How to Install Arch Linux on a PC or Laptop (2025 Edition "" From Windows to Arch)

This guide is written for everyone moving from Windows "" whether you're on a laptop or desktop, using UEFI or Legacy BIOS. It's clear, step-by-step, and accurate "" everything you need from booting the USB to logging into your new Arch desktop.

âš™ï¸ What You'll Need

Before starting, prepare these:

A computer with Windows (for now)
Minimum: Dual-core CPU (Intel i3/i5/i7 3rd gen+), 4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended).
Storage: 20 GB+ for Arch (more for desktop environment).
A USB drive (at least 4 GB).
Stable internet connection (Ethernet or Wi-Fi).
Another device or your phone (to read this guide while installing).

👑§± Step 1: Back Up Your Data

You're about to erase or modify partitions "" so back up your important files:

Documents, photos, and browser bookmarks.
Windows product key (optional, for reinstalling later).
Use OneDrive, Google Drive, or an external HDD/SSD.

👑’¿ Step 2: Download Arch Linux ISO

Visit the official Arch website: 👑‘‰ https://archlinux.org/download/

Click on "HTTP Direct Downloads" →’ choose the nearest mirror (like archlinux.org/iso/latest/).

You'll get a file like: archlinux-2025.10.01-x86_64.iso

👑§° Step 3: Create a Bootable USB

On Windows:

Use Rufus (https://rufus.ie):

Plug your USB drive.
Open Rufus →’ Select ISO file.
Partition Scheme:
- UEFI systems: GPT + FAT32.
- Legacy BIOS: MBR.
File system: FAT32.
Click Start.

When done, your USB is ready to boot Arch.

👑"§ Step 4: Boot into Arch USB

Reboot your PC. Press your Boot Menu key:

Dell: F12
HP: Esc or F9
Lenovo: F12
Acer: F12
Asus: F8

Select your USB drive. You'll see:

Arch Linux install medium (x86_64, UEFI)

Press Enter.

👑Œ Step 5: Connect to the Internet

For Ethernet: You're already connected "" no setup needed.

For Wi-Fi: Run:

iwctl

Then inside the prompt:

device list
station wlan0 scan
station wlan0 get-networks
station wlan0 connect your_wifi_name

Enter your Wi-Fi password. Check connection:

ping -c 3 archlinux.org

If you get replies "" you're online.

🕐’ Step 6: Update the System Clock

timedatectl set-ntp true

Confirm:

timedatectl status

👑’½ Step 7: Partition the Disk

List all disks:

lsblk

Usually:

/dev/sda →’ HDD
/dev/nvme0n1 →’ SSD

If you want a clean install (remove Windows completely): Use cfdisk:

cfdisk /dev/sda

Choose your partition table type:

UEFI: GPT
Legacy BIOS: DOS

Example layout (UEFI):

Mount Point	Partition	Type	Size
/boot/efi	/dev/sda1	EFI System	512M
swap	/dev/sda2	Linux swap	2—4G
/	/dev/sda3	Linux filesystem	Rest of disk

Write →’ Confirm →’ Quit.

👑’¾ Step 8: Format the Partitions

For UEFI:

mkfs.fat -F32 /dev/sda1
mkswap /dev/sda2
swapon /dev/sda2
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda3

For Legacy BIOS (no EFI partition):

mkswap /dev/sda1
swapon /dev/sda1
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda2

👑§ Step 9: Mount the Partitions

For UEFI:

mount /dev/sda3 /mnt
mkdir /mnt/boot
mkdir /mnt/boot/efi
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot/efi

For Legacy BIOS:

mount /dev/sda2 /mnt

👑"¦ Step 10: Install Base System

pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware nano networkmanager

This installs:

Arch base system
Linux kernel
Firmware and Network tools

📜 Step 11: Generate fstab

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

Check:

cat /mnt/etc/fstab

👑"„ Step 12: Chroot into New System

arch-chroot /mnt

🕐°ï¸ Step 13: Set Time Zone

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

👑"¤ Step 14: Set Locale

Uncomment your language in:

nano /etc/locale.gen

Example: en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8

Then generate:

locale-gen

Set system language:

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

👑‘¤ Step 15: Set Hostname

echo "archpc" > /etc/hostname

Edit hosts file:

nano /etc/hosts

Add:

127.0.0.1   localhost
::1         localhost
127.0.1.1   archpc.localdomain archpc

👑"‘ Step 16: Set Root Password

passwd

👑’¡ Step 17: Enable Network

systemctl enable NetworkManager

👑§° Step 18: Install Bootloader

For UEFI:

pacman -S grub efibootmgr
grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi --bootloader-id=Arch
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

For Legacy BIOS:

pacman -S grub
grub-install --target=i386-pc /dev/sda
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

👑 Step 19: Exit and Reboot

exit
umount -R /mnt
reboot

Remove your USB when the system restarts. If all went well "" you'll boot into Arch Linux! 👑Ž‰

