# Installing Omarchy > Install Omarchy from a USB stick without losing anything you care about: back up, set the firmware switches the manual requires, verify the ISO, answer the installer, dual boot if you want to keep Windows, and finish with a first-boot checklist. --- # Installing Omarchy The scary part of installing an operating system is not the typing. It is the moment a progress bar starts and you realize you are not sure what it is about to erase. This guide takes that uncertainty away: you will know before you start what gets wiped, what the installer asks, and what to check once it finishes. Checked against Omarchy 4.0.4. ## Prerequisite You do not need Linux experience. If you are still deciding whether Omarchy is for you, read [What Omarchy Actually Is](/guides/what-omarchy-actually-is) first. It also helps to know roughly what the firmware and bootloader do, which [How Your Computer Boots](/guides/how-your-computer-boots) explains. ## How to read this - **Installing to a whole drive?** Read Phases 1, 2, and 4. - **Keeping Windows?** Read Phase 1, then Phase 3 before you touch the Windows partition. - **On an Intel Mac?** Phase 3 has the Mac steps. - **Want it to finally make sense?** Read in order. ## The phases 1. **[Before You Install](01-before-you-install.md)** - backups, hardware reality, the firmware switches, and making the USB stick. 2. **[The Install Walkthrough](02-the-install-walkthrough.md)** - booting the stick and what each question asks. 3. **[Dual Boot and Special Installs](03-dual-boot-and-special-installs.md)** - keeping Windows, Intel Macs, installing for someone else, and "Omarchy on..." options. 4. **[Your First Boot Checklist](04-your-first-boot-checklist.md)** - network, updates, displays, and where to learn next. After this: [Omarchy for Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu Users](/guides/omarchy-for-windows-macos-and-ubuntu-users) turns your old habits into Omarchy ones. --- # Before You Install Almost every regretted install comes from a skipped step before the installer even starts: no backup, a firmware switch nobody flipped, or a USB stick that was never checked. Ten minutes here turns the install into a non-event. ## Decide what the install will do to your drive Omarchy installs from an ISO (a single file holding a bootable installer) in one of two modes: - **Full-disk install** takes over the entire drive you select. It **wipes the drive**. - **Free-space install** uses unallocated space on a drive, which is how you dual boot alongside Windows or another OS. Either way the install defaults to encryption. ```mermaid flowchart TD A["Do you want to keep Windows or another OS?"] -->|No| B["Full-disk install: wipes the selected drive"] A -->|Yes| C["Free-space install: dual boot, see Phase 3"] A -->|"Intel Mac"| D["Omarchy must be the only OS"] ``` An Intel Mac is a special case: the manual says Omarchy must be the only operating system on it (Phase 3 covers that). ## Back up before anything else A full-disk install erases the selected drive completely. A free-space install is gentler, but it still means shrinking a partition, and any disk operation can go wrong. Treat a backup as required, not optional. Back up to a separate physical device: an external drive or a cloud service. Include: - Documents, photos, and project folders. - Browser bookmarks and saved logins (or confirm they sync to an account). - Anything not reproducible: software license keys, authenticator app recovery codes, a password manager export. Then verify the backup. Open a couple of files from the backup drive. A backup you have never opened is a hope, not a backup. > ⚠️ **Gotcha.** Disk encryption is the right default, but it has no back door. If you forget the password, treat the data as gone. Pick a password you can remember, and store it somewhere safe. ## Hardware: what is and is not promised The manual publishes no minimum RAM, CPU, or disk numbers. The homepage's claim that Omarchy runs on very old hardware is marketing, so do not rely on it. If you can, test on the exact machine with a virtual machine or a trial install before you commit your only computer. Phase 3 of [What Omarchy Actually Is](/guides/what-omarchy-actually-is) covers the realistic options. Two hardware details do matter: - **Use a wired or 2.4 GHz-dongle keyboard.** Full-disk encryption asks for your password at startup, and a Bluetooth keyboard cannot be used at that point, in the same way it cannot be used to enter a PC's BIOS. A cheap wired keyboard solves it. - **Omarchy assumes a high-resolution display.