Install Kiki OS

Kiki is a full operating system, so you install it onto a device (or a virtual machine) rather than running it inside your current OS. Pick the path that fits.

First, download the build for your hardware. Then follow the matching section below.

Desktop — install on a PC

For laptops, mini-PCs, and desktops you'll use directly.

1. Write the ISO to a USB stick. On macOS or Linux:

   # Double-check the device path — this erases the USB stick.
   sudo dd if=kiki-os-desktop.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress oflag=sync

   On Windows, use balenaEtcher or Rufus.

2. Boot the target machine from the USB stick (you may need to pick it in the boot menu).

3. Follow the installer to write Kiki to the internal disk.

4. On first boot, Kiki walks you through setup. See Your first run.

This replaces the existing OS

Installing to a disk erases what's on it. Use a spare machine, a second drive, or try it in a VM first.

Server — run it headless

For a VPS, home server, or any always-on box without a screen.

qemu-system-x86_64 \
  -enable-kvm -m 4096 -smp 2 \
  -drive file=kiki-os-server.qcow2,if=virtio \
  -nic user,hostfwd=tcp::8022-:22

For Proxmox, libvirt, or another hypervisor, import the .qcow2 as the boot disk. Server images read cloud-init, so you can preset your SSH key and a device enrollment token.

Edge — ARM devices

For ARM single-board computers and embedded devices, flash the Edge image to the device's storage (SD card or eMMC) the same way you'd flash any ARM OS image, then boot it.

Try it in a VM

The safest way to look around before committing hardware.

1. Install a VM tool: UTM (macOS), VirtualBox, or QEMU.
2. Create a new VM and use the Desktop ISO as the boot media.
3. Give it at least 4 GB RAM and 2 CPUs.
4. Boot it and follow setup.

Everything in Using Kiki works the same in a VM — it's a real install, just disposable.

Updating later

You won't download Kiki again to update it. Kiki updates as one sealed image with automatic rollback, so an update can't leave you with a half-broken system. Connect a device to the cloud to receive updates over the air across your whole fleet. Power users can also update and roll back from the command line.

Next: Your first run.