Guides / Installation
Download a Linux gaming distro, put it on a bootable USB, and install it to an SSD or NVMe drive in six straightforward steps.
Before you start
- An 8 GB or larger USB drive.
- The SSD or NVMe drive where Linux will be installed.
- A backup of any files you cannot replace.
- An internet connection for the download and later updates.
Important: a clean installation can erase the selected drive. Back up important files and double-check the target drive before confirming any erase or format step.
Disclaimer: Follow these instructions at your own risk. GamingLinux is not responsible for damage to your computer, erased drives, lost files, lost data, or other problems that may result from installation, partitioning, formatting, firmware changes, or selecting the wrong storage device.
The six steps
1. Select an installation image · 2. Download the ISO · 3. Create a bootable USB · 4. Boot from the USB · 5. Install to the SSD or NVMe · 6. Restart and finish setup
STEP 1
Select the Linux distribution you intend to install
Decide which distribution you intend to install before downloading anything. GamingLinux publishes informational profiles for Bazzite, Nobara, Linux Mint, CachyOS and SteamOS. For a factual comparison of the distributions covered here, see Linux Gaming Distros and verify the current official documentation for each project.
STEP 2
Download the ISO from the official site
Go to the distro’s official website and download the installation image for your PC. The file is usually an ISO. Use the project’s own download page rather than a third-party mirror or random download site.
Keep the ISO somewhere easy to find, such as your Downloads folder. If the project publishes a checksum and you know how to verify it, checking the download can help confirm that the file arrived intact.
STEP 3
Create a bootable USB
Insert the USB drive and use a bootable-USB tool to write the ISO to it. Common choices include Rufus, balenaEtcher, Ventoy and Fedora Media Writer. Follow the selected tool’s normal image-writing workflow.
The USB drive will normally be erased. Make sure you selected the USB drive and not another storage device before starting the write.
STEP 4
Boot the PC from the USB
Leave the USB connected and restart the computer. Open the motherboard or laptop’s boot menu during startup, then choose the USB device. The exact key varies by manufacturer and may be shown briefly on screen.
When the distro’s live environment or installer appears, you are running from the USB. This is the point to confirm the keyboard, mouse and display work before beginning the installation.
STEP 5
Install Linux to the SSD or NVMe
Open the distro installer and work through its language, keyboard, time-zone and user-account screens. When it asks where to install Linux, identify the target SSD or NVMe by its capacity and device information.
For the simplest clean-install path, choose the installer’s option that uses or erases the entire target drive. Read the confirmation screen carefully before accepting it. If the PC has several drives, verify the target one again.
Do not choose manual partitioning or dual-boot options unless you specifically intend to manage partitions. Those are separate workflows and add additional ways to erase the wrong data.
STEP 6
Restart and finish the gaming setup
When the installer finishes, restart the PC and remove the USB when instructed. The computer should now boot from the SSD or NVMe into the new Linux installation.
Next, follow the Linux Gaming Setup Guide: update the system, confirm graphics, open or install Steam, check Proton where needed, and test one game before adding extra tools.
Clean install or dual boot?
Clean install: Linux uses the selected drive and is the simplest route for this guide.
Dual boot: Linux and Windows share the computer. This requires additional planning for partitions, bootloaders, free space and recovery. Do not treat the clean-install steps above as a complete dual-boot guide.
Where to go next
- Linux Gaming Setup Guide — update the installed system and get the first game working.
- Understanding Proton — learn how Steam runs many Windows games on Linux.
- Linux Game Compatibility — check a game’s support before troubleshooting it.