Step-by-Step Guide to Dual Boot Ubuntu & MacOS on Intel Mac | Install Ubuntu 2023

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Important Considerations Before Installing Ubuntu on Mac
3. Installing Ubuntu on Mac
   • 3.1 Reserving Free Space for Ubuntu
   • 3.2 Shrink the Free Space
   • 3.3 Downloading the Ubuntu ISO
   • 3.4 Creating a Bootable USB Installer
   • 3.5 Booting into Ubuntu Installer
   • 3.6 Installing Ubuntu
4. Troubleshooting and Optimizing Ubuntu on Mac
   • 4.1 Fixing Battery Draining and Overheating Issues
   • 4.2 Deactivating Ubuntu and Returning to macOS
   • 4.3 Deleting Ubuntu Linux from Dual-Boot Setup
5. Conclusion

Introduction

Are you interested in running Ubuntu alongside macOS on your Mac? This comprehensive guide will walk you through the step-by-step installation process of dual-booting Ubuntu on your Intel-based Mac. But before we dive into the installation process, let's go over some important considerations that you should be aware of.

Important Considerations Before Installing Ubuntu on Mac

1. Compatibility Issues: While Ubuntu can run on most Intel-based Macs, it is not officially supported by Apple. This means you may encounter compatibility issues with drivers, such as problems with speakers, Bluetooth, and battery drain. Keep in mind that workarounds are available, but it's important to be aware of potential issues beforehand.

2. T2 Chip Compatibility: If your Mac has a T2 chip, you will need to disable a feature that prevents the Ubuntu installer from booting from external media. This additional step is crucial for successful installation. Instructions on how to disable this feature can be found on the official Ubuntu website.

Installing Ubuntu on Mac

3.1 Reserving Free Space for Ubuntu

Before you can install Ubuntu on your Mac, it's important to reserve at least 30GB of free space on your drive. This ensures that the Linux system functions properly without any space constraints.

3.2 Shrink the Free Space

To create space for the Linux system, you need to shrink the free space on your Mac's drive. You can do this by opening Spotlight (Command + Spacebar) and searching for "Disk Utility." Once opened, select your main drive and click on "Partition." Use the "+" button to create a new partition, allocating the desired amount of free space for Linux.

3.3 Downloading the Ubuntu ISO

Head over to the official Ubuntu website and download the desired version of the Ubuntu ISO. It is recommended to choose the LTS (Long-Term Support) release for stability, but you can also opt for the latest version if you prefer the latest features.

3.4 Creating a Bootable USB Installer

To install Ubuntu on your Mac, you need to create a bootable USB installer. Download and install Balena Etcher on your Mac, connect an 8GB or larger USB drive, and use Balena Etcher to create the bootable USB installer using the downloaded Ubuntu ISO.

3.5 Booting into Ubuntu Installer

Connect your power adapter and restart your Mac. While it's restarting, hold the Option key until the boot menu appears. Select the Bootable USB Drive (usually named EFI Boot) from the menu to boot into the Ubuntu installer.

3.6 Installing Ubuntu

Once in the Ubuntu installer, follow the on-screen instructions to choose your keyboard language and connect to the internet via Wi-Fi. Select the "Normal Installation" option and ensure that the "Download updates while installing" and "Install third-party software" options are checked. Select the "Something else" option for the installation type, which allows you to manually create partitions for Ubuntu.

Highlight the free space you created and click on "-" to make it unallocated. Then, click on "+" and create two partitions - an EFI partition (around 1000MB) and a root partition (using the remaining free space). Select the newly created EFI partition and choose the bootloader installation. Install GRUB on the EFI partition and proceed with the installation.

Troubleshooting and Optimizing Ubuntu on Mac

4.1 Fixing Battery Draining and Overheating Issues

If you experience battery draining or overheating issues on Ubuntu, there are steps you can take to mitigate them. Visit the provided link and follow the instructions to install and configure auto-cpufreq, a useful tool for managing CPU frequency and improving battery life.

4.2 Deactivating Ubuntu and Returning to macOS

To switch back to macOS, you need to access the boot menu by holding the Option key during startup. From the boot menu, choose Macintosh to boot into macOS. This ensures that your Mac will automatically boot into macOS without any additional steps.

4.3 Deleting Ubuntu Linux from Dual-Boot Setup

If you decide to remove Ubuntu and return to using only macOS, follow these steps:

1. Boot back into macOS and open the Terminal.
2. Type "diskutil list" to list all the internal drives and partitions.
3. Identify the Ubuntu EFI partition by comparing it with the screenshot you took during the Ubuntu installation process.
4. Take note of the correct partition identifier for the Ubuntu EFI partition.
5. Use the "sudo diskutil eraseVolume JHFS+ empty" command to erase the Ubuntu EFI partition using the correct partition identifier.
6. Open Disk Utility, choose "View" from the menu bar, and click on "Show All Devices."
7. Select the Apple SSD and erase the partitions created for Ubuntu.
8. Finally, open the Startup Disk settings and change the boot order to always boot into macOS.

Conclusion

Congratulations! By following this guide, you have successfully installed Ubuntu alongside macOS on your Mac. Enjoy the benefits of running Ubuntu and explore its vast possibilities. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy computing!

(Please note that installing Ubuntu on a Mac may void your warranty and is done at your own risk. Proceed with caution and ensure you have a backup of your important data before making any changes.)

Highlights:

• Step-by-step guide on installing Ubuntu alongside macOS on Intel-based Macs
• Important considerations before installing Ubuntu on Mac
• Reserving free space and shrinking partitions for Ubuntu installation
• Downloading the Ubuntu ISO and creating a bootable USB installer
• Booting into the Ubuntu installer and manually creating partitions
• Troubleshooting and optimizing Ubuntu on Mac, including fixing battery draining and overheating issues
• How to deactivate Ubuntu and return to macOS
• Deleting Ubuntu Linux from the dual-boot setup
• Conclusion and cautionary note on warranty and data backup

FAQ

Q: Is it possible to install Ubuntu on a Mac with Apple Silicon? A: No, this guide is only intended for Macs with Intel processors. For detailed information on installing Linux on Apple Silicon Macs, refer to the provided link.

Q: What should I do if I encounter driver issues on Ubuntu? A: While Ubuntu may have some driver compatibility issues on Macs, most of them can be resolved by searching for solutions on Google or Stack Overflow. There is a helpful community of Ubuntu users who share their experiences and provide solutions to common issues.

Q: Can I switch back to macOS after installing Ubuntu? A: Yes, you can switch back to macOS by accessing the boot menu and selecting Macintosh. However, keep in mind that the startup disk will be set to Ubuntu by default after setting up dual-boot.

Q: How can I optimize battery life and prevent overheating on Ubuntu? A: Follow the provided link to install auto-cpufreq, a tool that actively monitors CPU usage and adjusts CPU frequency to improve battery life without compromising performance.

Q: Can I delete Ubuntu from my dual-boot setup? A: Yes, you can delete Ubuntu and return to using only macOS. Follow the step-by-step instructions provided in section 4.3 to erase Ubuntu partitions and change the boot order in the Startup Disk settings.

Resources:

• Link to detailed information on installing Linux on M1 or M2 Macs: [Provided link]
• Link to fix battery draining and overheating issues on Ubuntu: [Provided link]
• Link to download Balena Etcher: [Provided link]
• Link to Ubuntu ISO download website: [Provided link]