How to Install Fedora on a MacBook Pro (Step-by-Step Guide)

If you’ve been thinking about giving your MacBook Pro a fresh open-source experience, Fedora is one of the best Linux distributions you can try. It’s fast, stable, and designed for developers and tech enthusiasts who want more control over their system.

In this guide, I’ll explain how to install Fedora on your MacBook Pro from start to finish. You’ll learn how to prepare your system, create a bootable USB, install Fedora, and fix common issues.

Whether you’re replacing macOS or setting up a dual-boot system, this step-by-step tutorial will help you get it right the first time.

In this Article

Why Install Fedora on a MacBook Pro

Before jumping into installation, let’s quickly understand why Fedora makes sense for Mac users.

Open Source and Secure

Fedora is completely open source and community-driven. You get regular security updates and transparent development practices without worrying about data tracking.

Excellent Hardware Support

Fedora has one of the best Linux kernel supports for Apple hardware. Wi-Fi, trackpads, and Retina displays generally work well with minimal tweaking.

Developer-Friendly Environment

If you code, manage servers, or experiment with open-source software, Fedora provides preinstalled tools and an easy setup for development.

Lightweight and Fast

Fedora is efficient and uses fewer system resources compared to macOS, giving you better performance on older MacBook models.

What You’ll Need

Here’s a quick checklist before we start:

A MacBook Pro (Intel or Apple Silicon)
A USB drive with at least 8 GB storage
A stable internet connection
A copy of Fedora Workstation ISO (downloadable from Fedora’s official website)
A tool to create a bootable USB (like BalenaEtcher or Fedora Media Writer)

Step 1: Download Fedora Workstation ISO

Visit the official Fedora website: getfedora.org
Choose Fedora Workstation and click Download Now
Select the latest stable version (Fedora usually releases two versions per year)
Save the ISO file on your Mac

This ISO is the installation image that you’ll later flash to your USB drive.

Step 2: Create a Bootable Fedora USB Drive

To install Fedora, you’ll need to create a bootable USB.

Using Fedora Media Writer

Fedora provides an official tool called Fedora Media Writer, which works on macOS.

Download Fedora Media Writer for macOS from the same Fedora website
Install and open the application
Select Fedora Workstation
Insert your USB drive
Click Write to Disk and wait for the process to complete

Once it’s done, your USB is ready to boot Fedora.

Using BalenaEtcher (Alternative Option)

If Fedora Media Writer gives you issues, try BalenaEtcher.

Download BalenaEtcher from balena.io/etcher
Select the Fedora ISO file
Choose your USB drive
Click Flash

This process takes a few minutes and verifies automatically after completion.

Step 3: Prepare Your MacBook Pro

Before booting into Fedora, there are a few steps to configure your Mac.

1. Backup Your Data

Always back up important files using Time Machine or external storage before proceeding.

2. Disable Secure Boot (for newer Macs)

If your Mac has a T2 chip, disable secure boot to allow USB boot.
Go to Recovery Mode > Utilities > Startup Security Utility and select Allow booting from external media.

3. Free Up Disk Space

If you plan to dual boot, use Disk Utility to shrink your macOS partition and create free space for Fedora.
Leave the new partition as Free Space (do not format it yet).

Step 4: Boot from USB Drive

Insert your bootable Fedora USB drive
Shut down your Mac
Press the Power button and immediately hold Option (⌥)
You’ll see a list of bootable drives. Select the EFI Boot option corresponding to your USB drive
Fedora will now load its live environment

This allows you to try Fedora without installing it yet.

Step 5: Try or Install Fedora

When Fedora boots up, you’ll see two options:

Try Fedora (runs from USB without changes)
Install Fedora (installs it to your hard drive)

Click Install Fedora to begin.

Step 6: Installation Process

The Fedora installer is clean and simple. Follow these steps carefully.

1. Select Language and Keyboard

Choose your preferred language and keyboard layout, then click Continue.

2. Choose Installation Destination

Select the disk where you want to install Fedora.

If you’re replacing macOS, select the entire drive and choose Automatic Partitioning
If you’re dual-booting, select the free space you created earlier and assign it to Fedora

3. Configure Time Zone and Network

Choose your region and make sure your internet connection is active.

4. Begin Installation

Click Begin Installation. The process usually takes 10–20 minutes depending on your hardware.

5. Reboot

Once done, click Finish Installation and restart your MacBook Pro.

Remove the USB drive when prompted.

Step 7: Post Installation Setup

Once Fedora boots up from your internal drive, you’re almost done.

Update Fedora

Open Terminal and run:

sudo dnf update -y

This updates all system packages and ensures you have the latest fixes.

Install Additional Drivers

Fedora usually detects MacBook hardware well, but you can install missing drivers if needed:

sudo dnf install akmod-wl

This is especially useful for Wi-Fi on some Broadcom chipsets.

Enable Media Codecs

To play MP3s, videos, and other formats, enable RPM Fusion repositories:

sudo dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm
sudo dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm

Install Useful Software

You can now install your favorite apps:

sudo dnf install vlc gimp git curl

Step 8: Fix Common Issues

Here are a few issues you might face and how to fix them.

Wi-Fi Not Working

Install the akmod-wl driver as shown above and restart your system.

Trackpad Sensitivity

Go to Settings > Mouse & Touchpad and adjust sensitivity.
You can also install libinput tools for better gesture control.

Retina Display Scaling

Use the Display Settings to increase scaling to 150% or 200% for better visibility.

Step 9: Dual Boot Configuration (Optional)

If you kept macOS and installed Fedora on another partition, you can manage boot options easily.

During startup, hold Option (⌥) to choose between macOS and Fedora
To make Fedora default, you can change EFI settings using efibootmgr in the terminal

This setup allows you to enjoy both operating systems without losing data.

Step 10: Explore Fedora

Now that Fedora is running on your MacBook Pro, explore its clean GNOME desktop, software store, and system settings.

You can personalize themes, experiment with development tools, and enjoy the flexibility that macOS never offered. Fedora is stable, fast, and constantly improving.

Wrap Up

Installing Fedora on a MacBook Pro might look technical at first, but once you follow these steps, it becomes straightforward. Fedora offers a powerful and customizable Linux experience that fits perfectly for developers, students, and tech enthusiasts.

If your MacBook feels slow or you just want to move away from macOS limitations, Fedora gives you a fresh start with complete control over your system.