** On an ordinary 1080p or 1440p screen, apps can look too big until you adjust one setting. Phase 4 shows how. ## Turn off Secure Boot and TPM The manual is blunt: you must turn off Secure Boot and/or TPM in the BIOS to install Omarchy. The manual describes both as security schemes aimed at Windows and Microsoft-affiliated distributions, and says Omarchy cannot be installed with them on. The BIOS (more precisely, the firmware setup screen) is a small program built into your computer that runs before any operating system. You reach it with a key you press right as the machine powers on. That key differs by maker, so check your laptop's or motherboard's manual. Inside, look for "Secure Boot" (usually under a boot or security tab) and for a TPM option. Menu names vary between makers. > 💡 **Key point.** Write down each setting's original value before you change it, so you can tell what you altered. If you are dual booting, these settings affect every operating system on the machine. If you want the background on what firmware does before the OS starts, see [How Your Computer Boots](/guides/how-your-computer-boots). ## Get the ISO and check it Download the ISO from [omarchy.org](https://omarchy.org/). The files are hosted at `iso.omarchy.org`; for example, version 4.0.4 is at `https://iso.omarchy.org/omarchy-4.0.4.iso`. The ISO is under 6 GB. A download can be corrupted or tampered with, so verify it. The release page for each version publishes a SHA-256 checksum (a fingerprint of the file). For 4.0.4 it is: ```text ddeded2758c48318d201dfdac905ecb28f570441883f0c052ea3cd5d05acf92d ``` Compute the same fingerprint for your file and compare them. On Windows, in PowerShell: ```powershell Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256 .\omarchy-4.0.4.iso ``` On Linux, in a terminal: ```bash sha256sum omarchy-4.0.4.iso ``` On macOS, the equivalent is: ```bash shasum -a 256 omarchy-4.0.4.iso ``` If you download a newer version, take the checksum from that version's release page on [GitHub](https://github.com/basecamp/omarchy/releases), not from this guide. If the two do not match exactly, delete the file and download again. Omarchy also publishes a signature for each ISO: add `.sig` to the ISO's address. The signing key fingerprint is `40DFB630FF42BCFFB047046CF0134EE680CAC571`, and you can check it at [keys.openpgp.org](https://keys.openpgp.org/search?q=pkgs%40omarchy.org). The checksum is enough for most people. The signature is for those who verify signatures as a habit. ## Write the ISO to a USB stick The manual recommends [balenaEtcher](https://etcher.balena.io/) on Windows and Mac, and [caligula](https://github.com/ifd3f/caligula) on Linux. Writing the ISO **erases everything on the stick**, so use an empty one or one you do not need. With Etcher: choose the ISO file, choose the USB stick as the target, and flash. Double-check the target. Picking your backup drive by mistake is a classic way to lose a backup, so unplug the backup drive before you start. When it finishes, leave the stick plugged in and carry on to Phase 2. Check yourself before moving on: ```quiz [ { "q": "What happens to the selected drive in a full-disk install?", "choices": ["Omarchy installs beside your existing data and leaves it alone", "The drive is wiped, so back up first", "Only the Windows partition is erased"], "answer": 1, "explain": "A full-disk install takes over the entire drive you select. A free-space install is the mode that coexists with another OS.", "why": ["That describes a free-space (dual boot) install, not full-disk.", null, "Full-disk wipes the whole selected drive, not one partition."] }, { "q": "Why does the manual say to use a wired or 2.4 GHz-dongle keyboard?", "choices": ["Bluetooth keyboards are too slow to type in the installer", "You enter the encryption password at startup, where a Bluetooth keyboard does not work", "Omarchy does not support Bluetooth at all"], "answer": 1, "explain": "Full-disk encryption asks for your password at startup, and a Bluetooth keyboard cannot be used at that point. A wired or dongle keyboard can." }, { "q": "Your computed ISO checksum does not match the one on the release page. What now?", "choices": ["Install anyway, it is probably fine", "Delete the file and download it again", "Edit the checksum to match"], "answer": 1, "explain": "A mismatch means the download is corrupted or altered. Download it again before writing it to a stick." } ] ``` ## Recap 1. Full-disk install wipes the drive. Free-space install is the dual boot mode. Intel Macs must have Omarchy as the only OS. 2. Back up to another device and open a file from the backup to confirm it works. 