How to Install Elementary OS 6 Odin (Linux)

elementary OS is a Linux operating system that defines itself as “the thoughtful, efficient and ethical alternative to Windows and macOS”. elementary OS 6 is a great alternative to Windows 11 and Windows 10. It is a simple, fast operating system, which offers an elegant graphical interface: undoubtedly, it is one of the most beautiful operating systems. Its features have nothing to envy to those of Windows: multi-touch, dark theme, application isolation, notifications, application centre.

Are you looking for an alternative to Windows 11 or Windows 10 operating system? Are you interested in elementary OS 6 and want to install it on your computer? In this tutorial, we will see how to install elementary OS 6 step-by-step as the main operating system, or as a dual-boot with Windows.

Elementary OS 6 Overview

elementary OS 6 “Odin” is a free Linux distribution based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. It follows the same lifecycle, namely supports until April 2025. elementary OS 6 uses the Pantheon desktop environment based on GNOME. The special thing about elementary OS 6 is that it uses Flatpak as its main package system, unlike the parent distribution, Ubuntu, which uses Snap. Flatpak is a package system that allows you to install and run applications isolated from each other and from the rest of the system, for enhanced security and privacy. All apps available in the App Center are in Flatpak format (and any future apps added will be too). Flatpak apps must ask for your permission to use hardware devices or access your files (permissions for each app can be managed from System Settings).

Here are the features of Elementary OS 6 Odin

Multitasking view: workspaces allow you to organize all your windows easily.
Notifications: Notification bubbles allow apps to send rich and useful information. Apps can also send actions with notifications. All notifications are grouped together in the notification centre.
Picture-in-Picture: Picture-in-Picture mode allows you to keep an eye on something (a movie, a video game, a terminal…) while working on something else.
Do Not Disturb: Turns off anything that isn’t needed to stay focused on a job or activity. Do not disturb mode turns off notifications.
Application Center: The open-source, open-source app store for independent developers allows you to get free or paid apps. Each app has been reviewed and selected by elementary to ensure a native, privacy-friendly and secure experience.
Many preinstalled applications: Calendar, Messaging, Camera, Tasks, Photos.
Screen time and limits: This allows you to define time restrictions per user, manage authorized sites and simply select the applications that users can access (it is also possible to authorize access to applications with a password). past).
Easy to use, even on the keyboard: Powerful and customizable keyboard shortcuts help you get more done and get tasks done faster.
Respect for privacy: elementary does not advertise or collect sensitive personal data.
Cookies: elementary OS keeps tabs on what applications are doing. When an app is using the microphone or consuming a lot of power, an indicator is displayed to alert the user.
Permissions: When an app wants to access personal data or devices, it must first ask the user for permission. elementary examines all applications in the Application Center to be sure they are using permissions correctly. It is possible at any time to revoke authorizations in the System settings.
Firmware Update: Thanks to the Linux Vendor Firmware Service, elementary OS 6 is able to update the firmware of computer components and peripherals. Supported devices can get the latest security and stability updates directly from System Settings → System → Firmware.

Requirement

To run elementary OS 6, your computer must meet the following minimum requirements:

Processor: Newer Intel i3 or equivalent 64-bit dual-core processor
RAM: 4 GB
Disk: SSD with 15 GB of free space

Why choose and install the elementary OS 6?

elementary OS 6 is for you if you’re looking for:

an alternative to Windows 11 and Windows 10;
a neat, elegant OS, which gives priority to design, user experience and the consistency of its ecosystem;
a minimalist, simple and ready to use OS where everything is already configured for you.

On the other hand, it may not be right for you if you are looking for:

a customizable and highly configurable OS (elementary OS is quite rigid, preferring to offer you what it considers ideal).

