How to Make Arch Linux an Easy Daily Driver
archlinux Linux
Setting up Arch Linux is only half the battle; the real work begins when you turn that terminal into a functional workstation. This guide focuses on practical post-install steps to make your system stable, fast, and ready for daily use.
Hi everyone, welcome to MusaBase! In this guide, I’m sharing my personal approach to Arch Linux post-installation, focusing on how to turn a fresh Arch setup into something that’s actually comfortable, practical, and easy to use on a daily basis.
Whether you’re moving over from Windows, or coming from modern Linux distributions like NixOS or Fedora Silverblue, this guide is written to help you make Arch Linux feel less intimidating and more familiar from day one.
This is not another guide about systemd tweaks, display manager configuration, or unnecessary ricing. Instead, the focus here is on making Arch Linux genuinely usable, from setting up faster package mirrors and reliable network defaults, to replacing common Windows software with open-source alternatives that are often more advanced and dependable for daily use.
In this post-installation guide, you’ll learn how to:
- Configure faster Arch Linux mirrors and basic network settings for a smoother experience
- Install the Yay AUR helper while avoiding common dependency and build errors
- Set up essential daily applications using practical, open-source Windows alternatives
- Fix common Arch Linux issues that appear after installation
- Prepare your system for long-term, stable daily use without breaking it
By the end of this guide, your Arch Linux system will feel polished, predictable, and ready for everyday use.
Prerequisites
I won’t be covering the installation of Arch Linux or the desktop environment in this post-installation guide. My goal is to keep this tutorial as concise and clean as possible, ensuring you can easily follow along to make your Arch Linux system usable, stable, and comfortable for daily use.
Arch Linux Installation:
To follow this guide, you should already have a functional Arch Linux system. If you haven’t installed it yet and are looking for a reliable setup with complete manual control, please follow my:
- Manual Arch Linux Installation Guide , which covers the full installation process step-by-step.
Desktop Environment Installation:
After installing the base system, you will need a graphical interface. For a powerful and highly customizable experience, I recommend my guide on:
- KDE Plasma on Arch Linux , as it provides a familiar and beginner-friendly desktop experience.
You can follow almost all of these steps on any modern desktop environment supported by Arch Linux, but I have used KDE Plasma for the real-device images and commands in this guide. Once these prerequisites are in place, you can proceed with the steps below to configure essential tools, improve system usability, and turn your Arch Linux setup into a reliable daily driver.
Update & Upgrade Arch Linux System
Updating your Arch Linux system before installing any new software is not just a step, it is a requirement. Always start with a full system upgrade. This ensures your local package database is in sync with the latest repository versions and dependencies. Doing this significantly reduces the risk of system breakage and prevents package version conflicts during new installations.
- Run the following command:
sudo pacman -Syu
- If your system has any updates available for your installed packages or the system kernel, then your package manager will fetch the new versions and display all the packages that are ready to be upgraded.
- It will also show the total download size and the net disk space required for the installation.
- Press ENTER to confirm the installation; the package manager will then begin downloading and applying the new updates.
Install Necessary Packages
Before we begin installing the software mentioned in this guide, we must install a few essential tools. Specifically, we need the base-devel group, Git, wget, and curl. These packages are the foundation for building and downloading almost every tool you will find in this guide.
- To install these essentials, run the following command:
sudo pacman -S --needed base-devel git wget curl
Configure DNS & Update Mirrors
Network performance is the backbone of a smooth Arch Linux experience. By default, your system uses your ISP's DNS, which can often be slow or unreliable. Configuring a custom DNS (like Google or Cloudflare) ensures faster domain resolution, while optimizing your mirrorslist ensures that pacman fetches packages from the most synchronized and geographically closest servers.
- To temporarily set your DNS to Google for faster initial downloads, run:
sudo echo "nameserver 8.8.8.8" | sudo tee /etc/resolv.conf
#OR
sudo echo "nameserver 1.1.1.1" | sudo tee /etc/resolv.confHowever, resolv.conf changes are temporary and will reset after a reboot. To make your DNS permanent and automate mirror updates with Reflector, follow our specialized networking guide to ensure your download speeds stay at their peak.
Install Yay an AUR Helper
yay is an AUR Helper written in GO that acts as a powerful wrapper for the default package manager, pacman. While pacman only handles official Arch repository packages, yay automates the process of searching, downloading, and compiling software from the AUR.
