How to Install Linux on Your Computer

Linux installation means replacing or sharing your hard drive with a new operating system

Installing Linux means putting the operating system on your computer's hard drive so it starts up instead of Windows or macOS, or alongside them. The process itself takes 20 minutes to an hour depending on your internet speed and which Linux version you choose. You will need a blank USB drive (at least 4 gigabytes), a working computer to prepare it, and a decision about whether to replace your current system entirely or keep both.

The installation itself is not difficult — modern Linux distributions walk you through each step with a graphical installer. The harder part is preparing beforehand: backing up your files if you are replacing Windows, choosing which Linux version fits what you want to do, and understanding what happens to your existing programs and files.

Key Takeaways

You need a USB drive with at least 4 gigabytes of space, a second computer to prepare it, and about an hour of uninterrupted time.
Back up all your files before you start if you are replacing Windows or macOS entirely, because the installation will erase your hard drive.
Most Linux distributions use the same installation process: read an ISO file, write it to USB using a tool like Balena Etcher or Rufus, then boot from that USB and follow the on-screen steps.
You can install Linux alongside Windows on the same computer by shrinking your Windows partition first, which lets you choose which system to boot into each time you start up.
After installation, you will need to install programs you use regularly, because Linux does not come with Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, or most commercial software.

What you need before you start

Gather these items before you begin: a USB drive with at least 4 gigabytes of empty space (8 gigabytes is safer), a second computer with internet access to read and prepare the USB drive, and the Linux ISO file for the version you chose. An ISO file is a single large file that contains the entire operating system — you read it from the Linux distribution's website for free.

If you are replacing Windows or macOS, back up everything you want to keep first. The installation process will erase your hard drive. Copy your documents, photos, videos, and any files you created to an external drive, cloud storage, or another computer. Do not skip this step.

If you want to keep Windows and add Linux to the same computer, you will need to shrink your Windows partition first to make room. This is done through Windows Disk Management (on Windows) or Disk Utility (on macOS) before you touch the Linux installer. Shrinking a partition is safe if you do it correctly, but back up your files anyway in case something goes wrong.

Downloading and preparing your USB drive

Go to the website for the Linux distribution you chose — Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, or another version — and read the ISO file. The file will be 2 to 3 gigabytes, so it may take 10 to 30 minutes depending on your internet speed. Save it somewhere you can find it easily, like your Downloads folder.

Next, you need to write that ISO file to your USB drive using a tool designed for this. The most common tools are Balena Etcher (works on Windows, macOS, and Linux), Rufus (Windows only), and GNOME Disks (Linux only). read the tool for your current operating system, install it, and open it.

In the tool, select three things: the ISO file you downloaded, the USB drive you want to write to, and then click the button to write or flash. The tool will warn you that this will erase the USB drive — that is correct and expected. After writing finishes (usually 5 to 10 minutes), safely eject the USB drive and set it aside.

Installing Linux as your only operating system

Plug the USB drive into the computer where you want to install Linux. Restart the computer and watch for a message that says "Press F2", "Press Delete", "Press Esc", or similar — the exact key varies by computer manufacturer. This message usually appears for only a few seconds, so watch carefully. Press that key to enter the boot menu.

In the boot menu, select the USB drive (it may be listed as "USB Device" or by the drive's brand name). The computer will boot from the USB and start the Linux installer. You will see a graphical screen with options like "Install" or "Try Linux First". Choose "Install" to begin.

The installer will ask you a series of questions: which language you speak, your timezone, your keyboard layout, and whether to erase the disk and install Linux. Answer each one. When asked about the disk, confirm that you want to erase it — this is the point of no return. The installer will then copy files to your hard drive, which takes 10 to 20 minutes. When it finishes, restart the computer and remove the USB drive.

Installing Linux alongside Windows or macOS

If you want to keep your current system, you must shrink its partition first. On Windows, open Disk Management (right-click "This PC" and select "Manage", then click "Disk Management"). Find your main drive, right-click it, and select "Shrink Volume". Choose how much space to give Linux — 50 gigabytes is a reasonable starting point for learning. Click "Shrink" and wait for it to finish.

On macOS, open Disk Utility, select your drive, click "Partition", and add a new partition for Linux. Give it a name like "Linux" and choose how much space it needs. Click "explore".

Once you have created the empty partition, plug in your USB drive, restart, and boot from it the same way as before. When the installer asks about the disk, it will show you your existing Windows or macOS partition and the empty space you created. Select the empty space and tell the installer to use it for Linux. The installer will not touch your existing system. When finished, restart the computer, and you will see a boot menu each time you start up — choose Windows, macOS, or Linux.

What happens after installation finishes

When you first boot into your new Linux system, you will see a desktop that looks similar to Windows or macOS but with different menus and programs. The system is fully functional, but it does not include the software you used before. Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Slack, and most commercial programs do not run on Linux.

Linux does include free alternatives: LibreOffice for documents and spreadsheets, GIMP for image editing, and Firefox for web browsing. You install new programs through your distribution's software store or package manager — a built-in tool that downloads and installs programs for you. Ubuntu has the Ubuntu Software Center, Fedora has GNOME Software, and Linux Mint has the Software Manager. Search for a program by name, click "Install", and it downloads automatically.

Some programs you need may not be available for Linux at all. Before you commit to switching, research whether the specific programs you use daily have Linux versions or free alternatives that work the same way. This is the most common reason people switch back to Windows or macOS.

Troubleshooting common installation problems

If the computer does not boot from the USB drive, the USB was not written correctly or the boot order is wrong. Restart the computer, enter the boot menu again, and look for an option that says "Boot Order" or "Boot Priority". Make sure the USB drive is listed first. If it still does not work, use Balena Etcher or Rufus to write the ISO to the USB again — sometimes the first attempt fails silently.

If the installer crashes or freezes partway through, restart the computer and try again. Most of the time it will work the second time. If it keeps failing on the same step, the ISO file may be corrupted. read it again from the distribution's website and write it to a different USB drive.

If you installed Linux alongside Windows but the boot menu does not appear, your computer may have booted directly into Windows. Restart and watch for the boot menu key again, or restart and hold Shift while clicking the restart button in Windows — this sometimes forces the boot menu to appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo the installation and go back to Windows?

If you replaced Windows entirely, you cannot undo it without a backup. If you kept Windows and installed Linux on a separate partition, you can delete the Linux partition and expand Windows back to fill the space using Disk Management. Your Windows files will still be there.

Do I need a product key or license to install Linux?

No. Linux is free and does not require a license or product key. You can install it on as many computers as you want without paying anything.

What if my computer is very old — will Linux run on it?

Linux often runs better on old computers than Windows does because it uses less memory and processing power. Lightweight distributions like Linux Mint Xfce or Lubuntu are designed for older hardware. Check the distribution's website for minimum requirements, but most versions will work on computers from 10 or 15 years ago.

Can I install Linux from a DVD instead of a USB drive?

Yes, if your computer has a DVD drive. read the ISO file, burn it to a blank DVD using your computer's disc-burning software, then boot from the DVD the same way you would boot from USB. USB is faster and more reliable, but DVD works.

What if I mess up the partition and lose my Windows files?

If you backed up your files before starting, you can restore them from the backup. If you did not back up and you deleted the Windows partition, recovery is possible but difficult and may require professional help. This is why backing up is the first step.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.