What happens when you install Linux

Installing Linux means replacing your current operating system — Windows or macOS — with a different one, or running Linux alongside your existing system on the same machine. Linux is free software that you read and install yourself, not something you buy from a store. When you install it, you are taking control of what runs on your computer instead of relying on Microsoft or Apple to manage updates and security decisions for you.

The installation process itself is straightforward: you create a bootable USB drive or DVD, restart your computer to boot from that drive, and follow the installer's prompts to choose where Linux goes and how much space it uses. Most modern Linux installers walk you through each step in plain language. The whole process usually takes 20 to 45 minutes, depending on your internet speed and how many choices you make along the way.

Before you start, understand that installing Linux will change how your computer works. Programs you use on Windows — like Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, or many games — may not run on Linux. Some do, some have Linux alternatives, and some do not exist for Linux at all. This is the main reason people hesitate, and it is worth checking before you commit.

Key Takeaways

  • Linux installation requires a bootable USB drive or DVD, a computer with at least 20 gigabytes of free space, and about 30 minutes of uninterrupted time.
  • You can install Linux as your only operating system, or set it up to run alongside Windows or macOS by splitting your hard drive into separate sections.
  • Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Fedora are the most common starting points for people new to Linux, and each has a different feel and philosophy.
  • After installation, you will need to learn where programs are located, how to install new software, and how to use the command line for some tasks.
  • Check whether the programs you use daily have Linux versions or alternatives before you install, because switching back is possible but time-consuming.

Choosing a Linux distribution and checking your hardware

A Linux distribution is a packaged version of Linux with its own installer, software store, and default programs. Think of it as a flavor of Linux. Ubuntu is the most widely used and has the most online help available. Linux Mint is simpler and feels closer to Windows. Fedora is more cutting-edge and updates more frequently. For someone coming from Windows or macOS, Ubuntu or Linux Mint are the gentler starting points.

Before you read anything, check that your computer meets the basic requirements. Linux runs on older hardware than Windows does, but you still need at least 2 gigabytes of RAM and 20 gigabytes of free hard drive space. If your computer is very old — more than 15 years — or very low-spec, a lightweight distribution like Linux Mint Xfce or Lubuntu might work better than Ubuntu. You can look up your computer's RAM and hard drive space in your system settings without installing anything.

Also check whether your computer's wireless card and printer are known to work with Linux. Some hardware manufacturers do not provide Linux drivers, and you will discover this only after installation. Search online for your exact computer model plus "Linux compatibility" or visit the Ubuntu hardware database. This step takes 10 minutes and saves you frustration later.

Creating a bootable USB drive

You cannot install Linux by double-clicking a downloaded file the way you install Windows programs. Instead, you create a bootable USB drive — a USB stick that your computer can start up from, just like a DVD installer. To do this, you need a USB drive with at least 8 gigabytes of space (it will be erased), a computer that can write to USB drives, and free software called Balena Etcher.

read Balena Etcher from balena.io/etcher and install it on your current computer — the one you are using right now, not the one you plan to install Linux on. Then read the Linux distribution you chose — go to ubuntu.com, linuxmint.com, or getfedora.org and read the standard desktop version. The file will be about 2 to 3 gigabytes and will take 10 to 30 minutes depending on your internet speed.

Plug in your USB drive, open Balena Etcher, and select the Linux file you downloaded. Etcher will ask you to choose the USB drive — be careful here, because selecting the wrong drive will erase it. Choose your USB drive, not your main hard drive. Click Flash and wait for the process to finish. Your USB drive is now bootable and ready to use.

Installing Linux on your computer

Plug the bootable USB drive into the computer where you want to install Linux. Restart the computer and watch for a message that says "Press F2" or "Press Delete" or "Press Escape" to enter the boot menu — the exact key varies by manufacturer. If you miss it, restart again and watch more carefully. You are looking for a brief message before Windows or macOS starts loading.

In the boot menu, select your USB drive from the list. The computer will start up from the USB drive instead of your hard drive, and you will see the Linux installer. The installer will ask you a series of questions: which language you speak, your timezone, your keyboard layout, and how you want to set up your hard drive.

The hard drive question is the most important one. If you want Linux to be your only operating system, choose "Erase disk and install Linux" — this will wipe everything on that drive and replace it with Linux. If you want to keep Windows or macOS and run Linux alongside it, choose "Install Linux alongside" or "Manual partitioning" — this splits your hard drive into separate sections for each operating system. The installer will guide you through the space allocation. After you answer these questions, the installer will copy files to your drive, which takes 10 to 20 minutes depending on your drive speed.

What to do after installation is complete

When the installer finishes, it will ask you to remove the USB drive and restart. Do that, and your computer will boot into Linux for the first time. You will see a login screen where you enter the username and password you created during installation. After you log in, you will see the desktop — a blank screen with a taskbar or menu, depending on which distribution you chose.