Install Yay
- Run:
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay
- Now in the yay folder, run this command to make and install from source:
makepkg -si
Verify Install
- To verify that yay is installed and symlinked into your Arch Linux system, run:
yay --version
#OR
which yay
Install Google Chrome
Now that we have successfully installed yay, we can proceed to install Google Chrome on our Arch Linux system. Google Chrome is not in the official Arch Linux repositories due to licensing restrictions, but it is available in the AUR. This means we can install Google Chrome using yay; the AUR package for Google Chrome is safely sourced from Google's official .deb files.
Why Google Chrome on Arch?
- Proprietary Codecs: Includes built-in support for H.264 and Widevine, which is essential for running Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
- Ecosystem Sync: Seamlessly sync your bookmarks, passwords, and history across your Android and desktop devices.
- Stable Performance: Generally more optimized for web-apps like Google Meet, Zoom, or Discord.
- To install, run:
yay -S google-chrome
- After yay finishes resolving dependencies for google-chrome, it will prompt you:
- Packages to cleanBuild?
- Simply press Enter to skip (default is None). cleanBuild is only necessary if you had a previous failed installation and want to redownload everything from scratch.
- Next, yay will ask:
- Diffs to show?
- Press Enter to skip. This option essentially shows the "Differences" or changes made in the package's PKGBUILD script compared to previous versions, mostly useful for advanced users or developers.
- After these prompts, yay will download the official Google Chrome .deb binary and convert it into an Arch-compatible package.
- Finally, yay will ask for your confirmation to proceed with the actual installation:
- Press Y or simply hit Enter to finish the process.
Launching Google Chrome
- You can launch Google Chrome from the terminal with this command:
google-chrome-stable- If you want to open Google Chrome via the GUI, open your application menu (or press the Meta/Windows key on KDE Plasma).
- Search for "Google Chrome" or simply chrome and click the icon to open it.
- You can also pin Google Chrome to your taskbar by right-clicking its icon and selecting Pin to Task Manager.
Install IDM Alternative: JDownloader 2
Finding a free download manager that "just works" especially on Arch Linux, can be quite a challenge. I have tried several popular download managers like FDM, KGet, and XDM, but they often struggle with specific links or fail to start downloads on certain sites. What I was looking for was something as reliable as IDM on Windows. For me, JDownloader 2 is the closest and most capable alternative to IDM on Linux.
JDownloader 2 is a powerful, open-source tool written entirely in Java, which allows it to run seamlessly across different operating systems. Developed by Appwork GmbH and a large community, it is completely free and unlimited. It features an advanced LinkGrabber that automatically detects downloadable content from your clipboard, making the downloading experience much more automated and efficient.
Install JDownloader 2
- To install jdownloader2, simply run:
yay -S jdownloader2
- After syncing the database and searching for its required dependencies, yay will prompt you to choose which JDK version to install. Since JDownloader 2 is written in Java, it requires specific Java libraries to function correctly.
- For a stable and reliable experience, choose the jre17-openjdk option. Enter the corresponding index number (for example, it was 7 in my case) and press Enter. Based on my testing, JDownloader 2 works best with this version.
- After selecting the JDK, yay will fetch the latest version of JDownloader 2 from the AUR and ask for Packages to cleanBuild?. Simply press Enter to skip this step.
- Next, yay will prompt you for Diffs to show?. Press Enter again to skip, and yay will proceed with downloading and installing JDownloader 2 along with its dependencies.
- Next, yay will also prompt you to Confirm installation multiple times; simply press Enter to continue whenever prompted.
JDownloader 2 First Launch
- To open jdownloader2, press the Meta/Windows key on your keyboard to open the application menu.
- In the application menu search box, type jdownloader2. When its icon appears, open it with a Left-Click.
- On the first launch, JDownloader 2 might take a little time to initialize the Java environment, connect to its server, and check for updates.
- After completing the updates, the application will launch.
How does JDownloader work?
Unlike IDM, JDownloader uses a two-step process to ensure you are downloading the correct file:
- LinkGrabber: Copy any URL (YouTube video, file link, etc.). JDownloader will automatically detect it and show it in the LinkGrabber tab, where you can see the file size and type.
- Start Download: Right-click the file in the LinkGrabber and select Start Downloads. This will move the file to the Downloads tab and begin the actual process.
- By default, JDownloader downloads your files to ~/Downloads/ within a specific folder for each download.
Install Graphics Tools: Image Viewer & Editor
If you are using KDE Plasma like me, you might have noticed that the base installation doesn't always provide an image viewer, image editor, or screenshot tool out of the box. To fill this gap, I'm going to show you some powerful open-source tools that are essential for any desktop setup.
Gwenview Image Viewer
Gwenview is an incredibly fast and intuitive image viewer designed for the KDE Plasma desktop. Beyond just viewing photos, it offers essential quick-fix features like cropping, resizing, and basic rotations without needing a heavy editor. It is the perfect daily driver for browsing through your photo collections with ease and speed.