3. Turn off Secure Boot and/or TPM in the BIOS, and use a wired or dongle keyboard. 4. Download the ISO from omarchy.org, compare its SHA-256 with the release page, and write it with balenaEtcher or caligula. Next up, [The Install Walkthrough](02-the-install-walkthrough.md): booting the stick and answering the installer. --- # The Install Walkthrough You have a USB stick, a backup, and the firmware switches off. Now the installer itself, which is shorter than you expect: a handful of questions, one confirmation, and a progress screen. This phase walks through each question, what it controls, and which answers are hard to change later. ```mermaid flowchart LR A["Boot from USB"] --> B["Answer questions"] B --> C["Confirm"] C --> D["Pick a drive"] D --> E["Install runs"] E --> F["Reboot and unlock disk"] ``` ## Boot from the stick Plug in the USB stick and power on. Most computers have a one-time boot menu key that lets you choose the USB stick for this boot only. The key varies by maker, so check your computer's manual. If the stick does not appear, the likely culprits are Secure Boot or TPM still being on (Phase 1) or a bad write, in which case flash the stick again. On an Intel Mac you hold `Option` at power-on and choose the orange EFI Boot device. [Phase 3](03-dual-boot-and-special-installs.md) covers the Mac prerequisites. ## The questions The installer asks you to describe your machine. Here is what each prompt wants, taken from the installer's own form. | Question | What to enter | Rules | |---|---|---| | Keyboard layout | Pick yours from the list. English (US) is the default and leads the list. | Choose the layout your physical keys match. | | Username | Your login name, like `dhh` in the installer's own example. | Lowercase letters, digits, underscore, and hyphen; no spaces. It must start with a letter or underscore. System names such as `root` are refused. | | Password | One password, typed twice. | Used for your user, for root, and for disk encryption. It cannot be blank. | | Full name and email | Optional. Press `Return` to skip. | Used for git, the version control tool. | | Hostname | Your computer's network name. | Letters, digits, and dashes, up to 63 characters, not starting or ending with a dash. Leave it blank and you get `omarchy`. | | Timezone | Pick from the list. | The installer guesses from your network connection when it can, and offers a searchable list when it cannot. | > 📝 **Terminology.** **Hostname** is the name your machine announces to other machines on a network. It is not secret and you can leave it as `omarchy`. The installer's wording and screen order may differ a little between versions. The questions are the same. Two things deserve care: - **The password does triple duty.** It logs you in, it is the root (administrator) password, and with encryption on it is the key that unlocks your drive at every boot. Choose something strong that you will remember. You can change the drive and user passwords separately later under _Update > Password_. - **Choose a username you are happy with.** It is the name you will see on every login prompt. If a rule is broken, the installer tells you in a short message and asks again. If you press `Esc` in the form, it unwinds to the start so you can correct an earlier answer. ## Confirm, then pick a drive After the questions you get a summary screen to confirm. Read it. Then you select the drive for the installation. This is the step where full-disk mode wipes the drive and where a free-space install offers **Free space install** instead (Phase 3). The install then runs on its own. The manual says it can finish in under a minute on the fastest machines and should not take more than 5 minutes even on an older one. ## Encryption, and the two Ctrl + C exits Encryption is on by default. The two cases where you press `Ctrl + C` are rare, so know them before you hit the key by accident: - `Ctrl + C` on the very first screen (keyboard selection) offers to prepare the machine for **another owner**. See Phase 3. - `Ctrl + C` on the disk formatting confirmation switches to an **unencrypted** install. The manual says this is only for special cases, such as remote installs on protected computers or throw-away machines. For anything that can be lost or stolen, keep encryption on. ## First boot When the install finishes, follow the installer's prompt to restart, and remove the USB stick so the machine boots from the drive. The bootloader is Limine, and its menu is titled "Omarchy Bootloader". Then comes the encryption prompt: type the password you chose, on your wired or dongle keyboard. If a login screen appears, use the same user and password. Then you arrive at