Asahi Linux
Community project that brings Linux to Apple Silicon Macs, shipped as the Fedora Asahi Remix distro.
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- 5
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About Asahi Linux
Asahi Linux is a volunteer-run project that reverse-engineers Apple Silicon hardware so Linux can run natively on M-series Macs, not inside a virtual machine. Its main deliverable is Fedora Asahi Remix, a distribution built with the Fedora Project that installs alongside macOS from a single terminal command and boots as a separate OS. KDE Plasma is the default desktop, with GNOME, minimal and server images also offered. The team wrote its own GPU drivers with conformant OpenGL and Vulkan support, plus tuned speaker processing, so everyday use on a MacBook feels close to a normal Linux laptop. Hardware coverage is the main thing to check: the M1 and M2 families are supported, while newer chips lag behind and some features, such as HDR and ProMotion variable refresh, are not supported yet. It is completely free and open source, and the driver work is being upstreamed into the Linux kernel and other projects. It suits developers and Linux users who like Apple's hardware but want a Linux desktop on bare metal.
Best for: Linux users with an M1 or M2 Mac who want Linux running natively instead of in a VM.
Pros and cons
What works
- Runs on bare metal with full GPU acceleration, not inside a VM
- Based on Fedora, so packages and updates come from a mature distro
- Installs alongside macOS without jailbreaks or wiping the Mac
- Tuned speaker DSP and Wayland desktop give a polished laptop experience
Why people leave
- Only M1 and M2 Macs are fully supported; newer chips lag behind
- Some display features, such as HDR and ProMotion, are not supported yet
- Only works on Apple Silicon Macs, not on other ARM or x86 machines
Top Asahi Linux alternatives
See all 5- 1
macOS68.8The OS the Mac already ships with, with full support for every chip and peripheral.
- 2
Fedora Linux59.4The same Fedora base on a regular PC or laptop with mainstream hardware support.
- 3
Ubuntu57.5Popular Linux distro if you move to x86 or other ARM hardware with broad driver support.
- 4
UTM54.4Run Linux in a VM on any Apple Silicon Mac, including chips Asahi doesn't support yet.
- 5
Parallels Desktop52.6Polished commercial VM app for running Linux side by side with macOS on newer Macs.
Why people left Asahi Linux
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Asahi Linux: common questions
Is Asahi Linux free?
Yes. Asahi Linux is free, open-source software.
Is Asahi Linux open source?
No, Asahi Linux is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Fedora Linux, Ubuntu and UTM.
What platforms does Asahi Linux run on?
Asahi Linux is available for macOS.
What are the best alternatives to Asahi Linux?
The highest-ranked Asahi Linux alternatives right now are macOS, Fedora Linux and Ubuntu. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.