Install Gwenview
- To install Gwenview, run the following command:
sudo pacman -S gwenview
- Now you can open any image with Gwenview by right-clicking the image, selecting Open With, and choosing Gwenview.
- You can also set it as your default image viewer in the Default Applications section of your system settings.
Install MS Paint Alternative: Pinta
For those looking for a Microsoft Paint experience on Linux, Pinta is the perfect choice. It is a simple yet powerful open-source drawing and editing tool that provides a familiar interface for quick edits. Unlike basic editors, Pinta supports layers, unlimited undo history, and a variety of drawing tools, making it an ideal MS Paint alternative for Arch Linux.
Install Pinta
- You can install Pinta using the following command:
yay -S pinta- After running the command, yay will prompt you for Packages to cleanBuild?; simply press Enter to skip this step.
- On the next prompt, yay will ask for Diffs to show?; press Enter again to skip.
- Finally, yay will download all required dependencies and ask for confirmation to install Pinta. Press Enter to proceed.
- To edit an image with Pinta, simply right-click on the file, select Open With, and click on Pinta.
Install Spectacle
No Linux setup is complete without a reliable screenshot tool, and Spectacle is the best in the business for KDE users. It is a simple yet feature-rich application that allows you to capture your entire desktop, a specific window, or a rectangular region with ease. It also comes with built-in annotation tools, letting you add arrows and text to your screenshots instantly.
Install Spectacle
- Spectacle is available in the official repositories and can be installed with pacman:
sudo pacman -S spectacle
- To launch Spectacle, simply press the Print Screen (or PrtSc) button on your keyboard.
- You can also configure it to auto-save screenshots in your Pictures folder through its internal settings.
Install Media Players
To ensure seamless multimedia playback on Arch Linux, it is essential to have a versatile set of media players. VLC is widely considered the "Swiss Army Knife" of players due to its ability to play almost any file format without extra configuration. For users who prefer a minimalist and modern interface, MPV offers a high-performance, lightweight experience with superior video rendering. Additionally, MPlayer remains a classic, powerful choice for those who want a robust engine that works efficiently even on older hardware.
Install Video Players
- To install these players, run the following command:
sudo pacman -S vlc mpv mplayer
- You can now play any video by right-clicking the file, selecting Open With, and choosing your preferred media player.
Fix VLC "Could not decode format"
If you encounter errors like "VLC could not decode the format mpgv" or issues with H.264 playback, it usually looks like this:
VLC could not decode the format "mpgv" (MPEG-1/2 Video)
Codec not supported:
- This happens because certain plugins are now bundled separately in Arch Linux.
- We can fix this by installing the complete plugin bundle vlc-plugins-all.
- To fix it, run:
sudo pacman -S vlc-plugins-all
- With all supported plugins installed, your playback issues should be resolved!
Install Archive Tools: Ark & PeaZip
Just like WinRAR is the go-to utility on Windows, Ark and PeaZip serve as the ultimate archive managers for Arch Linux. Ark provides a lightweight, native experience that integrates seamlessly with the Dolphin file manager for quick extractions. For those looking for a true WinRAR alternative with advanced features, PeaZip is a powerhouse that supports over 200 formats (including 7Z, RAR, and ZIP) while offering robust encryption and file-splitting capabilities. For me, PeaZip is the closest alternative to WinRAR in terms of UI and usability.
Install Archive Tools
- To install Ark and PeaZip, simply run:
yay -S ark peazip
- After running the command, yay will prompt you for Packages to cleanBuild?; simply press Enter to skip this step.
- On the next prompt, yay will ask for Diffs to show?; press Enter again to skip this as well.
- Finally, yay will download the required dependencies and ask for confirmation to install Ark and PeaZip. Press Enter to proceed.
- To open any archive file, simply right-click the file, select Open With, and choose Ark or PeaZip according to your preference.
- In the demonstration below, I am using PeaZip to open a Chrome OS Flex image file, as PeaZip is the closest alternative to WinRAR on Linux.
Explore More
At this point, you have successfully transformed your minimal Arch installation into a fully functional daily driver. By installing these essential applications, your system is no longer just a terminal screen; it is a complete workstation ready for productivity, entertainment, and everyday tasks. The beauty of Arch Linux is that you only have what you truly need, making it faster and more stable for your specific workflow.
This concludes our essential post-installation guide for Arch Linux. If you run into any issues with these applications or have specific software recommendations, feel free to leave a comment below. I’m always here to help you troubleshoot and optimize your setup.
101 out, I’ll see you in the next one!