How to Install Arch Linux (2025 Updated Beginner Guide)

Arch Linux is one of the most customizable, lightweight, and fast Linux distributions available today. However, it doesn’t have a graphical installer like Ubuntu — you install everything manually.

This guide will help beginners install Arch Linux from scratch — on PCs, laptops, or even virtual machines — with detailed commands, partition setup, desktop environment installation, and boot troubleshooting.

Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure you have:

• A USB drive (at least 4 GB)
• A stable internet connection
• A computer (PC or laptop) that supports UEFI (most modern systems do)
• Optional: Another device or phone to follow this guide while installing

Step 1: Download Arch Linux ISO

Visit the official Arch Linux download page: https://archlinux.org/download/

Download the latest ISO file (e.g. archlinux-2025.10.01-x86_64.iso).

Verify the download (optional but recommended):

sha256sum archlinux-2025.10.01-x86_64.iso

Compare it with the checksum on the website.

Step 2: Create a Bootable USB

On Windows

Use Rufus:

1. Download Rufus.
2. Select your Arch ISO file.
3. Choose your USB drive.
4. Under Partition Scheme, select:
   • GPT if your system uses UEFI
   • MBR if it uses Legacy BIOS
5. Click Start and wait.

On Linux

Use the dd command:

sudo dd if=archlinux-2025.10.01-x86_64.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress oflag=sync

(Replace /dev/sdX with your USB drive path — e.g. /dev/sdb)

Step 3: Boot Into the Arch Installer

1. Plug the USB into your system.
2. Reboot and open the Boot Menu (usually by pressing F2, F12, or Esc during startup).
3. Select your USB drive.
4. When the Arch menu appears, choose: “Arch Linux install medium (x86_64, UEFI)”

You’ll land in a terminal (root@archiso).

Step 4: Connect to the Internet

For wired (Ethernet)

You’re already connected.

For Wi-Fi

Run:

iwctl

Then inside the prompt:

device list
station wlan0 scan
station wlan0 get-networks
station wlan0 connect "Your_WiFi_Name"
exit

Test the connection:

ping archlinux.org

If you see replies — you’re online ✅

Step 5: Update System Clock

timedatectl set-ntp true

Step 6: Partition Your Disk

List your drives:

fdisk -l

Identify your target drive (e.g. /dev/sda or /dev/nvme0n1).

Using cfdisk (simpler):

cfdisk /dev/sda

Select GPT.

Now create:

1. EFI Partition → 512MB → Type: EFI System
2. Root Partition → remaining space → Type: Linux filesystem

If you want a swap partition, create it too (e.g., 2GB). Then: Write → Yes → Quit.

Step 7: Format the Partitions

mkfs.fat -F32 /dev/sda1        # EFI partition
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda2            # Root partition
mkswap /dev/sda3               # (if created)
swapon /dev/sda3

Step 8: Mount the Filesystems

mount /dev/sda2 /mnt
mkdir /mnt/boot
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot

Step 9: Install the Base System

pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware vim networkmanager

💡 You can replace vim with nano if you prefer.

Step 10: Generate fstab

genfstab -U /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab

Step 11: Chroot into the New System

arch-chroot /mnt

Step 12: Set Timezone and Locale

ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/Asia/Karachi /etc/localtime
hwclock --systohc

Edit locales:

nano /etc/locale.gen

Uncomment: en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8

Generate locales:

locale-gen

Create locale config:

echo "LANG=en_US.UTF-8" > /etc/locale.conf

Step 13: Set Hostname and Root Password

echo "archpc" > /etc/hostname
echo "127.0.0.1   localhost" >> /etc/hosts
echo "::1         localhost" >> /etc/hosts
echo "127.0.1.1   archpc.localdomain archpc" >> /etc/hosts
passwd

Step 14: Enable Network Manager

systemctl enable NetworkManager

Step 15: Install and Configure Bootloader (GRUB)

Install GRUB and EFI tools:

pacman -S grub efibootmgr

Install GRUB to disk:

grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot --bootloader-id=GRUB
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Step 16: Create a User

useradd -m -G wheel -s /bin/bash htg
passwd htg
EDITOR=nano visudo

Uncomment: %wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL

Step 17: Install Desktop Environment (Choose One)

KDE Plasma (Full)

pacman -S xorg sddm plasma kde-applications
systemctl enable sddm

XFCE (Lightweight)

pacman -S xorg lightdm lightdm-gtk-greeter xfce4 xfce4-goodies
systemctl enable lightdm

GNOME

pacman -S gdm gnome
systemctl enable gdm

Step 18: Install Extra Packages (Optional but Useful)

pacman -S firefox git base-devel neofetch htop pipewire pipewire-alsa pipewire-pulse

Step 19: Exit, Unmount, and Reboot

exit
umount -R /mnt
reboot

Remove your USB when prompted.

Step 20: First Boot

You should now see your GRUB menu and your desktop environment login screen. Log in with your user account and start customizing Arch! 🎉

Troubleshooting Boot Issues

Black screen after GRUB

Boot into a live USB again and mount partitions:

mount /dev/sda2 /mnt
arch-chroot /mnt
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
exit
reboot

No Wi-Fi

Make sure NetworkManager is enabled:

systemctl enable NetworkManager
systemctl start NetworkManager

Bonus: Post-Installation Tweaks

Install an AUR helper like yay:

git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay
makepkg -si

Update your system regularly:

sudo pacman -Syu

Customize your DE (themes, icons, fonts, etc.)

Final Thoughts

Installing Arch Linux may seem intimidating, but once you’ve done it, you gain complete control over your system — speed, minimalism, and full transparency. By following this 2025 beginner guide, you now have a working Arch Linux system with a GUI, internet, and a bootloader ready to go.