this post was submitted on 01 Aug 2025
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Linux on a 2014 macbook air? (ttrpg.network)
submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by jjjalljs@ttrpg.network to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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A friend of mine has an old macbook air. It still works, more or less, but the OS isn't getting any updates anymore, and updating to the latest OS seems dicey.

Has anyone had experience installing linux on an old macbook? From a quick internet search it looks like you can just make a bootable USB and have at it. Thinking mint because it's popular and my friend is a pretty basic user. The laptop will be mostly used for like youtube/netflix and basic web browsing.

Edit: a little extra context: I am moderately comfortable with Linux. I ran mint for a while on my desktop, and I've done software development for a job. I can install docker and start a python project fine, but I'd use a GUI for like partitioning a hard drive.

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[–] LeFantome@programming.dev 6 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I have Linux on:

  • 2013 MacBook Air
  • 2017 MacBook Air
  • 2021 MacBook Air
  • 2009 MacBook Pro
  • 2012 MacBook Pro
  • 2008 iMac
  • 2015 iMac
  • 2013 Mac Pro

I predict that EndeavourOS will run beautifully on your 2014 MacBook Air. You need out-of-kernel drivers for both the Broadcom WiFi and the FacetimeHD camera but EOS has you covered on both. They will both update automatically when you update the kernel. EOS has much faster WiFi on my 2013 than the other distros I have tried. Chimera Linux works beautifully as well but that may not be your scene.

I have not tried Mint on any of the hardware above so unfortunately, I cannot say how well it would work. Perhaps just fine though I wonder about the webcam.

As you guessed, installing Linux on that hardware is just holding down the Option key to boot of the USB. It is pretty close to regular PC hardware with a slightly odd UEFI. Everything works, even all the media keys, brightness control, etc.

You can use OpenCore Legacy Patcher to put a newer version of macOS on that hardware as well. As you can tell though, I think Linux is the better play. You will be amazed at how well the 2014 runs.

[edit: I just read some of the other comments. I never had any of those issues with EOS. I really recommend it for that hardware.]