.docname {Download Arch Linux}
.include {docs}

Download [Arch Linx][arch-linux] from one of the [official sources][arch-linux-sources].

> Warning: Always verify checksums. It is important to download Arch Linux from a trusted sources.
> Always check the download against signatures and checksums published on the official
> [Arch Linux][arch-linux-sources] website. Do not trust signatures published by download
> mirrors or 3rd party websites, as they could be tampered with.

## Checksum Verification

### Using GnuPG

To verify the PGP signature with GnuPG, first download the release signing key from
[WKD (Web Key Discovery)][wkd] or any key service that you trust.

```sh
gpg --auto-key-locate clear,wkd -v \
--locate-external-key pierre@archlinux.org
```

Then use the obtained key to verify the signature of the downloaded file

```sh
gpg --keyserver-options auto-key-retrieve \
--verify archlinux-<version>.iso.sig
```

### Using an existing Arch Linux System

On a system already running Arch Linux, `pacman` can be used to verify the Installation Medium.

```sh
pacman-key -v archlinux-<version>.iso.sig
```

## Create a Bootable Medium

Create a bottable medium from the downloaded **and verified** Arch Linux ISO.
For example, a bootable USB flash drive.

Execute the following command to copy the downloaded ISO to the USB flash drive.

> Important: The following command will permanently delete the data of the destination device.
> Make sure to specify the correct destination device and to back up important data prior to executing
> this command.

```sh
dd bs=4M \
if=<path to archlinux iso> \
of=/dev/disk/by-id/usb-<your flash drive> \
conv=fsync oflag=direct status=progress
```

> Tip: After you are done using the USB flash drive for the Arch Linux installation, the following
> command must be executed to delete the ISO 9660 filesystem signature from the device to use it
> as a normal USB flash drive again.
>
> ```sh
> wipefs --all /dev/disk/by-id/usb-<your flash drive>
> ```

For more details, see [Arch Linux Wiki: USB Flash Installation Medium][arch-wiki-usb-install].

For other methods, see [Arch Linux Wiki: Burning an Optical Disc][arch-wiki-optical-disc] or
[Arch Linux Wiki: PXE Network Boot][arch-wiki-pxe-boot].

[arch-linux]: https://archlinux.org/
[arch-linux-sources]: https://archlinux.org/download/
[arch-wiki-usb-install]: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/USB_flash_installation_medium
[arch-wiki-optical-disc]: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Optical_disc_drive#Burning
[arch-wiki-pxe-boot]: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Preboot_Execution_Environment
[wkd]: https://keys.openpgp.org/about/usage-wkd/