archinstall

Start the interactive installer

$ archinstall

archinstall [options]

--advanced
    Launch advanced configuration menus

--config <FILE>
    Use JSON config file for automated install

--debug
    Enable verbose debug output

--disk-layout <SPEC>
    Specify custom disk partitioning layout

--help
    Show help and exit

--hostname <HOST>
    Set system hostname

--install-log <FILE>
    Log installation to file

--kernel <KERNEL>
    Select kernel (linux, linux-lts, linux-zen)

--locale <LOCALE>
    Set system locale

--mirror-region <REGION>
    Select mirror region

--password <PASS>
    Set user password

--profile <PROFILE>
    Select install profile (gnome, kde, minimal, etc.)

--root-password <PASS>
    Set root password

--silent
    Minimal logging output

--timezone <TZ>
    Set timezone

--username <USER>
    Create user account

--version
    Show version and exit

archinstall is the official guided installer for Arch Linux, providing a menu-driven text user interface (TUI) to simplify the traditionally manual installation process. Launched from the Arch Linux live ISO environment, it automates key steps including disk partitioning, filesystem creation, base system installation via pacstrap, chroot setup, bootloader configuration, network setup, user account creation, and package selection.

Users navigate through categorized menus for hardware detection, profile selection (desktop environments like GNOME, KDE, server, minimal), mirror selection, timezone, locale, and kernel choices (linux, linux-lts, linux-zen). It supports advanced options like custom disk layouts, RAID/LVM, encryption (LUKS), and multiple bootloaders (systemd-boot, GRUB, rEFInd).

For automation, it accepts JSON configuration files via --config, enabling reproducible scripted installs. Logging, debugging, and silent modes enhance usability. Designed for both beginners and experts, it reduces errors while allowing overrides. Since its introduction, it has become the recommended installer, replacing older scripts like archinstall forks.

Must run from Arch Linux live ISO with internet access. Not for non-Arch environments. JSON configs require precise syntax or install may fail. Experimental features may change.

Run sudo archinstall in live ISO terminal for interactive TUI. Use arrow keys/tab to navigate, enter to select.

{
  "ntp": true,
  "hostname": "arch",
  "profile": "desktop",
  "disk_layouts": [{ "device": "/dev/sda", "wipe": true }]
}

Introduced in Arch Linux 2021.10 as part of arch-install-scripts package. Developed by Daan De Meyer (Falcosidhe) and Arch community. Evolved from community scripts; now official with regular updates via pacman.

pacstrap(8), arch-chroot(8), mkfs(8), systemd-boot(7), grub-install(8)