Garuda Linux is one of the most popular Arch-based Linux distributions, and it has good reason!

It’s fast, beautiful, and packed with new features that make it great for gaming, learning, and everyday use.

If you want to explore or try Garuda without installing it on your main computer, the easiest and safest option would be to run it inside a virtual machine on your personal player or VMware Workstation.

With VMware Workstation or VMware Player, setting up Garuda Linux becomes super simple, even if you’re completely new to virtual machines.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to download Garuda, create a virtual machine, and install the OS step by step.

Whether you’re testing it for coding, gaming, or just exploring something new, this tutorial will help you get started quickly and confidently.

What Is Garuda Linux?

Garuda Linux is a fast and modern Linux distribution built on top of Arch Linux.

It’s designed to give you a powerful experience right out of the box, without the complexity of traditional Arch setups.

Why do people love Garuda?

A beautiful, colourful KDE Dragonized desktop

• Built-in performance boosts for smoother multitasking

• Btrfs snapshots to easily restore your system when something goes wrong

• Gaming utilities such as Garuda Gamer for drivers, emulators, and optimizations

• A beginner-friendly setup that hides most of Arch’s complexity

System Requirements

To run Garuda Linux in VMware smoothly, your PC should have these requirements.

• RAM: Minimum 8GB (allocate 4–6GB to Garuda)
• Processor: Dual-core or higher
• Storage: At least 40GB free

Step-By-Step: Install Garuda Linux on VMware

Step 1: Download Garuda Linux ISO

Start by opening your web browser or using the link given below

Visit the official website:
https://garudalinux.org/downloads.html

At the top of the page, you’ll find a download option, and click it, where all versions of Guarda Linux will be listed.

Step 2:

Click Downloads in the top menu.

Scroll to the edition you want, Garuda Mokka, and review the details.

Click the purple Download button under that edition.

Step 3:

The Garuda ISO begins downloading after you click Direct (or any mirror), and once the download finishes, the ISO file is saved and ready to use for installation.

Step 4:

You can use either:

• VMware Workstation Pro
• VMware Workstation Player

To begin the installation of GURDA Linux, now open VMware Workstation or Player

Click Create a New Virtual Machine and continue.

Step 5:

When you open VMware Workstation, you’ll see the New Virtual Machine Wizard.
Here, choose the types, but it’s recommended to go with the typical.

• Typical is best for beginners and works perfectly for installing Garuda Linux.

Then click Next to proceed.

Step 6:

Choose the Garuda Linux ISO File and select the Installer disc image file iso

Click Browse and choose your downloaded version of Garuda Mokko ISO.

And click next and continue to proceed.

Step 7:

Select the Guest Operating System and choose Linux from the list of Guest operating systems.

For the version, use a modern Linux kernel, so it fits best.
Other Linux 6.x kernel 64-bit
After selecting the correct OS type, click Next to continue.

Step 8:

In this step, VMware asks you to give your virtual machine a name and choose where it will be stored.

Enter a Virtual machine name, for example, Garuda

Choose the Location where VMware will save all VM files

Once done, click Next to continue.

Step 9:

In this step, you can decide how much storage space your Garuda Linux virtual machine will have.

• You can have a Maximum disk size of about 50 GB
  Garuda Mokko requires more space for updates. Make sure your system has enough space for it.
• Click the option “Store virtual disk as a single file,” which provides better performance compared to splitting it into multiple files.

Once you’ve set the disk size, click Next to continue.

Step 10:

You can review the settings and also customize the Hardware. Once you have completely checked the settings,

If you need to customize the hardware,

Increase the memory to 4GB–6GB for smooth Garuda Linux performance

Set at least 2 cores for the processors.

Click Finish to create the virtual machine.

Step 11:

Your Garuda Linux virtual machine is now created.
On this screen, you can see all the hardware details you configured

Click Power on this virtual machine, and you can see the green play button at the top.

Step 12:

Once you have clicked on the power button,

VMware will now boot using the Garuda Mokko ISO you selected earlier.
Once it loads, you’ll be taken to the Garuda Live Environment, where you can start the installation.

Step 13:

After powering on the virtual machine, you will see the Garuda Linux boot screen.

This screen allows you to choose how the live environment should start.

