How to Install Omarchy: Complete Guide for Full-Disk and Dual-Boot Setups

Omarchy installs from a bootable ISO that automatically handles partitioning, LUKS encryption, and bootloader configuration, supporting both full-disk and dual-boot installations.

The Omarchy distribution from the basecamp/omarchy repository ships as a complete bootable ISO. You can install Omarchy as a standalone system or alongside existing operating systems, with the installer managing disk encryption and the Limine bootloader without manual intervention.

Prerequisites and Preparation

Before you install Omarchy, gather the necessary hardware and firmware settings to ensure the process completes without errors.

Download the Official ISO

Grab the latest Omarchy ISO from the official Omarchy download page. Verify the checksum if provided to ensure the image downloaded correctly before writing it to installation media.

Create a Bootable USB Drive

Write the ISO to a USB stick using your platform's preferred tool. On macOS or Windows, use balenaEtcher. On Linux, use dd or caligula for a safer progress-tracking experience:

sudo dd if=Omarchy.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress && sync

Replace /dev/sdX with your actual USB device identifier (e.g., /dev/sdb).

Configure Firmware Settings

Disable Secure Boot and TPM in your BIOS/UEFI firmware. According to manual/02-getting-started.md (lines 7-8), these Microsoft-specific protections must be turned off to allow the Omarchy installer to write its own bootloader keys and manage LUKS encryption.

Running the Omarchy Installer

Once the USB is prepared and firmware settings adjusted, boot from the installation media to launch the automated wizard.

Initial Boot and Configuration Wizard

Restart your computer and select the USB stick as the boot device. The Omarchy installer launches automatically and presents a configuration wizard asking for keyboard type, locale, and user credentials.

Keyboard Requirements for Initial Setup

Use a wired or 2.4 GHz keyboard for the initial password entry. As noted in manual/02-getting-started.md (lines 19-22), Bluetooth keyboards are not supported during the pre-boot environment, so you cannot enter disk encryption passwords or interact with the installer via Bluetooth peripherals.

Installation Modes

The Omarchy installer supports three distinct installation strategies depending on your hardware setup.

Full-Disk Installation

Select the full-disk install option to wipe the target drive and install Omarchy as the sole operating system. The installer automatically configures LUKS encryption for the entire disk and installs the Limine bootloader as the only boot entry. This mode is recommended for dedicated machines or when you want complete system isolation.

Free-Space Dual-Boot Installation

Choose the Free space install option to place Omarchy alongside existing operating systems without destroying current partitions. As documented in manual/50-dual-boot-install.md (lines 25-28), this mode preserves your Windows or Linux installations while carving out space for Omarchy in unused disk regions.

Unattended Automated Installation

For virtual machines or fleet deployments, place a configuration file on a second drive before booting the ISO. The installer detects and consumes this file automatically, executing a headless installation without interactive prompts. See manual/51-unattended-installs.md for the configuration schema and placement rules.

Post-Installation Configuration

After the installer finishes (typically within a few minutes), perform these final steps to optimize the boot environment.

Managing Boot Entries with limine-scan

If you installed Omarchy alongside another operating system, run the limine-scan command after the first boot to detect and add missing entries to the Limine bootloader menu. According to manual/50-dual-boot-install.md (lines 34-38), this utility scans for Windows partitions and other Linux distributions, updating the boot menu to present all available systems.

Skipping Encryption (Advanced)

Press Ctrl + C at the disk-formatting confirmation step to switch to a no-encryption install. As described in manual/02-getting-started.md (lines 31-36), this bypasses LUKS setup and is discouraged for production hardware but useful for throw-away VMs or remote installations where manual decryption is impractical.

Essential Post-Install Commands

Once Omarchy is running, use these CLI utilities to manage the system. These commands are implemented in the bin/ directory of the repository:

# Update Omarchy and all installed packages

omarchy-update

# Refresh theme assets after installing a new theme

omarchy-theme-refresh

# Switch to a different desktop theme

omarchy-theme-set dark

# Display the current Omarchy version

omarchy-version

The omarchy-update script in bin/omarchy-update handles system-wide updates, while bin/omarchy-version reports the installed release tag.

Summary

• Omarchy distributes as a bootable ISO that requires disabling Secure Boot and TPM before installation.
• Two installation modes exist: full-disk (with mandatory LUKS encryption) and free-space dual-boot (preserving existing OS installations).
• Hardware requirements include wired or 2.4 GHz keyboards during initial setup, as Bluetooth is unsupported in the pre-boot environment.
• Unattended installations support automated deployments via configuration files on secondary drives.
• Post-install tools like limine-scan and omarchy-update manage boot entries and system maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I dual-boot Omarchy with Windows?

Yes. Select the Free space install option during installation to place Omarchy alongside Windows without destroying existing partitions. After installation, run limine-scan to add Windows to the Limine bootloader menu.

Why do I need to disable Secure Boot and TPM?

These firmware features are Microsoft-specific protections that prevent unsigned bootloaders and encryption keys from loading. According to the source documentation in manual/02-getting-started.md, disabling them is mandatory so the Omarchy installer can write the Limine bootloader and manage its own LUKS encryption keys.

How do I perform an unattended installation of Omarchy?

Place a configuration file containing your installation parameters on a second drive before booting the ISO. The installer automatically detects and consumes this file, executing the installation without interactive prompts. This method is documented in manual/51-unattended-installs.md.

Can I install Omarchy without disk encryption?

Yes, but it requires manual intervention. Press Ctrl + C when the installer reaches the disk-formatting confirmation step to disable LUKS encryption. This creates an unencrypted installation suitable for VMs or testing environments, though it is discouraged for production machines handling sensitive data.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}