I have a standard 2017 MacBook Pro that is no longer supported by Apple, and I'm hoping to give it a new life with Linux, probably Ubuntu. I've already backed up everything to another computer, so I'm not worried about losing the current data. My plan is to create a bootable USB installer and start the Mac while holding the appropriate startup key. Besides following the installer, are there any Mac-specific issues or extra steps I should prepare for? This model doesn't have a T2 chip.
3 Answers
When starting the Mac, hold Option to open the boot picker and choose the EFI or USB installer. Option-Command-R is for macOS Internet Recovery, so it isn’t the key combination you need for booting Linux. Once the USB environment loads, the rest of the installer should be fairly standard.
The installation itself should be fairly straightforward, but watching a current walkthrough beforehand is worthwhile. MacBooks can have a few hardware quirks under Linux, especially with wireless drivers. Ubuntu 24.04 works for many people, though some users have needed extra Wi-Fi setup afterward. Fedora is another solid option if you’re open to trying a different distribution.
Plan for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth possibly not working immediately. Some MacBook models need additional firmware or driver packages installed from the terminal, and connecting to the internet during setup can make that easier. Since this MacBook has no Ethernet port, use a compatible USB-C Ethernet adapter or download the needed packages in advance on another computer. You can also finish the installation offline and troubleshoot the wireless hardware afterward.
This MacBook doesn’t have an Ethernet port. Would a USB-C Ethernet adapter be the usual workaround, or is there another way to get the drivers installed?