the desktop, where a notification invites you to open the keybindings menu. Phase 4 takes you from there. ## When it does not go as planned | Symptom | Calm fix | |---|---| | The USB stick will not boot | Confirm Secure Boot and/or TPM are off, try another USB port, and re-flash the stick. | | You cannot type the password at startup | You are likely on a Bluetooth keyboard. Use a wired or 2.4 GHz-dongle keyboard. | | The installer complains about BitLocker (dual boot) | Turn off BitLocker in Windows first. See Phase 3. | | Something else is wrong | Ask in the `#omarchy-help` channel on the [community Discord](https://omarchy.org/discord). | Check yourself before moving on: ```quiz [ { "q": "The installer asks for one password. What does Omarchy use it for?", "choices": ["Only your login", "Your user account, root, and the disk encryption key", "Only the Wi-Fi network"], "answer": 1, "explain": "One password serves your user, the root account, and disk encryption when it is enabled. You can change the drive and user passwords separately later.", "why": ["It does more than log you in: it also unlocks the encrypted drive.", null, "Wi-Fi credentials are separate and are set from the network panel later."] }, { "q": "You press Ctrl + C on the disk formatting confirmation. What did you choose?", "choices": ["An install for another owner", "An unencrypted installation", "To cancel the install and shut down"], "answer": 1, "explain": "Ctrl + C on the formatting confirmation switches to an encryption-less install. Ctrl + C on the very first (keyboard) screen is the other-owner option." }, { "q": "You leave the hostname blank. What do you get?", "choices": ["The install fails", "The default hostname omarchy", "A random name"], "answer": 1, "explain": "A blank hostname falls back to omarchy." } ] ``` ## Recap 1. Boot from the USB stick using your computer's one-time boot menu, with Secure Boot and TPM off. 2. Answer the questions: keyboard, username, password (also the encryption key), optional git name and email, hostname, timezone. Then confirm and pick a drive. 3. The install takes minutes. Encryption is on by default; the two `Ctrl + C` exits are for another owner (first screen) or no encryption (formatting confirmation). 4. At first boot you type the encryption password on a wired or dongle keyboard. Next up, [Dual Boot and Special Installs](03-dual-boot-and-special-installs.md): keeping Windows, Intel Macs, and the unusual cases. --- # Dual Boot and Special Installs Maybe you want to keep Windows as a safety net, or you are setting up an old Mac, or the computer is for someone else. Each case changes one or two steps of the normal install. This phase covers what to change and what to watch for. ## Dual boot with Windows A **dual boot** means two operating systems share one drive, and you pick one at startup. Omarchy supports this by installing into a single partition in unallocated space. It still encrypts that partition by default, so it is no weaker than a full-disk install. All it needs is free space on the disk. > ⚠️ **Gotcha.** Back up before you touch partitions (Phase 1). Resizing partitions normally goes fine, but any disk operation carries some risk, and the backup is what makes that risk acceptable. ### Step 1: turn off BitLocker The free-space install is not compatible with BitLocker, because BitLocker encrypts the whole drive rather than one partition. If the installer reports that BitLocker is enabled, boot into Windows and go to **Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Device encryption**, then toggle it off. Decrypting the drive can take a while, so start it well before you need it. ### Step 2: make free space In Windows: 1. Type `disk management` in the Start menu and choose **Create and format hard disk partitions**. 2. Find the partition to shrink (normally your main Windows drive), right-click it, and choose **Shrink Volume**. 3. Enter how much to shrink it by. That amount becomes the size of your Omarchy install, boot partition included. The manual's example uses 50 GB; choose a size with room for your own files and apps. When you finish, you should see a block labeled "Unallocated". That is where Omarchy will go. Do not format it. ### Step 3: install in the free space Run the installer as in Phase 2. After you select the disk, you get the option **Free space install**. Choose it, and the rest of the disk is left alone. You can still choose an unencrypted install here as on a full-disk install, but the manual does not recommend it. ### Step 4: add Windows to the boot menu After the install, **Limine** is your bootloader. It lists Omarchy, and