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

Introduction

Fedora Asahi Remix 44 is now generally available, bringing Fedora Linux 44 to Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, and later). This release combines the power of Fedora Linux with the Asahi Linux project's hardware enablement, offering a polished experience on Apple hardware. Whether you're installing fresh or upgrading from version 42 or 43, this step-by-step guide walks you through the process, including what you need, the upgrade steps, and tips to avoid common pitfalls.

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, M2, M3, or M4) – Fedora Asahi Remix only supports Apple Silicon, not Intel-based Macs.
A stable internet connection (broadband recommended, as the download is several gigabytes).
For new installations: A USB drive (8 GB or larger) for creating a bootable installer, or you can use the Asahi Linux Installer script directly from macOS. We recommend the installer script method as it's easier.
For upgrades: A currently running Fedora Asahi Remix 42 or 43 system with all updates applied. Ensure you have at least 10 GB of free disk space for the upgrade process.
Backup your important data – while upgrades are tested, it's good practice to protect your files.
Basic familiarity with terminal commands (for the upgrade route via DNF) or use of the Plasma Discover GUI.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Prepare Your System

For new installations: Back up any data you want to keep from your Mac. Then, download the official Fedora Asahi Remix installer from the Asahi Linux install page. Run the installer script from macOS, follow the on-screen prompts to partition your disk and select the Fedora Asahi Remix 44 image. This process will automatically download and flash the latest release.

For upgrades: Before upgrading, ensure your current Fedora Asahi Remix 42 or 43 system is fully updated. Open a terminal and run:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Then reboot to make sure everything is stable. Also, check that you have sufficient disk space:

df -h /

If you're low on space, clean up old kernels and cache files using sudo dnf autoremove and sudo dnf clean all.

Step 2: Choose Your Upgrade Method

Fedora Asahi Remix 44 does not support upgrades via GNOME Software (GNOME's GUI updater). You have two valid methods:

Method A (recommended for KDE Plasma users): Use the Plasma Discover GUI. Open Discover, go to Updates, and check for a system upgrade to version 44. Follow the on-screen instructions. This is the simplest path.
Method B (for all users, especially server/minimal): Use the DNF system-upgrade plugin from the terminal. This gives you more control and is the traditional Fedora upgrade path.

Step 3: Upgrade via DNF System-Upgrade (Terminal Method)

If you choose the terminal route, follow these sub-steps:

Install the system upgrade plugin (if not already installed):

sudo dnf install dnf-plugin-system-upgrade

Download the upgrade packages for Fedora 44:

sudo dnf system-upgrade download --releasever=44

This will fetch all necessary packages. If there are dependency issues, review the output and resolve them (often by removing conflicting packages).

Trigger the upgrade:

sudo dnf system-upgrade reboot

Your system will reboot and the upgrade process will run automatically (this can take 10–30 minutes). Do not interrupt it.

Post-reboot: Log in and verify the upgrade:

cat /etc/fedora-release

You should see Fedora release 44 and Fedora Asahi Remix 44.

Step 4: What's New in Fedora Asahi Remix 44

After installation or upgrade, you'll notice several highlights:

KDE Plasma 6.6 as the flagship desktop (Gnome 50 also available).
Plasma Setup replaces the old Calamares installer for first-boot configuration. It provides a native Plasma experience for creating your user account.
Plasma Login Manager (SDDM replacement) is now the default greeter on new installations. Users upgrading keep their previous settings.
Removal of vendored packages: The previously bundled Mesa and virglrenderer packages are replaced by upstream Fedora versions. If you're upgrading, the transition happens automatically; you won't need to intervene.
Server and Minimal variants are also available for headless or custom setups.

Step 5: Verify and Report Issues

Once upgraded or freshly installed, test basic functionality (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, graphics, audio). If you encounter any Remix-specific issues, report them to the official issue tracker or ask for help on the Fedora Asahi Discourse forum or the Matrix room.

Tips and Warnings

Do not use GNOME Software to upgrade – it is unsupported and may fail. Stick to Plasma Discover or DNF system-upgrade.
Backup before any major upgrade. While the process is reliable, unexpected power loss or disk issues can occur.
Keep your system updated after upgrading: run sudo dnf upgrade periodically to get bug fixes and security patches.
If you use the Server or Minimal image, all upgrade steps via terminal are identical, but you'll have no GUI tools – you must use DNF.
For users of older versions (Fedora Asahi Remix 41 or earlier), you must first upgrade to version 42 or 43, then to 44. There is no direct upgrade path from very old releases.
New users: The easiest way to get started is to run the Asahi Linux installer script from macOS (it downloads and installs Fedora Asahi Remix 44 automatically).
Performance tip: After upgrading, consider clearing old package cache (sudo dnf clean all) and rebuilding the RPM database if you notice slowdowns.

Enjoy Fedora Asahi Remix 44 on your Apple Silicon Mac! With the latest Fedora packages and deep integration, it's a powerful Linux experience.