What is Manjaro? Who it is for
Manjaro is built on Arch. It uses Xfce, KDE Plasma or GNOME as its desktop and pacman for software, and it follows a rolling release, so updates arrive continuously with no big version jumps.
Manjaro at a glance
- Foundation: built on Arch
- Desktop: Xfce, KDE Plasma or GNOME
- Software tools: pacman
- Release style: a rolling release, so updates arrive continuously with no big version jumps
- Installer: the Calamares installer
Who Manjaro suits
Manjaro suits people who want Arch's software with an easier installer and curated updates.
Strengths
- Software stays close to the newest versions without waiting for a new release.
- The KDE Plasma desktop, with a great deal of customisation built in.
- The Xfce desktop, which is light, traditional and easy to tweak.
Things to consider
- Updates never stop arriving, so update often and keep a backup in case an update needs fixing.
- As a rough guide, about 4 GB of RAM is a comfortable minimum for a desktop session.
Try Manjaro from a USB drive
The easiest way to find out is to start it from a USB drive without changing your computer. See the Manjaro bootable USB drive, then follow our install guide when you are ready. New to this? Read how to try Linux without installing it and how to boot from a USB drive.
Compare Manjaro
- Arch Linux vs Manjaro
- Manjaro vs EndeavourOS
- Manjaro vs CachyOS
- Manjaro vs Garuda Linux
- Linux Mint vs Manjaro
Installing software on Manjaro
Manjaro uses pacman. These commands search for a program and install it (replace name with the program):
pacman -Ss name sudo pacman -S name
Most desktop systems also have a graphical software store. See how to install software on Linux.
Frequently asked questions
Is Manjaro good for beginners?
It can be used by beginners, but Manjaro is aimed more at people who want Arch's software with an easier installer and curated updates. If you are brand new, a beginner-friendly distribution such as Linux Mint or Ubuntu is usually an easier first step.
What desktop does Manjaro use?
Manjaro uses Xfce, KDE Plasma or GNOME. To learn how desktops differ, read what GNOME, KDE, Xfce and Cinnamon are.
How much RAM does Manjaro need?
As a rough guide, about 4 GB of RAM is a comfortable minimum for a desktop session.
Is Manjaro based on another distribution?
Manjaro is built on Arch.
How often is Manjaro updated?
Manjaro follows a rolling release, so updates arrive continuously with no big version jumps.
How can I try Manjaro without installing it?
Write it to a USB drive, restart, choose the drive from the boot menu and pick the live or try option. Nothing on your internal disk changes unless you choose to install.