Steps to Install Elementary OS 6 on your PC

Step 1: Download elementary OS 6 ISO

The first step, you need to download elementary OS 6 ISO:

Visit the elementary website: https://elementary.io/
In Pay what you can, enter 0 and click Download elementary OS.
Click the Download button to start the download.
Patent while downloading the elementary OS 6 ISO. Once finished, remember the location of the ISO, we will need it later to create the installation USB key.
Before continuing, take the opportunity to check the integrity of the ISO with SHA256 to be sure that it was not corrupted during the download. The ISO hash is available here.

Step 2: Create an elementary OS installation USB key

In the second step, you need to create an elementary OS 6 installation USB key from the ISO image you just downloaded using Rufus.

Step 3: Back up the system disk

Before continuing, we strongly advise you to create an image of your disk with Macrium Reflect.

A disk image is a complete backup of a disk and its partitions: your disk is completely cloned and saved as an image that is very easy to restore, always with Macrium Reflect.

In case of problems, you just have to restore the image to your disk and you will find your PC as before installing the elementary OS.

Step 4: Partition the system disk

Note: This part is intended for those who want to do a Windows + elementary OS dual-boot on their computer. If you are going to install the elementary OS on the entire drive and make it your primary operating system, continue to the next step.

To be able to install the elementary OS on the system disk, you have to make space for it!

At the moment, 100% of the disk space is occupied by Windows and its partitions: an EFI partition, an MSR partition, a Windows partition and a Recovery partition.

What we are going to do is reduce the size of the Windows partition so that Elementary OS can install itself in the free space now available.

Open the Disk Management tool:
via the Start menu or Search
via the Quick Link menu
via the Run: enter diskmgmt.msc and press enter
Locate the Windows partition (in 99% of cases C: it is assigned the letter ), right-click on it and select Shrink Volume.
Enter the size you want for elementary OS partitions in Amount of space to shrink, and click Shrink. Unofficially, it is recommended to allocate at least 15 GB of disk space. For convenience, I recommend that you allocate at least 30 GB.
There you have it, your system disk is ready to host elementary OS: an empty partition is available right next to the Windows one.

Step 5: Installation

Last step, installing elementary OS 6 on your computer:

Insert your Elementary OS 6 installation USB key into your PC.
Restart your PC from the USB stick
Wait or press the Enter key to start the elementary OS 6 installer.
Select the language English > USA.
Select the English keyboard layout > Default.
To install elementary OS 6 on the entire disk:
a. Select Erase disk and install, then click Erase disk and continue.
b. Select the system disk then click on Remove and install (be careful, all the data on your disk will be deleted).
c. Activate or not the encryption of the disk (an encryption password will be requested each time the computer is turned on).
To install elementary OS 6 alongside Windows (dual-boot):
a. Select Custom installation (advanced).
b. Click Edit Partitions.
c. GParted – the software for partitioning disks and partitions – opens.
d. The goal is to create three partitions in the unallocated space: an EFI partition, a swap partition, and a root partition.
e. Right click on unallocated space> New.
f. Create the partitions
g. Apply the changes by clicking on > Apply > Close.
h. Close GParted.
i. Select the first partition, check Use Partition and Format, and choose Boot (/ boot / EFI).
j. Select the second partition, check Use Partition and choose Swap.
k. Select the third partition, check Use Partition and Format, choose Root (/) and ext4.
l. Click Remove and Install.
Wait while elementary OS 6 is installed.
When the installation is complete, click Restart device.
Remove the installation USB drive and press Enter.

First time start elementary OS 6

When the computer starts up, you are taken to GRUB – the Linux boot manager. By default, elementary OS 6 is selected; after 30 seconds, it starts automatically.

If you have installed elementary OS 6 as dual-boot with Windows, you can boot to Windows by selecting Windows Boot Manager.

Then, if you have encrypted your disk, enter the encryption password after Please unlock disk crypdata.

When starting for the first time, select the system language: English > USA. Then the keyboard layout: English > Default.

Create your user account, give your computer a name and click on Finish configuration.

The Welcome to elementary OS application opens: follow the instructions to configure your system (appearance, night mode, cleaning…).

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