the command sudo dd if=/path/to/linux/image.img of=/dev/rdiskX bs=1m to write the Linux image to the USB drive. Replace “/path/to/linux/image.img” with the actual path to the Linux image file, and X with the disk identifier of the USB drive.
27. Wait for the command to complete
Be patient and wait for the dd command to complete. This process may take some time, depending on the size of the Linux image and the speed of your USB drive.
28. Restart your MacBook and enter startup options
Restart your MacBook once again and hold down the Option key until the startup options appear. This will allow you to choose the bootable installer from the USB drive.
29. Select the Linux bootable USB drive
In the startup options, select the bootable installer for the Linux distribution from the USB drive. This will initiate the installation process.
30. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Linux
Follow the on-screen instructions provided by the Linux distribution’s installer to complete the installation process. Make sure to select the appropriate options and settings according to your preferences.
31. Restart your MacBook after the installation
Once the installation is complete, restart your MacBook. This will allow the changes to take effect and boot into the newly installed Linux operating system.
32. Choose between macOS and Linux during startup
During startup, press and hold the Option key to enter the startup options. From there, you can choose between macOS and Linux as the desired operating system to boot into.
33. Select the desired operating system to boot into
Select the operating system you want to use and enjoy your M1 MacBook with Linux installed! You can now explore the Linux ecosystem, run Linux-specific software, and take advantage of the flexibility and customization options that Linux offers.
Installing Linux on your M1 MacBook opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Whether you’re a developer looking to work with Linux-based tools or simply curious about the Linux operating system, this step-by-step guide provides you with the necessary instructions to get started. Follow the outlined steps carefully, and soon you’ll be enjoying the power and versatility of Linux on your M1 MacBook.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I dual boot macOS and Linux on my M1 MacBook?
Yes, you can dual boot macOS and Linux on your M1 MacBook. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a bootable installer for Linux and choose between macOS and Linux during startup.
2. Can I switch back to macOS after installing Linux?
Absolutely! You can switch back to macOS after installing Linux on your M1 MacBook. During startup, you can choose macOS as the desired operating system to boot into.
3. Can I update the Linux distribution on my M1 MacBook?
Yes, you can update the Linux distribution on your M1 MacBook just like you would on any other system. Most Linux distributions have built-in update mechanisms that allow you to easily update the system and installed packages.
