How to Install Arch Linux from a USB Drive

What you need before you start

Arch Linux installation requires a USB drive with at least 1 GB of space, a computer with internet access during setup, and a willingness to type commands rather than click through a graphical installer. Unlike some Linux distributions, Arch does not hold your hand — you build the system yourself, which means you learn how it works but also means mistakes are easier to make.

You will need to download the Arch Linux ISO file from the official Arch Linux website, write it to a USB drive using a tool like Etcher or Rufus, and boot your computer from that USB. The installation process takes place in a command-line environment, not a desktop. If you have never used a terminal before, Arch is steeper than Ubuntu or Linux Mint, but the process is documented and repeatable.

Back up any data on the computer you plan to install to, because the installation will overwrite your hard drive. If you are installing alongside Windows or another operating system, you will need to shrink that partition first using your existing operating system's disk management tool.

Key Takeaways

Download the Arch Linux ISO, write it to a USB drive with Etcher or Rufus, and boot from that USB by changing your computer's boot order in BIOS or UEFI.
The installation happens in a terminal where you partition your disk, mount filesystems, install the base system, configure the bootloader, and set a root password.
After rebooting into your new Arch system, you will need to create a user account and install a desktop environment or window manager if you want a graphical interface.
Arch requires you to manage your own system updates and configuration, so plan to read the Arch Wiki when something does not work as expected.

Downloading and writing the ISO to USB

Go to archlinux.org and download the ISO file under the "Download" section. The file is about 800 MB. On Windows, use Rufus or Etcher; on macOS or Linux, use Etcher or the command-line dd tool. Insert a blank USB drive, select it in your tool of choice, point to the ISO file, and write it. This will erase the USB drive, so make sure it contains nothing you need.

Once the write is complete, insert the USB into the computer where you want to install Arch and restart. Immediately after power-on, press Delete, F2, F10, or Esc (the key varies by manufacturer) to enter BIOS or UEFI setup. Find the boot order menu, move your USB drive to the top of the list, save, and exit. Your computer will boot from the USB and show you a command prompt.

Partitioning your disk and mounting filesystems

At the prompt, type lsblk to see your hard drives. Your main drive is usually /dev/sda or /dev/nvme0n1 for newer systems. Type cfdisk /dev/sda (or your drive name) to open the partition tool. Create at least two partitions: one for the root filesystem (at least 20 GB) and one for the EFI boot partition (at least 512 MB, type EFI System). If you are using an older BIOS system instead of UEFI, create a small partition for the bootloader instead.

Write the changes to disk and exit. Then format the partitions: type mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda1 for the root partition and mkfs.fat -F 32 /dev/sda2 for the EFI partition (adjust the device names to match your setup). Mount the root partition to /mnt by typing mount /dev/sda1 /mnt, then create the EFI directory and mount it: mkdir -p /mnt/boot/efi and mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/boot/efi.

Installing the base system and bootloader

Type pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware to download and install the core Arch system. This takes several minutes depending on your internet speed. Once it finishes, type genfstab -U /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab to generate the filesystem table, then arch-chroot /mnt to enter your new system.

Set your timezone by typing ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/Region/City /etc/localtime (replace Region and City with your location, like America/New_York). Type hwclock --systohc to sync the hardware clock. Install a bootloader — for UEFI systems, type pacman -S grub efibootmgr, then grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi, then grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg. For older BIOS systems, the commands are slightly different; check the Arch Wiki if you are unsure which you have.

Set a root password by typing passwd and entering a password twice. This is the administrative password you will use to manage the system.

Finishing the installation and first boot

Type exit to leave the chroot environment, then umount -R /mnt to unmount all filesystems. Type reboot to restart. Remove the USB drive when the system shuts down. Your computer will boot into Arch Linux and show you a login prompt.

Log in as root using the password you set. You now have a working Arch system, but it is command-line only. Create a regular user account by typing useradd -m username (replace username with your choice), set their password with passwd username, and add them to the sudoers group with usermod -aG wheel username. This lets them run administrative commands with sudo.

Installing a desktop environment or window manager

If you want a graphical desktop, you need to install a display server, a desktop environment or window manager, and a display manager to show a login screen. The most common choice is GNOME, KDE Plasma, or a lightweight option like i3 or Openbox. Type pacman -S xorg to install the display server, then pacman -S gnome for GNOME or pacman -S plasma-desktop kdebase for KDE.

Enable the display manager so it starts automatically on boot. For GNOME, type systemctl enable gdm; for KDE, type systemctl enable sddm. Reboot, and you will see a graphical login screen. Log in with the user account you created, and you will have a working desktop.

Managing your system after installation

Arch requires you to keep your system updated and to manage configuration yourself. Type pacman -Syu regularly to update all packages. The Arch Wiki is your primary resource for troubleshooting — search it before asking for help elsewhere, because most common problems are documented there with solutions.

When you install new software, use pacman -S packagename. To search for a package, type pacman -Ss searchterm. Arch is a rolling-release distribution, meaning updates are continuous rather than bundled into major versions, so you will see new software and kernel updates frequently. This keeps your system current but also means you need to pay attention to what is changing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my computer does not boot from USB?

Check that the USB drive was written correctly by booting it on a different computer if possible. If it boots elsewhere, your computer's BIOS or UEFI may need updating, or you may need to disable Secure Boot in BIOS setup. Some newer computers require you to hold a specific key during startup (often F12 or Esc) to see a boot menu instead of entering BIOS setup.

Can I install Arch alongside Windows?

Yes, but you must shrink the Windows partition first using Disk Management in Windows, leaving unallocated space for Arch. During Arch installation, create your partitions in that unallocated space. After installing the bootloader, you will see a menu at startup that lets you choose between Windows and Arch.

What if I make a mistake during partitioning?

If you have not yet run pacstrap, you can restart and try again — nothing is written to your drive until that command runs. If you have already installed the base system, you can boot back into the USB, mount your partitions again, and continue from where you left off. The Arch Wiki has recovery steps for common mistakes.

Do I need to use the command line after installation?

If you install a desktop environment like GNOME or KDE, you can use your computer graphically for most tasks. However, Arch users typically use the terminal for system updates and package management, so learning basic commands is useful. You do not need to become an expert, but comfort with pacman and systemctl will help.

What is the difference between Arch and other Linux distributions?

Arch gives you a minimal base system and lets you build from there, so you learn what each piece does. Ubuntu and Fedora come with more pre-installed software and graphical tools. Arch is rolling-release (continuous updates), while Ubuntu releases major versions every two years. Arch requires more hands-on management but gives you more control.

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