Apple's M1 now supported by Linux kernel in version 5.13

The newest update of the Linux kernel, version 5.13, has been released with support for the Apple Silicon system-on-chip, the M1.

Previously available in May as a release candidate for public testing, the final version of Linux 5.13 has been released. Announced by Linus Torvolds on Monday, the newest version is said to be one of the bigger releases in the version 5 range, with over 16 thousand commits made by over 2 thousand developers.

For Mac users, the key addition to the kernel is support for a number of ARM-based chips, which crucially includes the M1. The new kernel is therefore able to be run natively on Apple Silicon hardware, including the M1 Mac mini and the 24-inch iMac.

While the ability to use M1 is included, Phoronix reports there's still more work to be done, including adding support for accelerated graphics. Other changes include a variety of updated drivers, architecture and file system improvements, and changes to process handling and tooling.

Linux 5.13 is not the first version of the operating system that works with the M1. In January, security researchers at Corellium ported a version of Ubuntu to the chip, a process that required many workarounds to get going, in part due to Apple's lack of documentation on how the chip functioned.

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20 Comments

sflocal 6133 comments · 16 Years

About 3 years ago

One down, one more to go and that is Windows. I hope Microsoft gets its head out of its backside and allow Windows ARM to be purchased for general consumers. I can't understand why Microsoft would not want to. It's another unit sale for that company regardless of who buys it right?

22july2013 3725 comments · 11 Years

AppleInsider said:

The new kernel is therefore able to be run natively on Apple Silicon hardware, including the M1 Mac mini and the 24-inch iMac.

The iPad Pro now has an M1. Is it expected to work on the iPad Pro eventually?

rob53 3307 comments · 13 Years

sflocal said:

One down, one more to go and that is Windows. I hope Microsoft gets its head out of its backside and allow Windows ARM to be purchased for general consumers. I can't understand why Microsoft would not want to. It's another unit sale for that company regardless of who buys it right?

I have Windows ARM running on my M1 MBA under Parallels. I was able to install Firefox but am I running Firefox under a built-in emulator or does W-ARM allow all Windows 10-Intel apps to just run?

Oracle at one point ran on Macs but I haven't seen any updates to that since maybe ver 11. I have to wonder whether running Oracle under Linux under parallels would be useful for testing if not running some smaller databases on an M1 Mac.

Just found this in another article--

Please bear in mind that this does not mean that you can just fire Linux up on a M1. Instead, this change is extremely limited, with only a UART serial console currently supported.

--At least it's a start.

Rayz2016 6957 comments · 8 Years

sflocal said:

One down, one more to go and that is Windows. I hope Microsoft gets its head out of its backside and allow Windows ARM to be purchased for general consumers. I can't understand why Microsoft would not want to. It's another unit sale for that company regardless of who buys it right?

Depends on how many people want it.

If the number is not very big, then they could end up paying more to support it than they do selling it.

Companies like Intel and Dell might be lobbying with (or paying) Microsoft to not release it, because it will only damage their sales when they can't build equally fast systems.