Select “ Boot with open source drivers”; it works perfectly fine with this version.

Step 14:

After selecting the boot option, Garuda Mokko begins loading the system.

This black screen with scrolling text shows the system services starting; it’s a normal part of the Linux boot process.

It takes some time to complete it.

Once the system has completed, you can see the Garuda Mokka logo that is loading for the desktop page.

Step 15:

Once the system finishes booting, you will be taken to the Garuda Linux “Broadwing” welcome screen.

This is the live environment where you can explore Garuda or begin the installation.

You can see the dashboard, which provides several tools.

But for now, click on “ Install Garuda ”

Step 16:

After clicking on install, Garuda Linux starts.

Once the installation is completed, you can set up the preference stages.

This is the main installation panel where you’ll complete the setup step by step.

Step 17:

On this screen, you can select your region and time zone so Garuda Linux can configure your system clock correctly.

The world map allows you to click on your location directly.

Below the map, you can also see the system language and number& date.

If you need, you can change it by setting manually.

• System language: English (India)
• Numbers and date locale: English (India)

Click Next to proceed to the Keyboard Layout configuration.

Step 18:

You must select the keyboard layout you want Garuda Linux Mokko to use.

• At the top, you’ll see a visual keyboard preview, which updates based on your layout preference.
• On the left side, you can pick your language group, e.g., English, Dutch, or Chinese.
• On the right side, you can choose the specific layout variant.

Once you have selected the language preference,

Click Next to move on to the Partitions section.

Step 19:

In this step, you decide how Garuda Linux will use the virtual hard disk created in VMware.

You will see two options; select “Erase disk”

This will automatically partition the entire virtual disk and install Garuda Mokko.

Perfect for beginners and for virtual machines.

Click Next to proceed to creating your user account.

Step 20:

In this step, you’ll set up your main user profile for Garuda Mokko.

Type your name, and if you chose another name for login for your computer.

Choose passwords that are easy for you.

Create a strong password, then confirm the password.

Click Next to continue to the installation summary.

Step 21:

This screen shows a complete overview of all the settings you selected before the installation begins.

You can confirm that everything is correct.

Step 22:

You click Install, and Garuda Linux shows a confirmation.           

To proceed, click “Install Now.”

Garuda Mokko will begin the installation process.

Step 23:

Once you confirm the installation, Garuda Mokko Linux begins copying files, creating partitions, and configuring the system.

Garuda Linux has been successfully installed on your VMware virtual machine.

Step 24:

After clicking Done on the installer,

Garuda Mokko Linux begins shutting down the live environment so it can reboot into your newly installed system.

Step 25:

After the system restarts, you will see the Garuda Linux GRUB boot menu.
This confirms that the installation was successful and Garuda is ready to launch.

Step 26:

You will log in to your brand-new Garuda Linux desktop inside VMware.

You are now ready to explore the full Garuda Linux experience with all features, tools, and customization options.

Your system will now boot into the Garuda Linux desktop for the first time.

Step 27:

After logging in for the first time, Garuda automatically launches the Garuda Setup Assistant.

This tool helps you configure important settings

To continue, click OK

Ready to experience the speed and beauty of Garuda Linux?

Start your installation today.

Explore one of the most stunning, modern, and performance-safe safely inside VMware!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can I install Garuda Linux on a low-end PC using VMware?

Yes, but you’ll need to allocate at least 4 GB of RAM and 2 CPU cores for smooth performance. If your system has less than 8 GB of RAM, VMware may feel slow.

2. How much storage does Garuda need in VMware?

A minimum of 30 GB is required, but 50 GB is recommended for updates, apps, and snapshots.

3. Do I need virtualization enabled in BIOS?

Yes. Enable Intel VT-x or AMD-V in your BIOS/UEFI for the VM to run smoothly.

4. The installer shows “Could not detect operating system.” Is that a problem?

No. VMware sometimes doesn’t detect Arch-based distros like Garuda. Just choose Linux → Other Linux 6.x kernel 64-bit manually.

5. Can I use Garuda for gaming inside VMware?

Light apps and emulators work, but heavy gaming won’t perform well because VMware doesn’t provide powerful GPU acceleration. For gaming, install Garuda directly on hardware.

6. How long does the installation take?

Usually 10–20 minutes, depending on your VM specs.