Download ParchaOS

The ISO’s SHA-256 checksum is:

a6390000bd61002fe1a0b96e39e47c69af9c0188b0069828130f722833e9b68d

On Linux, download SHA256SUMS into the same folder and run:

sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS --ignore-missing

On Windows, run certutil -hashfile parchaos-gnome-44-2026.09.26-x86_64.iso SHA256; on a Mac, shasum -a 256 parchaos-gnome-44-2026.09.26-x86_64.iso. The result should match the checksum above.

• A 64-bit PC (x86_64) with UEFI or legacy BIOS. Secure Boot can stay on.
• 4 GB of RAM, 8 GB recommended.
• 25 GB of disk space.
• A USB stick of 8 GB or larger. Everything on it will be erased.

Tested on an AMD AM5 desktop and in virtual machines with Secure Boot on. ParchaOS doesn’t include NVIDIA’s proprietary driver; NVIDIA cards use the open-source driver.

The easiest way is Fedora Media Writer (Windows, Mac and Linux): choose Select .iso file, pick the ParchaOS ISO and your USB stick, and click Write. balenaEtcher works too.

On Linux you can also use dd. Replace /dev/sdX with your USB stick and double-check it; dd overwrites whatever disk you name:

sudo dd if=parchaos-gnome-44-2026.09.26-x86_64.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress oflag=sync

1. Plug in the USB stick and restart. Open your PC’s boot menu (usually F12, F11, F8 or Esc right after power-on) and choose the USB stick.
2. ParchaOS starts as a live desktop, so you can try it first. Nothing is changed on your computer until you install.
3. Click Install ParchaOS in the dock, then choose your language, location and keyboard, and create your account.
4. Choose where to install. Erase disk uses the whole disk; Install alongside shrinks an existing system to make room; Manual partitioning is for your own layout. ParchaOS uses the Btrfs file system and sets up the EFI partition for you.
5. Click Install. It takes about five minutes. When it’s done, restart, remove the USB stick and log in.

Updates arrive through Parcha Store, or with sudo dnf upgrade in Terminal. Found a problem? Report it here.

ParchaOS’s own code is on GitHub. The release includes the source package of every program in the ISO (the …-sources-*.tar files). For at least three years after each release, Spanglish Enterprises LLC will also provide the complete corresponding source on request; see SOURCES.md.

ParchaOS is provided as is, without warranty of any kind. It contains cryptographic software and may be subject to U.S. export regulations. Before installing, read the known issues and the legal and privacy notice.

ParchaOS isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by the Fedora Project, Red Hat, the GNOME Foundation or Apple. If you believe anything in ParchaOS infringes your copyright or trademark, tell us and we’ll review it promptly and in good faith, and change or remove the material where appropriate.