Your first tasks are to connect to the internet, update your system, and install the programs you need. Most distributions have a Software Center or App Store where you can search for and install programs by name — search for Firefox, GIMP, LibreOffice, or whatever you need. Some programs are in the official store, and some require you to add a repository or read from a website. This is where the learning curve starts, because the process is different from Windows.

Set aside time to explore. Open the file manager to see how files are organized. Look for a terminal process — this is the command line, and you will need it for some tasks. Read the distribution's official documentation, which is usually linked from the desktop or available through the Help menu. Most Linux communities are helpful to beginners, and searching for your specific question plus the distribution name usually finds an answer.

Dual-booting: running Linux and Windows on the same computer

If you chose to install Linux alongside Windows, your computer will now show a boot menu every time you start up. You will see options like "Ubuntu" and "Windows" and can choose which one to load. This is called dual-booting. The boot menu usually appears for a few seconds, and you select your choice with arrow keys and Enter.

Dual-booting lets you test Linux without committing to it fully. You can use Linux for everyday tasks and boot into Windows when you need a program that only runs there. The tradeoff is that your hard drive is split between two operating systems, so each one has less space. If you allocated 100 gigabytes to Linux and 100 gigabytes to Windows on a 250-gigabyte drive, you cannot easily change those numbers later without reinstalling.

If you decide you want to remove Linux and go back to Windows only, you can do that — it requires booting from a Windows installation USB and reclaiming the space Linux used. This is possible but takes time and carries a small risk of data loss if something goes wrong. For this reason, dual-booting is best as a temporary test, not a permanent setup.

Common problems and how to fix them

If your computer will not boot from the USB drive, restart and try pressing a different key to enter the boot menu — common keys are F12, F2, Delete, and Escape. If the boot menu does not show your USB drive at all, the drive may not have been created correctly. Plug it into another computer, run Balena Etcher again, and reflash it. If you still see the old operating system starting up, you may need to change the boot order in your BIOS settings, which is more advanced — search for your computer model plus "change boot order" for specific steps.

If the installer crashes or freezes, restart the computer and try again. If it crashes at the same point every time, your USB drive may be corrupted. Create a new bootable drive and try once more. If your wireless card does not work after installation, you may need to install a driver from the command line — search for your wireless card model plus "Linux driver" to find instructions specific to your hardware.

If you installed Linux alongside Windows and the boot menu disappeared, Windows may have overwritten the boot settings. You can fix this by booting from your Linux USB drive again, choosing "Try Linux without installing," and running a tool called Boot Repair. Search for "Boot Repair Linux" for detailed instructions.

Learning the Linux command line

Linux relies more on the command line than Windows or macOS do. The command line is a text interface where you type commands instead of clicking buttons. Many Linux tasks — installing software, managing files, changing settings — are faster or only possible from the command line. You do not need to become an informed, but learning a few basic commands makes Linux much less frustrating.

Open the Terminal process from your menu or process launcher. You will see a black window with a prompt that looks like username@computer:~$. Type ls and press Enter to list the files in your current folder. Type cd Documents to move into the Documents folder. Type pwd to see where you are. These three commands — ls, cd, and pwd — let you navigate your file system from the command line.

To install software from the command line, you use a package manager. On Ubuntu and Debian-based distributions, the command is sudo apt install programname. On Fedora, it is sudo dnf install programname. The sudo part means "do this as an administrator" and will ask for your password. Learning these basics takes a few hours of practice, and there are hundreds of free tutorials online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I go back to Windows after installing Linux?

Yes. If you installed Linux as your only operating system, boot from a Windows installation USB and reinstall Windows — this will erase Linux and restore your original setup. If you dual-booted, you can delete the Linux partition and expand Windows to use the freed space, though this requires a tool like GParted and carries some risk. Backing up your important files before you start is wise.

Will my printer work with Linux?

Many printers work automatically — plug them in and Linux finds them. Some require you to read a driver from the manufacturer's website or install it from the command line. A few older or very specialized printers have no Linux driver at all. Search for your exact printer model plus "Linux" before you install to know what to expect.

Do I need to pay for Linux?

No. Linux itself is free, and most software in the Linux software stores is also free. Some commercial software costs money, but the vast majority of what you need — web browsers, office suites, media players, image editors — is available for free.

What if I get stuck during installation?

Stop and search for your specific error message plus the name of the distribution you are installing. Linux communities are active and helpful, and your exact problem has usually been solved before. The Ubuntu Forums and Linux Mint Forums are good starting points. You can also restart and try the installation again — there is no penalty for stopping partway through.

Can I install Linux on a Mac?

Yes, but it is more complicated than on a PC. Macs use a different boot system called EFI, and some newer Macs with Apple Silicon chips have additional restrictions. If you have an Intel-based Mac, the process is similar to a PC — create a bootable USB and boot from it. If you have an Apple Silicon Mac, Linux support is still developing and may not work smoothly. Check your specific Mac model's compatibility before you start.