With Apple’s shift to its own custom silicon processors in Macs, there’s renewed interest in running Linux on these devices. The M1 chips powering the latest MacBooks and Mac Minis are based on ARM architecture, which opens new possibilities for Linux support. Although Apple has not yet provided official support for how to install Linux on Apple Silicon Macs natively, the active development happening in projects like Asahi Linux points to exciting potential down the road.

In the meantime, Linux enthusiasts have found multiple methods to get up and running with Linux on Apple silicon Macs today. From virtualization tools like Parallels Desktop to dual booting approaches, you have options to start enjoying Linux on your new M1-powered Mac. In this guide, we’ll walk through three proven techniques for how to install Linux on Apple Silicon Macs.

Using Parallels Desktop to install Linux on Apple Silicon Macs

1. Download Parallels Desktop for Mac from the Mac App Store.
2. Open Parallels Desktop and click File > New.
3. In the creation wizard, select your Linux distribution ISO file. You can download ISO files for distros like Ubuntu, Fedora, or Debian from their official sites.
4. Set resources like RAM and hard drive space for the virtual machine. 4GB RAM and 25GB disk space should be sufficient.
5. Go through the Linux installation process within the virtual machine.
6. When finished, install Parallels Tools for better integration with macOS like shared folders and copy/paste.

Dual Booting with Asahi Linux to install Linux

1. Download the latest Asahi Linux ISO and create a bootable USB drive.
2. Boot your Mac from the USB drive and launch the Asahi Linux installer.
3. Use the Asahi Linux installer to create a partition on your drive and install Asahi Linux to it.
4. Download and install rEFInd to your Mac’s internal drive.
5. When booting, hold Option key to open Startup Manager and select Linux or macOS.

Using VirtualBox for a Portable Linux Environment

1. Download VirtualBox and install on your Mac.
2. Create a new virtual machine, set resources, and add your Linux ISO.
3. Install Linux distro to the virtual machine.
4. Install VirtualBox guest additions for shared folders.
5. Locate the VirtualBox VM file (VDI/VMDK) and copy it to other devices to run the Linux VM.

Conclusion

While official support for running Linux natively on Apple silicon Macs is still in development, the options covered here allow you to get up and running with Linux on your M1-powered Mac today. Virtualization with Parallels Desktop provides a quick and easy path to test driving Linux. Dual booting with Asahi Linux lets you unlock the full performance potential of Apple silicon by running Linux directly on the hardware. And solutions like VirtualBox offer increased flexibility for portable Linux environments. With this guide, Linux enthusiasts can start exploring distros on the exciting new generation of Apple Macs.

Q: Can I install and run Linux distros like Ubuntu on Apple Silicon Macs?

A: Yes, it is possible to install and run Linux distros like Ubuntu on Apple Silicon Macs.

Q: How can I install Linux on my Apple Silicon Mac?

A: You can install Linux on your Apple Silicon Mac using Parallels Desktop for Mac.

Q: Can I run Linux natively on my Apple Silicon Mac?

A: Currently, running Linux natively on Apple Silicon Macs is not officially supported. However, you can use virtualization software like Parallels Desktop for Mac to run Linux on a virtual machine.

Q: What is Parallels Desktop for Mac?

A: Parallels Desktop for Mac is a virtualization software that allows you to run multiple operating systems, including Linux, on your Mac.

Q: Is it possible to replace macOS with Linux on my Apple Silicon Mac?

A: Yes, it is possible to replace macOS with Linux on your Apple Silicon Mac, but this process requires advanced technical knowledge and may void your warranty. Proceed with caution.

Q: How do I boot into Linux on my Apple Silicon Mac?

A: To boot into Linux on your Apple Silicon Mac, you need to create a bootable Linux disk image and use it to start your Mac.

Q: Can I run a different version of Linux on my Mac using Parallels Desktop?

A: Yes, you can run different versions of Linux on your Mac using Parallels Desktop. The software supports various Linux distributions.

Q: Can I run Linux and Windows simultaneously on my Apple Silicon Mac?

A: Yes, with Parallels Desktop for Mac, you can run both Linux and Windows simultaneously on your Apple Silicon Mac.

Q: What is the Asahi Linux project?

A: The Asahi Linux project is an open-source initiative to bring the Linux kernel to Apple Silicon Macs and enable better compatibility and support for running Linux on these machines.

Q: How do I erase the disk and install Ubuntu on my Apple Silicon Mac?

A: To erase the disk and install Ubuntu on your Apple Silicon Mac, you can use the built-in Disk Utility tool or follow specific instructions provided by Ubuntu for Apple Silicon Macs.