Latest Linux kernel introduces preliminary Apple M1 support

The latest version of the Linux kernel, Linux 5.13, introduces support for Apple's M1 system-on-chip and is now available as a release candidate.

Apple M1 support was previously reported for Linux 5.13, though no release date was mentioned at the time. On Tuesday, however, Linux kernel principal developer Linus Torvalds announced that the release candidate version is now available for public testing.

Although security researchers have successfully booted Linux on Apple Silicon in the past, it required some fairly technical workarounds. With preliminary support in Linux 5.13, Linux distributions and systems will have a much easier time running on Apple's SoC.

In addition to the Apple Silicon support, Linux kernel 5.13 also introduces a slew of new and updated drivers and other under-the-hood improvements to the file system, architectures, tooling, and process handling, among other new updates.

According to 9to5Linux, the final version of Linux 5.13 should release to the public at the end of June or in early July. That depends on how many release candidates Torvalds decides to release during the development cycle.

The Linux kernel is an open source system kernel created by Torvalds in 1991. It forms the basis for a variety of Linux operating system distributions, and is also deployed in servers, mainframes, and on mobile devices. Android, for example, is based on a modified version of the kernel.

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8 Comments

ivanh 596 comments · 12 Years

About 3 years ago

very good news. I can buy the M1, M1X or M2 MBP soon!

mikeinca 20 comments · 5 Years

I don’t understand why Apple doesn’t hire 1 measly person, let alone a tiny team, with their billions to help w Linux on the M platform. Maybe it’s an Intellectual property thing. I’m not an expert in this stuff.

lkrupp 10521 comments · 19 Years

mikeinca said:

I don’t understand why Apple doesn’t hire 1 measly person, let alone a tiny team, with their billions to help w Linux on the M platform. Maybe it’s an Intellectual property thing. I’m not an expert in this stuff.

Because it’s simply not worth the effort to do so when there is almost no reason for Linux to run on Macs. The tiny percentage of fake techies who demand it are easily ignored. If Torvalds wants Linux to run on Apple silicon that’s his business, not Apple’s. Same goes for Windows on M series Macs. That’s Microsoft’s business, not Apple’s. The claims from both camps that without Linux and Windows the Mac platform will shrink to nothingness are hilarious.

sflocal 6133 comments · 16 Years

mikeinca said:

I don’t understand why Apple doesn’t hire 1 measly person, let alone a tiny team, with their billions to help w Linux on the M platform. Maybe it’s an Intellectual property thing. I’m not an expert in this stuff.

It makes zero sense to expect Apple to allocate any resources to help development of a competing OS. Zero... and I run Linux on my (Intel) Mac too. In time, there will be an army of devs that will get it running without Apple's assistance.

lkrupp said:

The claims from both camps that without Linux and Windows the Mac platform will shrink to nothingness are hilarious.

Who is claiming that? Haven't read any of that.

Granted, I bought a top-of-the-line 2020 iMac back in August primarily because I knew it would be my last Intel-based Mac, and I still need Windows compatibility for work so I kind of fall into that camp. By the time I need to get a new Mac, I will have (hopefully) moved on from Windows and Apple will have solidified their ASi products. Maybe Microsoft will eventually allow their Windows10 ARM to be available outside of their Surface products.