👑Ž¨ Step 20: Install a Desktop Environment

KDE Plasma (recommended for ex-Windows users):

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

Lightweight XFCE:

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

GNOME:

pacman -S gnome gdm
systemctl enable gdm
reboot

👑’» Step 21: Post-Install Essentials

Once your desktop is up:

sudo pacman -S firefox vlc git base-devel neofetch htop

Enable Multilib for 32-bit apps: Edit:

sudo nano /etc/pacman.conf

Uncomment:

[multilib]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

Then update:

sudo pacman -Syu

👑"Œ Step 22: Laptop Optimization

For laptops, install power tools:

sudo pacman -S tlp tlp-rdw
sudo systemctl enable tlp

Intel graphics:

sudo pacman -S mesa xf86-video-intel

Brightness control fix (optional):

sudo pacman -S brightnessctl

👑§ Step 23: AUR Support (Optional)

Install yay (AUR helper):

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

Now install AUR packages easily, e.g.:

yay -S google-chrome visual-studio-code-bin

👑§¹ Step 24: Remove Unused Packages

sudo pacman -Rns $(pacman -Qtdq)

👑§ Step 25: Learn Arch Basics

Update system:

sudo pacman -Syu

Check system info:

neofetch

Search/install packages:

sudo pacman -Ss package_name
sudo pacman -S package_name

Remove:

sudo pacman -R package_name

👑ª„ Step 26: Make It Yours

You can now personalize your Arch system:

Install themes (plasma-lookandfeel-org.kde.*).
Set wallpapers, fonts.
Sync your browser and files.
Add your dotfiles for configs.

🌟 Final Thoughts

Switching from Windows to Arch Linux isn't just installing a new OS "" it's a mindset shift. You're taking full control "" of your tools, your system, your workflow.

Arch rewards curiosity. You'll learn, break things, fix them, and smile "" because it's yours.

"Give a man Windows, and he'll click for a day. Teach him Arch, and he'll build forever." 👑–¤

Mount Point

Partition

Type

Size

/boot/efi

/dev/sda1

EFI System

512M

swap

/dev/sda2

Linux swap

2—4G

/dev/sda3

Linux filesystem

Rest of disk

âš™ï¸ What You'll Need

👑§± Step 1: Back Up Your Data

👑’¿ Step 2: Download Arch Linux ISO

👑§° Step 3: Create a Bootable USB

👑"§ Step 4: Boot into Arch USB

👑Œ Step 5: Connect to the Internet

🕐’ Step 6: Update the System Clock

👑’½ Step 7: Partition the Disk

👑’¾ Step 8: Format the Partitions

👑§ Step 9: Mount the Partitions

👑"¦ Step 10: Install Base System

📜 Step 11: Generate fstab

👑"„ Step 12: Chroot into New System

🕐°ï¸ Step 13: Set Time Zone

👑"¤ Step 14: Set Locale

👑‘¤ Step 15: Set Hostname

👑"‘ Step 16: Set Root Password

👑’¡ Step 17: Enable Network

👑§° Step 18: Install Bootloader

👑 Step 19: Exit and Reboot

👑Ž¨ Step 20: Install a Desktop Environment

👑’» Step 21: Post-Install Essentials

👑"Œ Step 22: Laptop Optimization

👑§­ Step 23: AUR Support (Optional)

👑§¹ Step 24: Remove Unused Packages

👑§ Step 25: Learn Arch Basics

👑ª„ Step 26: Make It Yours

🌟 Final Thoughts

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âš™ï¸ What You'll Need

👑§± Step 1: Back Up Your Data

👑’¿ Step 2: Download Arch Linux ISO

👑§° Step 3: Create a Bootable USB

👑"§ Step 4: Boot into Arch USB

👑Œ Step 5: Connect to the Internet

🕐’ Step 6: Update the System Clock

👑’½ Step 7: Partition the Disk

👑’¾ Step 8: Format the Partitions

👑§ Step 9: Mount the Partitions

👑"¦ Step 10: Install Base System

📜 Step 11: Generate fstab

👑"„ Step 12: Chroot into New System

🕐°ï¸ Step 13: Set Time Zone

👑"¤ Step 14: Set Locale

👑‘¤ Step 15: Set Hostname

👑"‘ Step 16: Set Root Password

👑’¡ Step 17: Enable Network

👑§° Step 18: Install Bootloader

👑 Step 19: Exit and Reboot

👑Ž¨ Step 20: Install a Desktop Environment

👑’» Step 21: Post-Install Essentials

👑"Œ Step 22: Laptop Optimization

👑§­ Step 23: AUR Support (Optional)

👑§¹ Step 24: Remove Unused Packages

👑§ Step 25: Learn Arch Basics

👑ª„ Step 26: Make It Yours

🌟 Final Thoughts

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👑§ Step 23: AUR Support (Optional)

👑§ Step 23: AUR Support (Optional)