you can add your other installs to it. Run this in a terminal and follow the prompts: ```bash limine-scan ``` Choose Windows Boot Manager when it appears. From then on, startup shows both Omarchy and Windows. *What just happened:* `limine-scan` looked for other operating systems on your machine and, once you approved them, wrote them into Limine's configuration. ## Intel Macs: Omarchy only The manual says Omarchy has built-in support for **Intel Macs** and none directly for M-series Macs. On an Intel Mac, Omarchy must be the **only** operating system: the install wipes the drive and macOS stops booting. You can bring macOS back later with Internet Recovery. You must first disable Apple's Secure Boot so the stick and the installed OS can boot: 1. Turn off the Mac. 2. Turn it on and immediately hold `Command + R` until the loading screen appears. 3. Choose your user and enter your password if asked. 4. In the recovery screen, choose **Utilities > Startup Security Utility** from the menu bar. 5. Authenticate with your password. 6. Choose **No Security** for Secure Boot. 7. Choose **Allow booting from external or removable media**. Then boot the stick: insert it, restart while holding `Option`, and choose the orange EFI Boot device. Proceed with the normal install from Phase 2. The installer detects Mac hardware and applies fixes automatically, including Broadcom Wi-Fi drivers and firmware, the SPI keyboard driver on the models that need it, and an NVMe suspend fix. Two model families need a note: - **T1 Touch Bar MacBook Pros (late 2016):** the Touch Bar does not work and neither does sound. - **T2 models (2017 to 2020):** the installer sets up a patched kernel, T2 audio, Apple's Broadcom Wi-Fi and Bluetooth firmware, and fan control. The manual says community members work on these limits, and points to the `#omarchy-on-other` channel on the Omarchy Discord for current fixes. For the full model lists, see the [Mac support page](https://omarchy.org/manual/mac-support/). ## Installing for another owner If you are setting up a machine for a family member, a new employee, or a buyer, do not answer their personal questions for them. Press `Ctrl + C` on the very first installer screen (the keyboard selection) and Omarchy offers to prepare the machine for another owner. The system installs right away, but the keyboard layout, username, and password are asked at first boot instead. The drive stays encrypted, and the password the new owner picks becomes the encryption password. A machine you have already used can also be handed over without reinstalling, using _Setup > Reset Computer_. It asks you to type `reset`, wipes every user account and everything in `/home`, and brings back the first-boot setup. It only works on installs done from the Omarchy ISO. On an unencrypted drive it deletes data but is not a secure erase, so for sensitive data do a fresh install. ## Unattended installs The ISO can install with no keyboard and no wizard if it finds a second drive labeled `cidata` holding configuration files such as `user_configuration.json` and `user_credentials.json`. This is for treating Omarchy as a base image for virtual machines and fleets. The details are in the manual's [unattended installs](https://omarchy.org/manual/unattended-installs/) chapter. ## "Omarchy on..." other setups The manual's "Omarchy on..." chapter lists setups beyond a normal PC. Most are user-written guides, so expect rougher edges: - **Apple M1 and M2:** through Asahi Alarm, with some effort, using a community guide. - **Virtual machines:** Parallels, VirtualBox (performance probably not great, per the manual), and VMware Workstation on Windows 11. - **Steam Deck:** it runs Arch, so there is a community setup script. - **NixOS:** a community port of the essence of the setup, which may lag behind current Omarchy. Anything else goes to the `#omarchy-on-other` channel on the [community Discord](https://omarchy.org/discord). Check yourself before moving on: ```quiz [ { "q": "The installer says BitLocker is enabled during a dual boot attempt. What do you do?", "choices": ["Ignore it and continue", "Boot Windows, turn off Device encryption, and wait for the drive to decrypt", "Reinstall Windows"], "answer": 1, "explain": "The free-space install is not compatible with BitLocker, which encrypts the whole drive. Turn it off in Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Device encryption, then retry.", "why": ["The free-space install cannot proceed with BitLocker enabled.", null, "Reinstalling Windows is unnecessary. Turning BitLocker off is enough."] }, { "q": "After a dual boot install, how do you get