How to Install Omarchy Linux Distribution: Complete Guide to ISO Installation

Omarchy Linux installs from a bootable ISO using either a full-disk takeover or a dual-boot free-space method, with LUKS encryption enabled by default.

Omarchy is a ready-to-boot Linux distribution that ships as an ISO image with a built-in installer. This guide covers how to install Omarchy Linux from the official source, based on the installer implementation in the omacom/omarchy repository.

Downloading the Omarchy ISO

The only official source for Omarchy images is omarchy.org. The ISO contains the complete installer with hardware detection, disk partitioning utilities, and the Limine bootloader.

Download the latest release directly:

curl -L -o omarchy.iso https://omarchy.org/download/latest.iso

Verify the image checksum if provided on the download page before proceeding.

Creating a Bootable USB Drive

You need a USB drive of at least 8GB. The flashing tool depends on your current operating system.

macOS and Windows

Use balenaEtcher for a graphical, cross-platform solution. Select your Omarchy ISO, choose the target USB device, and flash.

Linux

Use caligula, an open-source alternative written in Rust:

sudo caligula -i omarchy.iso /dev/sdX

Replace /dev/sdX with your actual USB device identifier (use lsblk to identify it). The -i flag specifies the input ISO image.

Preparing Your System for Omarchy Install

Disable Secure Boot and TPM

The Omarchy installer requires these firmware features to be disabled. Reboot into your BIOS/UEFI settings:

1. Locate Secure Boot → set to Disabled
2. Locate TPM (Trusted Platform Module) → set to Disabled

These settings are typically found under Security or Boot menus. Save and exit.

Address BitLocker Conflicts

For dual-boot installations with Windows, disable BitLocker before proceeding:

Windows Settings → Privacy & Security → Device encryption → Off

Failure to do this may cause installation errors when the installer attempts to partition the disk.

Running the Omarchy Installer

Boot from the USB drive. The ISO loads directly into the graphical installer without requiring a live environment.

Installer Screens and Options

The configuration wizard (manual/02-getting-started.md lines 9-24) presents sequential screens for:

• Keyboard layout
• Locale and timezone
• Username and password
• Disk selection method

Full-Disk Installation

Select a drive on the drive-selection screen. This erases the entire drive. The installer automatically partitions with:

• EFI system partition for Limine
• LUKS-encrypted root partition

Free-Space Installation (Dual-Boot)

Choose Free space install to use only unallocated disk space. This preserves existing operating systems. The installer detects empty partitions and installs Omarchy alongside them.

Encryption and Security Options

LUKS encryption is enabled by default for all installations. To install without encryption—for example, on a disposable VM—press Ctrl + C at the disk-format confirmation prompt. The installer continues with unencrypted formatting.

# At "Format disk with encryption?" prompt:

Ctrl + C   # Skip encryption, proceed with plain formatting

Post-Installation: Bootloader Configuration

Omarchy uses Limine as its bootloader, written to the EFI system partition during finalization.

Adding Other Operating Systems

After installation, scan for additional bootloaders:

sudo limine-scan

This command updates manual/50-dual-boot-install.md line 36) and regenerates the Limine configuration with entries for detected systems like Windows or other Linux distributions.

Hand-Over Installations

To prepare a machine for another owner without setting personal credentials, abort the installer at the first screen:

# At the initial keyboard selection screen:

Ctrl + C   # Defer all user setup to first boot by the new owner

Omarchy will complete the system preparation and prompt for username and password on the next boot.

First Boot and Final Setup

Reboot and select Omarchy from the Limine menu. If you completed the full installer, log in with the credentials you provided. For hand-over installs, create your user account at the initial setup screen.

The system runs migration scripts from migrations/*.sh during first boot to configure the desktop environment, themes from themes/*/, and default applications like applications/mpv.desktop.

Automated and Unattended Installs

For VMs, servers, or fleet deployments, refer to manual/51-unattended-installs.md. This documents headless installation without the graphical wizard, using answer files and preseed configurations.

Troubleshooting Omarchy Installation

Issue	Solution
Boot fails with secure boot error	Re-enter BIOS and explicitly disable Secure Boot
BitLocker partition errors	Disable Windows Device encryption before retrying
USB not detected as bootable	Re-flash with verified ISO checksum; try different USB port
Limine menu missing Windows	Run sudo limine-scan after first boot

Community support is available on the #omarchy-help Discord channel.

Summary

• Omarchy Linux installation requires the official ISO from omarchy.org and a bootable USB created with balenaEtcher or caligula
• Disable Secure Boot and TPM in firmware before booting the installer
• Two installation modes: full-disk (erase everything) or free-space (dual-boot)
• LUKS encryption is default; press Ctrl+C at the encryption prompt to disable
• Limine bootloader handles multi-OS booting, managed with sudo limine-scan
• Hand-over installs let you defer user creation by pressing Ctrl+C at the first installer screen

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I download the official Omarchy Linux ISO?

The only authorized source is omarchy.org. Do not use third-party mirrors. The ISO includes the complete installer, hardware detection tools, and the Limine bootloader pre-configured.

Can I install Omarchy alongside Windows or another Linux distribution?

Yes. Select Free space install in the disk selection screen. This uses only unallocated space without touching existing partitions. After installation, run sudo limine-scan to add other operating systems to the Limine boot menu.

How do I install Omarchy without disk encryption?

Press Ctrl + C when the installer prompts "Format disk with encryption?" This cancels LUKS setup and continues with unencrypted formatting. Use this for throwaway VMs or environments where encryption isn't required.

What should I do if the installer reports a BitLocker error?

Disable BitLocker from Windows before attempting installation. Navigate to Settings → Privacy & Security → Device encryption and turn it off. The Omarchy installer cannot modify BitLocker-protected partitions.

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