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Installing Arch Linux on a Mac with the T2 Chip

You will need:

  • USB drive with at least 1GB
  • A way to plug it into your Mac (USB-C isn't USB-A)

Users in NA/EU

If you're experiencing slow download speed or failure to install, please edit your /etc/pacman.conf file and replace old mirror.funami.tech link with https://github.com/NoaHimesaka1873/arch-mact2-mirror/releases/download/release instead.

  1. Follow the Pre-installation steps.

  2. Boot into the live ISO.

  3. Follow the Arch Wiki guide from here up to "Format the partitions". Note that the step of Partition the disks must be skipped as it has already been done in macOS.

    1. You will need to reformat your partitions, except for the EFI partition. The other partitions will need to reformatted as described in the Arch Wiki Installation guide. For the EFI system partition (mentioned in a note on the Arch Wiki), there will be one at /dev/nvme0n1p1 and you can use this if you don't intend to install Windows or already have it installed. If you do intend to triple boot, refer to this guide.
    2. Mount the EFI partition that you intend to use for your bootloader on /mnt/boot, and your other partitions on /mnt, etc.

  4. Continue following the Arch Wiki's guide until "Install essential packages".

  5. Install the required packages into your new system.

    • Using pacstrap (more vanilla Arch experience)

      1. Run pacstrap /mnt base linux-t2 linux-t2-headers apple-t2-audio-config apple-bcm-firmware linux-firmware iwd grub efibootmgr t2fanrd (omit the grub efibootmgr packages from this if you intend to use systemd-boot as your bootloader).

      2. Add repository to /mnt/etc/pacman.conf, by adding this:

      [arch-mact2]
Server = https://mirror.funami.tech/arch-mact2/os/x86_64
SigLevel = Never

    • Using t2strap (easier)

      1. Run t2strap /mnt base linux-firmware iwd grub efibootmgr (omit the grub efibootmgr packages from this if you intend to use systemd-boot as your bootloader).

  6. Continue following the Arch Wiki's guide until you get to installing a bootloader.

  7. Enable t2fanrd by running:

    systemctl enable t2fanrd

  8. Install a bootloader, GRUB is easier, but you can also use systemd-boot. Don't do both.

    • Installing Grub:

      1. Edit /etc/default/grub, you'll need to install a text editor (i.e. vim or nano) with pacman -S PACKAGE_NAME for this step.
      2. On the line with GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="quiet splash", add the following kernel parameters: intel_iommu=on iommu=pt pcie_ports=compat
      3. Run grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot --bootloader-id=GRUB --removable.
      4. Run grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg to generate configuration file.

    • Installing systemd-boot:

      1. Follow the Arch wiki's instructions. You will want --path=/boot as an argument to bootctl if you mounted your EFI partition there. Also make sure you configure it to boot the linux-t2 kernel.
      2. Install a text editor (i.e. pacman -S vim or pacman -S nano), and make the following edit for .conf files in /boot/efi/loader/entries/.
      3. Add intel_iommu=on iommu=pt pcie_ports=compat to the options line to add those kernel parameters.

  9. Exit the chroot (Control-d, or exit) and reboot. You now will be able to select your Arch install in the macOS Startup Manager by holding option at boot.