Linux vs Mac: How to Install Linux on Mac - MiniTool

What’s the difference between Linux and Mac? Do you want to install Linux on Mac? This post from MiniTool will show you all. You can refer to this guide to dual boot Linux and macOS.

Linux vs Mac

Although macOS and Linux are both inspired by Unix, they are unique in their own ways. Here are some key differences between macOS and Linux.

• Linux distributions are entirely open source. As for macOS, its kernel is open source, but the other parts such as the desktop and applications are not open source.
• Linux can be used on any hardware of your choice, but macOS is meant to be used on Mac devices.
• Linux distros use package managers to install, remove, update, and manage software applications, while the traditional method of installing applications on macOS is via the applications folder.
• Linux’s terminal or the command line is very powerful. Software engineers, advanced users, and system administrators running Linux heavily incorporate the terminal in their workflow. On the other hand, macOS has a similar terminal emulator available, but much of the attention goes to the fancy Mac desktop.
• There are multiple desktop environments for Linux like GNOME, XFCE, KDE, Deepin, etc., while the GUI on macOS is standard and the same for all users.
• Linux has many distros and each of them comes with a specific set of applications, desktop environment, and system utilities. Different distros usually target a specific set of users such as ethical hackers, artists, software developers, etc. On the other hand, macOS is the same for everyone regardless of what their passion or work is.

Linux vs Windows – What Are the Differences (Focus on 10 Aspects)

How to Install Linux on Mac

After knowing about Linux vs Mac, some of you may want to install Linux on Mac. Here is the guide on how to dual-boot Linux and macOS:

Step 1: Use a Linux distro to make a bootable USB.

• Insert a USB drive into your Mac PC.
• Open your Applications folder and click Utilities. Then, open Disk Utility, select your USB drive, and click Erase. You need to make sure the format is MS-DOS (FAT) and the scheme is GUID Partition Map.
• Download the ISO file of a Linux distro like Ubuntu, Linux Mint, etc.
• Download a burning tool like Rufus, Etcher, etc.
• Move the burning app to your Applications If you get a warning saying that you are not able to open the application, you will have to go to System Preferences > Security and Privacy > General. Then click the lock, enter your password, and click Open Anyway.
• Open the burning tool to make a Linux installer.

Step 2: Create a partition for Linux.

• Open Disk Utility and click View in the top left corner of the window.
• Select Show All Devices.
• Select your macOS partition and then click Partition.
• Set the partition size you need for your Linux OS. At least 20GB is needed.
• Format the new partition as MS-DOS (FAT) and click Apply.
• Click Partition and Continue when further prompted.

Step 3: Install Linux on a Mac.

• Switch off your Mac computer.
• Plug the bootable Linux USB drive into your Mac.
• Turn on your Mac while holding down the Option You will see a list of available devices.
• Select your USB stick and hit Enter.
• Then, you need to follow the wizard to complete the Linux installation.

As for the detailed steps of the Linux installation, you can refer to the following posts:

1. How to Install Linux (Ubuntu) on Windows 10 [Ultimate Guide]
2. How to Dual Boot Windows 10 and Linux Mint 20.3 [With Pictures]
3. How to Install CentOS on Windows 10 PC [A Full Guide]
4. How to Dual Boot Windows 10 and Debian [With Pictures]
5. How to Download and Install Manjaro on a Windows PC
6. How to Install Kali Linux on Virtual Machine, USB, and Hard Drive
7. A Complete Guide on How to Install Arch Linux [with Pictures]

Bottom Line

MiniTool Partition Wizard can help you clone the system, manage disks better, and recover data. If you have this need, you can download it from the official website.

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