Windows to appear in the boot menu?", "choices": ["Run limine-scan and follow the prompts", "Reinstall Omarchy", "It appears automatically with no action"], "answer": 0, "explain": "Limine is the bootloader after the install, and limine-scan adds other installs, such as Windows Boot Manager, to its menu." }, { "q": "What must be true for an Intel Mac install?", "choices": ["Omarchy has to be the only OS, because the install wipes the drive", "It can dual boot with macOS", "It requires Apple silicon"], "answer": 0, "explain": "The manual says Omarchy only supports being the only OS on an Intel Mac for now. M-series Macs are not directly supported." } ] ``` ## Recap 1. Dual boot uses a free-space install. Turn off BitLocker, shrink the Windows volume to create free space, choose **Free space install**, then run `limine-scan`. 2. On an Intel Mac, Omarchy is the only OS. Disable Apple's Secure Boot in Recovery, then boot the stick with `Option`. M-series Macs are not directly supported. 3. For another owner, press `Ctrl + C` on the first screen. For an unattended install, supply a `cidata` drive. 4. VM, Steam Deck, and NixOS routes exist but are community guides. Next up, [Your First Boot Checklist](04-your-first-boot-checklist.md): what to do in your first ten minutes on the new desktop. --- # Your First Boot Checklist The desktop is up, there is no dock, and your mouse does almost nothing. That is normal. The next ten minutes decide whether Omarchy feels welcoming or hostile, so here is the short list, in the order that helps most. | Do this | How | |---|---| | Learn the two doors in | `Super + Space` (menu) and `Super + K` (every hotkey) | | Get online | `Super + Ctrl + W`, or plug in Ethernet | | Update | _Update > Omarchy_ | | Fix oversized apps | Edit `monitors.lua` via _Setup > Monitors_ | | Know the safety net | Snapshots happen on every update | ## 1. Learn the two doors The first time you log in, a notification offers to open the keybindings menu. Click it, or press `Super + K` any time. That is the list of every mapped hotkey, and the manual calls it the only one you really have to memorize. The other door is `Super + Space`, the Omarchy menu. It launches apps, changes settings, and installs software. Start typing and it filters. If you forget everything else, these two keys get you back. Try the basics now: `Super + Return` opens a terminal, `Super + Shift + Return` opens a browser, and `Super + W` closes the active window. The [tiling guide](/guides/omarchy-tiling-windows-and-workspaces) explains what you will see. ## 2. Get online Networking is handled by NetworkManager. Ethernet needs nothing: plug it in. For Wi-Fi, press `Super + Ctrl + W` to open the network panel, which scans networks, shows signal strength, and connects. Panels are keyboard friendly: arrows move, `Return` activates, `Tab` steps to the neighbouring panel, and `Escape` closes. You can also click the network icon in the top bar. For everything else about panels, see [Omarchy Menus, Panels, and the CLI](/guides/omarchy-menus-panels-and-cli). ## 3. Run the first update Run _Update > Omarchy_ from the menu, or `omarchy update` in a terminal. A small circle-arrow icon appears next to the clock when an update is waiting, and clicking it starts the same update. ```bash omarchy update ``` Before changing anything, the update checks free space, takes a **snapshot** (a restorable copy of your system), then updates Omarchy and your packages and runs any migrations. The update stops if the root filesystem has under 10 GiB free, so free some space if it complains. The transcript is saved to `/tmp/omarchy-update.log`. > ⚠️ **Gotcha.** Do not run `pacman -Syu` yourself. Omarchy stops direct system upgrades on purpose and points you back to `omarchy update`, because the direct way skips the snapshot and the configuration updates. If the update asks you to restart, restart. The snapshot is also your first safety net. [When Omarchy Breaks](/guides/when-omarchy-breaks) shows how to use it. ## 4. Fix oversized apps Omarchy assumes a high-resolution (2x) screen. If you are on 1080p or 1440p, some apps look huge. The fix is in `~/.config/hypr/monitors.lua`, which you open from _Setup > Monitors_. The shipped defaults include these two variables: ```lua local omarchy_gdk_scale = 2 local omarchy_monitor_scale = "auto" ``` The manual's guidance: | Display | `omarchy_gdk_scale` | `omarchy_monitor_scale` | |---|---|---| | 27 or 32 inch 4K | `2` | `1.6` | | 1080p or 1440p | `1` | `1` | Edit the numbers, save and quit (`:wq` in Neovim, the default editor), and restart any oversized app. `GDK_SCALE` only affects apps started