Omarchy Framework 16 v1.03

Minor Versionm

by Matt Hartley

Omarchy Linux Installation on the Framework Laptop 16

Written By: Jesse Darnley (and one other contributor)
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Difficulty

Easy

Steps

9

Time Required

00:05:00 - 00:20:00

Flags

0

Introduction

Once you have your Framework Laptop 16 set up following the Quick Start Guide, you’re ready to install your preferred OS. Omarchy is described as "An opinionated Arch + Hyprland setup by DHH". It provides a pre-configured but minimal fully-encrypted Arch-based system with a GUI.

NOTE: Omarchy is based on Arch Linux, a Community Supported Linux Distribution. Learn more here.

  1. First, download Omarchy Linux from Omarchy's website. Download balenaEtcher as a tool to create the USB installer from the ISO.

    • First, download Omarchy Linux from Omarchy's website.

    • Download balenaEtcher as a tool to create the USB installer from the ISO.

    • balenaEtcher is available for macOS on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. Download the X64 version for Intel Macs and the arm64 version for Apple Silicon Macs.

    • Install by double clicking on the balenaEtcher.dmg file, then click-and-dragging the balenaEtcher icon to the Applications folder.

    • Insert a USB drive that is 8GB or larger, allow your Mac to access the accessory, then launch balenaEtcher.

    • Click on "Flash from file" and select the Omarchy ISO downloaded earlier. Then click on "Select Target" and choose the USB drive. Finally click "Flash" and wait for the process to complete.

    • Once the USB drive creation is complete, it is safe to close balenaEtcher and eject the USB drive in Finder.

  2. First, download Omarchy Linux from Omarchy's website.

    • First, download Omarchy Linux from Omarchy's website.

    • Download Rufus as a tool to create the USB installer from the ISO - select the top download option from the link provided. Use the downloaded EXE file to install Rufus.

    • Launch Rufus. Insert your USB drive (8GB or larger). Click on "Flash from file" and select the Omarchy Linux iso that you downloaded. Select "GPT" under "Partition Scheme". Click on "SELECT" and choose your USB drive. Click "START" and wait a minute or two for it to complete.

  3. Enforce Secure Boot must be Disabled: While Omarchy can be configured to support Secure Boot, it does not support Secure Boot by default. Information about Secure Boot on Framework Computers can be found here. To disable Secure Boot: Power on, then tap F2 rapidly at the Framework splash screen. Use the arrow keys to select Administer Secure Boot tile on the screen. Press enter.

    • Enforce Secure Boot must be Disabled: While Omarchy can be configured to support Secure Boot, it does not support Secure Boot by default. Information about Secure Boot on Framework Computers can be found here. To disable Secure Boot:

    • Power on, then tap F2 rapidly at the Framework splash screen.

    • Use the arrow keys to select Administer Secure Boot tile on the screen. Press enter.

    • Use the arrow keys to select Enforce Secure Boot, it will show as Enabled. Press the enter key, use the arrow keys to select "Disabled" then press the enter key again. Press F10 key to save and reboot.

    • This may impact the functionality of Windows if it is installed on another drive in the system.

    • Insert the USB drive into the powered off Framework Laptop 16, and then power on. Immediately after the power light comes on begin rapidly tapping (continuously ) the F12 key - begin tapping well before the Framework logo is visible.

    • If there is no internal storage drive installed or it is blank, the system will boot from the USB drive directly and there is no need to tap F12.

    • Use the arrow keys to select the USB drive and press enter to boot the Omarchy installer.

  4. An internet connection is required to complete installation of Omarchy.

    • An internet connection is required to complete installation of Omarchy.

    • The Omarchy installer will immediately scan for wireless networks if it does not detect a wired internet connection.

    • Use the arrow keys to select a wireless network, then press Enter/Return to connect.

    • If the network requires a password, a prompt will open automatically. Type the password and press Enter/Return.

    • NOTE: At the time of writing, the RZ717 wireless module present on the AMD Ryzen AI 300 series mainboards may have trouble seeing or connecting to 6GHz-only WiFi 7 networks.

  5. Go through the prompts to provide information needed for system configuration

    • Go through the prompts to provide information needed for system configuration

    • Enter a username and password when prompted

    • The password created here is used for the user being created, the root (or Administrator) account, and as the primary key for full disk encryption.

    • Full name and email address are optional for use with Github, they do not need to be entered to complete installation or to use Omarchy

    • Hostname is the name the computer is seen as by networks and other computers.

    • Select a timezone and keyboard layout.

  6. Confirm the previous selections. Omarchy's installer will now search for and provide a list of disks it can install to. Select the drive for install and press Enter/Return. WARNING: This will wipe the entire drive and its contents. Be certain the correct drive is being selected. The installation process will begin at this point. Please be patient while packages are downloaded and installed.

