How to Install or Upgrade to Fedora Asahi Remix 44 on Apple Silicon Macs

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Introduction

Fedora Asahi Remix 44 has arrived, bringing Fedora Linux 44 to Apple Silicon Macs with full support for KDE Plasma 6.6 and GNOME 50 desktops. This collaborative release between the Fedora Asahi Special Interest Group and the Asahi Linux project also transitions users to upstream Mesa and virglrenderer packages automatically. Whether you're setting up a new system or upgrading from Fedora Asahi Remix 42 or 43, this step-by-step guide walks you through the entire process. By following these instructions, you'll get a stable, up-to-date Linux environment optimized for your M1 or M2 Mac.

How to Install or Upgrade to Fedora Asahi Remix 44 on Apple Silicon Macs — Source: fedoramagazine.org

What You Need

An Apple Silicon Mac (M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, M1 Ultra, M2, M2 Pro, M2 Max, M2 Ultra).
A stable internet connection (recommended 5+ Mbps for downloads).
At least 50 GB of free disk space for a full installation (more if you plan to store large files).
A backup of all important data on your Mac (optional but strongly advised).
If upgrading: Your existing Fedora Asahi Remix 42 or 43 installation should be fully updated.
For new installations: A USB flash drive (8 GB or larger) and a tool to write the installer image.
Patience and basic comfort with Linux command-line operations (for the upgrade path).

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Choose Your Installation Path

Decide whether you're performing a fresh install or upgrading from an older Fedora Asahi Remix release. Fresh installations require creating a bootable USB drive using the Asahi Linux installer script. Upgrades from version 42 or 43 use standard Fedora upgrade methods (but not GNOME Software). If you have version 39 or earlier, perform a fresh install instead.

Step 2: For Fresh Install – Download the Asahi Linux Installer

Visit the official Asahi Linux installation page at https://asahilinux.org/install/. On your Mac, open Terminal and run the one-liner provided on the page to download the installer script. This script will guide you through partitioning and installing Fedora Asahi Remix 44. Follow the on-screen prompts, selecting the desired desktop variant (Fedora Asahi Remix defaults to KDE Plasma 6.6, but you can also choose GNOME 50, Fedora Server, or Minimal).

Step 3: For Fresh Install – Boot and Complete Setup

After the installer finishes, reboot your Mac and hold the power button to access startup options. Select the “Fedora Asahi” volume (or the external drive if you installed on USB). The system will boot into the new Fedora Asahi Remix 44 environment. On first boot, the new Plasma Setup wizard (instead of the old Calamares) will appear. Create your user account and configure locale, keyboard, and timezone. The system will also use Plasma Login Manager (SDDM successor) by default for new installs.

Step 4: For Upgrade from Fedora Asahi Remix 42 or 43 – Update Your Current System

First, ensure your existing installation is fully updated. Open a terminal and run:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

This fetches the latest packages from the current release repos. Reboot if a kernel update was applied.

Step 5: Upgrade Using DNF System Upgrade (Recommended)

Install the dnf-plugin-system-upgrade package if not already present:

sudo dnf install dnf-plugin-system-upgrade

Then, download the Fedora 44 packages for the Asahi Remix:

sudo dnf system-upgrade download --releasever=44

This may take a while as it downloads hundreds of packages. Once complete, initiate the upgrade with:

sudo dnf system-upgrade reboot

The system will reboot and perform the upgrade automatically. After it finishes, you'll log into Fedora Asahi Remix 44. Note: The upgrade process does not change your display manager if you were using SDDM; only new installs get Plasma Login Manager.

Step 6: Upgrade Using KDE Plasma Discover (Alternative)

If you prefer a graphical upgrade, open Plasma Discover (the software center). Look for the system upgrade notification or navigate to Settings → Updates. Click “Upgrade” to start the process. Note that GNOME Software does not support this upgrade – you must use either Discover or the command line method described in Step 5.

Step 7: Post-Install/Post-Upgrade Steps

After installation or upgrade, verify the Mesa and virglrenderer packages have been transitioned to upstream. Run:

rpm -q mesa virglrenderer

If the output shows Fedora package names (e.g., mesa-24.1.0-1.fc44), the transition is complete. The vendored packages are now retired. Next, install any additional software you need from the Fedora repositories. You can also explore the new desktop features: KDE Plasma 6.6 includes enhanced Wayland support, new system settings categories, and improved performance. GNOME 50 brings revamped navigation and better multi-monitor handling.

Step 8: Enjoy Your Updated System

Reboot once more to ensure all services are running correctly. Your Apple Silicon Mac now sports a modern Fedora Linux 44 experience. For server or headless deployments, the Fedora Server variant is also available – repeat steps 2 and 3 selecting that option during installation. The Minimal image allows building from scratch.

Tips

Backup before upgrading: Even though upgrades are safe, unexpected power loss or network interruption can leave your system in an inconsistent state. Make a backup of important files.
Allow time: The DNF system upgrade download may take 30-60 minutes depending on your internet speed. The reboot upgrade process itself usually takes 5-10 minutes.
Check disk space: Ensure you have at least 10 GB free for the upgrade process. Use df -h to verify.
Report issues: If you encounter any Remix-specific problems (e.g., missing drivers, graphical glitches), report them on the Fedora Asahi Issue Tracker. For general support, visit the Fedora Discourse Asahi forum or join the Matrix room.
Desktop choices: KDE Plasma is the flagship, but GNOME users will also find a polished experience. You can install both desktop environments and switch at the login screen.
Remember the upgrade caveat: GNOME Software cannot handle the release upgrade. Always use Discover (on KDE) or the command line.
Keep your system updated: After installation, enable automatic updates via sudo dnf autoupdate or using the graphical update manager.

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