afterwards, so close old windows first. `Ctrl + Alt + Delete` closes all windows at once. For quick adjustments without a file, press `Super + Ctrl + D` to open the Display panel (brightness, text size, scaling presets) or press `Super + /` to step through scales. If only the text is too small or large, `omarchy display text size 14` sets it (the range is 9 to 20). *What just happened:* the scale variables told Omarchy how large to draw your screen's pixels. Telling it your real display density corrects everything at once. ## 5. Set the small things - **Timezone:** _Update > Timezone_. If the zone is right but the clock drifted, _Update > Time_ restarts time sync. - **Clock format:** right-click the clock in the top bar to cycle formats, including 12-hour. - **Sound and Bluetooth:** `Super + Ctrl + A` opens Audio, where you can pick the output device, and `Super + Ctrl + B` opens Bluetooth. Unplugged speakers silent? Pick them as the output in the Audio panel. - **Google sign-in in Chromium:** the plain Chromium build lacks Google's credentials. Run _Install > Service > Chromium Account_ and restart the browser. - **Passwords:** change the drive and login passwords in _Update > Password_. > 💡 **Key point.** If Caps Lock does nothing, that is by design. Omarchy uses it as the compose key for quick emoji and text completions. To get Caps Lock back, set `kb_options = "compose:ralt"` inside the `input` section of `~/.config/hypr/input.lua`. The [comfort guide](/guides/making-omarchy-comfortable) shows the full structure. ## 6. Know where to learn next The _Learn_ menu entry opens the keybindings, the Omarchy manual, the Hyprland and Arch wikis, and more. Stuck? Ask in the `#omarchy-help` channel on the [community Discord](https://omarchy.org/discord). In this series, the natural next steps are: 1. [Omarchy for Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu Users](/guides/omarchy-for-windows-macos-and-ubuntu-users) - translate your old habits. 2. [Omarchy Tiling, Windows, and Workspaces](/guides/omarchy-tiling-windows-and-workspaces) - get comfortable with the layout. 3. [Installing and Updating Software on Omarchy](/guides/installing-and-updating-software-on-omarchy) - apps and packages. 4. [Making Omarchy Comfortable](/guides/making-omarchy-comfortable) - keyboard, monitors, themes. ## Your turn: recall the network panel ```exercise [ { "type": "predict", "task": "Which hotkey opens the network panel for Wi-Fi? Write it like `Super + Space`.", "accept": ["Super + Ctrl + W", "/^super\\s*\\+\\s*ctrl\\s*\\+\\s*w$/i"], "hint": "Panels use Super + Ctrl plus a letter. W stands for Wi-Fi." } ] ``` Check yourself before moving on: ```quiz [ { "q": "Your terminal and browser look huge on a 1080p screen. Where do you fix it?", "choices": ["In ~/.config/hypr/monitors.lua, setting the scale variables to 1", "In /usr/share/omarchy, editing the default files", "Nowhere, it cannot be changed"], "answer": 0, "explain": "Omarchy assumes a 2x display. On a 1x display set omarchy_gdk_scale (and the monitor scale) to 1 in monitors.lua, then restart the oversized apps.", "why": [null, "Files in /usr/share/omarchy belong to Omarchy and are overwritten by updates. Override in ~/.config instead.", "It is a documented one-line change."] }, { "q": "Why should you run omarchy update instead of pacman -Syu?", "choices": ["pacman cannot update anything on Omarchy", "omarchy update takes a snapshot first and runs migrations and config updates", "omarchy update is faster"], "answer": 1, "explain": "A direct upgrade skips the snapshot and the migrations, so Omarchy blocks it and points you to omarchy update." }, { "q": "Caps Lock does nothing. What is going on?", "choices": ["The keyboard is broken", "Omarchy repurposes Caps Lock as the compose key, and you can change that in input.lua", "Caps Lock needs a driver"], "answer": 1, "explain": "Caps Lock is the compose key, used for quick emoji and completions. Setting kb_options = \"compose:ralt\" in input.lua moves compose elsewhere." } ] ``` ## Recap 1. `Super + Space` opens the menu and `Super + K` lists every hotkey. 2. `Super + Ctrl + W` opens the Wi-Fi panel. Ethernet works when plugged in. 3. Run _Update > Omarchy_ (never a bare `pacman -Syu`); it snapshots first. 4. On 1080p or 1440p screens, set the scale variables in `monitors.lua` to `1` and restart oversized apps. 5. Caps Lock is the compose key by design. The _Learn_ menu and `#omarchy-help` are where help lives. You have finished the install guide. Continue with [Omarchy for Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu Users](/guides/omarchy-for-windows-macos-and-ubuntu-users).