If you're looking for a fast, lightweight Linux distribution that is both powerful and easy to use, Pop!_OS just might be the end of your search. Developed and distributed by System76, this Ubuntu-based distro has everything a power user would want but is so intuitive and easy to use that even the newest of new Linux users will be able to operate and navigate the system effortlessly.
Follow along and we'll show you how to install this unique Linux distribution on your system.
Where to Get Pop!_OS?
Pop!_OS is officially distributed in two basic formats. New developer versions of the operating system are released about once every six months with a new long-term support (LTS) version being released every second year.
The semi-annual developer releases generally have newer versions of software and various Linux system components while LTS versions sacrifice the rapid release of the newest software for increased system stability.
The standard versions of the operating system are officially supported for nine months while the LTS versions are supported for five years. The support window is the length of time that the developers will actively create new updates and patches for a particular version.
Once the support period expires, you'll need to upgrade to a newer version to be sure that you receive all the necessary updates to keep your system healthy and secure.
Both versions are generally very stable. If you are like most desktop users, you'll probably have the best experience using the standard developer version and upgrading your system once or twice a year as new versions are released. Once initiated, the update process is automatic and painless.
In between official new version releases, you will also see fairly regular updates consisting of minor updates and upgrades meant to keep programs and applications up to date, provide fixes for newly discovered bugs, and protect against potential security threats. The system will automatically check for and prompt you to install these updates as they become available.
You can download the latest available versions of Pop!_OS directly from the System76 website for free.
Download: Pop!_OS
What You'll Need to Install Pop!_OS
Pop!_OS is a lightweight Linux distribution that will run on just about any 64-bit x86 compatible computer manufactured in the last six or seven years. The minimum hardware requirements to run Pop!_OS are:
- 4GB of RAM
- 16GB of internal storage (HDD or SSD)
- 64-bit processor
You'll also need a USB drive with at least 8GB of storage to create a bootable live USB image.
How to Install Pop!_OS on a PC
To begin, with your bootable live USB device connected to your computer, reset your machine, enter the BIOS boot menu, and select your USB drive as the device to boot from. If you don't know how to get into your system's boot menu, you should be able to find instructions in the support section of the manufacturer's website.
When the system boots you'll first see a prompt asking you to select your preferred language and keyboard layout. The installer will then ask if you would like to try Pop!_OS in demo mode—which runs from the USB without modifying your system—or select from one of two installation options: Clean Install or Custom (Advanced).
The Clean Install option will erase the entire hard drive and set it up for use with Pop!_OS. The Custom option will allow you to modify and allocate space on the hard drive manually. If you intend to enable dual-booting with another operating system (such as Windows), you'll need to choose the Custom option. If you will only be using Pop!_OS on the computer, choose Clean Install.
After choosing your hard drive and partition configuration, the installer will ask you to provide your system username and password. Finally, the installer will confirm whether you want to encrypt your hard drive.
The Pop!_OS installation process will encrypt your hard drive by default. This will prevent anyone from reading the information on your drive even if they have physical access to it.
With full drive encryption enabled, each time you start your computer, you will have to enter a password to unlock the hard drive and allow the system to boot. The installer will give you the option of using your user password as the encryption password or creating a new separate password.
After choosing whether to encrypt your drive, the installation will begin. You're almost done. Depending on the speed of your hardware, the installation will most likely take somewhere around five to 10 minutes.
How to Configure Pop!_OS After Installation
When the installation completes, your new Pop!_OS system will reboot into a slightly customized version of the GNOME desktop environment that you can modify to your heart's content with the varied selection of great GNOME Shell extensions.
There are just a few post-installation options to configure, and your system will be ready to use. Don't worry, though. These last few options will only take a few moments to run through.
The system will also ask you to set your preferences for:
- The look and feel of the application dock and the top bar
- Common application launcher options
- Light or dark system theme
- Enable or disable location services
- Time zone location
- Connection of online accounts
You also have the choice of skipping over any or all of these preferences and jumping right into using your new Pop!_OS system. You can change all of these options, and many more, at any time from the system settings.
We also recommend that you visit the Pop!_Shop software center and allow the system to update any applications or OS components that may have changed since the installation media was created. Just click on the rocket ship icon on the dock to get there.
You're Done, Enjoy Your Shiny New Pop!_OS System!
If you've come this far, you have successfully installed the latest version of Pop!_OS on your system. You will undoubtedly find it to be an agile and easy-to-use environment.
Don't be afraid to play and explore. You'll find that there are more than enough tools available to help you do whatever you want to do.