    • Confirm the previous selections. Omarchy's installer will now search for and provide a list of disks it can install to. Select the drive for install and press Enter/Return.

    • WARNING: This will wipe the entire drive and its contents. Be certain the correct drive is being selected.

    • The installation process will begin at this point. Please be patient while packages are downloaded and installed.

    • This process should take 20 minutes or less, but can sometimes take a longer time, depending on connection speed.

    • When installation finishes, a summary screen will be shown. Remove the USB installer, and press Enter/Return to reboot.

    • Select Omarchy using the keyboard if prompted with a bootloader, then enter the password chosen earlier to unlock the computer and boot.

    • If the system has booted to the default desktop, the installation was a success. Please refer to The Omarchy Manual to learn how to use and configure Omarchy.

    • Omarchy should detect the Nvidia dGPU in the system and install the appropriate driver automatically during the install process. However the dGPU can always be added to the system after the operating system is installed.

    • To install the appropriate driver for the Framework Laptop 16's Nvidia dGPU option, run the command: sudo pacman -S nvidia-open

    • Reboot after installation is complete to allow the system to load the newly installed driver.

    • With the current package revisions, the nvidia-open package should also install the nvidia-utils package which provides configurations for blacklisting nouveau and loading the necessary kernel modules for the proprietary Nvidia driver.

    • If there are startup issues, like the display manager loading before the nvidia module, the nvidia, nvidia_modeset, nvidia_uvm and nvidia_drm modules can be added to the initramfs.

    • If there are issues with the display when resuming from sleep, it may be a issue with remapping the video memory.

    • One possible remedy for this is to enable the kernel module setting to save the full memory map to the /tmp directory by running the command: sudo echo "option nvidia NVreg_PreserveVideoMemory=1" > /etc/modprobe.d/nvidia-suspend-remedy.conf

  8. The Framework Laptop 16 with the NVIDIA dGPU module can operate in two primary graphics modes that offer different benefits. These modes can be changed in the BIOS.

    • The Framework Laptop 16 with the NVIDIA dGPU module can operate in two primary graphics modes that offer different benefits. These modes can be changed in the BIOS.

    • To access these settings: Tap F2 when powering on the laptop and the Framework Splash screen with the Framework logo is visible. Arrow over to Setup utility. Click enter. Down arrow to Advanced on the left side. Right arrow to NVIDIA Mux. Enter key. Make a selection, press enter. Press F10 and press enter again to save changes and reboot.

    • The third option, Advanced Optimus, behaves like NVIDIA Hybrid Mode on Linux. Therefore it is not relevant to this guide.

    • NVIDIA Hybrid Mode (Traditional Optimus): This is the default and most battery-efficient mode.

    • Display Path: The integrated AMD GPU (iGPU) is always connected to the display. When the NVIDIA GPU (dGPU) is used for a demanding task, it renders the frames and copies them to the iGPU to be shown on the screen.

    • Switching: Applications run on the power-saving iGPU by default. Steam uses dGPU this automatically for games.

    • Performance: Small but measurable latency and FPS penalty compared to direct dGPU output because every frame must traverse the iGPU.

    • Power Behavior: The iGPU remains on at all times. The dGPU powers up only when needed and typically idles around 4–6 W (P8 power state). This is the most battery-efficient configuration.

  9. The Framework Laptop 16 with the NVIDIA dGPU module can operate in two primary graphics modes that offer different benefits. These modes can be changed in the BIOS.

    • The Framework Laptop 16 with the NVIDIA dGPU module can operate in two primary graphics modes that offer different benefits. These modes can be changed in the BIOS.

    • To access these settings: Tap F2 when powering on the laptop and the Framework Splash screen with the Framework logo is visible. Arrow over to Setup utility. Click enter. Down arrow to Advanced on the left side. Right arrow to NVIDIA Mux. Enter key. Make a selection, press enter. Press F10 and press enter again to save changes and reboot.

    • The third option, Advanced Optimus, behaves like NVIDIA Hybrid Mode on Linux. Therefore it is not relevant to this guide.

    • NVIDIA GPU-Only (Discrete Mode)

    • Display Path: The dGPU drives the panel 100% of the time. The iGPU is fully disabled.

    • Switching: No switching possible without reboot — you must go back into BIOS or flip the MUX manually to return to Hybrid mode.

    • Performance: Maximum performance and lowest latency, because there is no iGPU in the pipeline.

    • Power Behavior Highest power draw. The dGPU cannot power down and battery life is significantly shorter, even at idle.

Finish Line

Author

with 1 other contributor

Jesse Darnley

Member since: 3/3/25

3 Guides authored

Team

Framework Member of Framework

9 Members

170 Guides authored

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