Installing Pop!_OS
The Pop!_OS installer guides the user through setup of basic system settings.
- Verify system and installation requirements.
- Choose a locale and keyboard language.
- Perform system hard drive selection and partitioning (advanced).
- Create a user account.
- Enable system disk encryption.
Requirements
System Specifications
| Component | Requirement | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 64-bit x86 architecture | |
| RAM | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| Drive Storage | 20 GB |
Secure Boot
Systems with Secure Boot enabled must disable this feature before installing Pop!_OS. Secure boot can be disabled in the BIOS of most computers; however, the process to disable secure boot will vary by laptop and motherboard model.
Installation Media
The Pop!_OS.iso can be easily flashed to a USB drive. See Create a Bootable Pop!_OS USB.
Installation Media Selected as Boot Device
Power off the target computer and insert the bootable USB. Power on the computer and enter the boot device menu selection for your BIOS or UEFI system. The table below lists lists several common methods for System76 laptops and desktops. Consult your computer manufacturer's documentation to access this menu on third-party computers.
| Firmware | BIOS key | Boot Menu key |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop - Open Firmware | ESC | ESC (select one time boot option) |
| Laptop - Proprietary | F2 | F7 |
| Older Laptops | Depends on the system | F1 |
| Thelio | Del | F8 or F12 |
| Meerkat | F2 | F10 |
Pop!_OS Installation
- Choose a language.
- Select a locale.
- Select a keyboard input language.
- Select a keyboard layout.
- Choose the
Clean Installoption for a standard installation. This is the best option for new Linux users, but be aware that this will erase all contents of the target drive.
Note: The
Custom (Advanced)option opens GParted. GParted allows users to choose partition tables and create custom partitions.
- Choose the target drive for the OS installation. Click
Erase and Install.
- Enter your first and last name (or a display name). A suggested username will populate in the User Name field.
Tip: You don't need to type your username when logging into Pop!_OS normally, but it can be handy to remember when logging into a terminal session, logging in remotely via SSH, or performing certain configurations.
- Enter the account password.
- Choose to encrypt the drive, and optionally create a separate encryption password.
Note: Encrypting the system disk ensures user data is secure in the event that someone gains unauthorized physical access to the device.
- Wait for the installation to complete. Click
Restart Devicewhen prompted.
