Your Stress-Free ParrotOS Installation Guide
Ready to try a fast, secure, and powerful operating system? Installing ParrotOS is easier than you think. Let’s walk through it together, step by step, in plain English.
This guide works for both Parrot Home (for everyday use) and Parrot Security (for cybersecurity work).
🚀 Getting Started: Booting from USB
- Create a Bootable USB: First, you’ll need a USB stick (8GB or larger) with the ParrotOS installer on it. You can download the official file from the ParrotOS website and use a program like BalenaEtcher to “flash” it onto the USB.
- Enter Your Computer’s Startup Menu: Plug the USB into your computer and restart it. As soon as it turns on, press the key to open the “boot menu.” This is often F12, F10, F2, or ESC (the exact key usually flashes on the screen during startup).
- Select Your USB Drive: In the menu that appears, use your arrow keys to select your USB drive and press Enter.
👋 Welcome to Parrot!
Your computer will now load a temporary, live version of ParrotOS. You’ll see a menu:
- Simply select “Try/Install” and press Enter.
Wait a moment for the full desktop to appear. You can click around and explore ParrotOS before installing it! When you’re ready, look for the “Install Parrot” icon on the desktop and double-click it to begin the real installation.
🗣️ Setting Up Your Language and Keyboard
The installer will now guide you through a few simple setup screens:
- Language: Pick your preferred language from the list.
- Location: Click on the map to set your time zone.
- Keyboard: Choose the layout that matches your keyboard (like US English). You can test it in the box at the bottom.
Click “Next” after each step.
💾 The “Where to Install?” Step (Don’t Worry!)
This is the most important part, but it’s simple:
- For a clean, easy installation on an empty drive, just choose the option that says:
- “Erase disk” or “Use entire disk.”
Simple Sizing Tip: Make sure you have at least 40 GB of free space. This gives your new system plenty of room to breathe.
Extra Options (Optional):
- Encrypt System: If you want maximum security, check this box. It will ask for a strong passphrase every time you turn on the computer.
- Swap Space: For most users, the default setting is perfect. You can leave this as-is.
Click “Next” to continue.
👤 Create Your User Account
Now, let’s create your personal account on the system:
- Your Real Name: (e.g., Alex Johnson)
- Your Computer’s Name: (e.g., alex-laptop)
- Username: What you’ll type to log in (e.g.,
alex) - Password: Create a strong password. Make it long and mix letters, numbers, and symbols!
Click “Next.”
✅ The Final Check
You’ll now see a summary of all your choices. Look it over to make sure everything is correct.
If you’re happy, click the big “Install” button.
A final pop-up will ask, “Are you sure?” Click “Install Now” and the process will begin!
☕ Time for a Break
The installer will now copy ParrotOS to your computer. This is the perfect time to grab a coffee! On a modern computer with an SSD, this usually takes just 5-10 minutes.
🎉 You Did It!
When you see the “Installation Complete” message, you’re done!
- Click “Finish.”
- Your computer will ask to restart. Let it.
- Important: When it shuts down, remove the USB stick. Then, it will boot up directly into your brand-new ParrotOS installation from the hard drive.
Logging In For the First Time
You’ll see the login screen. Simply:
- Click on your username.
- Type in the password you created earlier.
- Press Enter.
Welcome to your new ParrotOS desktop! You’ve successfully installed a powerful and private operating system. Explore, enjoy, and make it your own.
Need Help? The ParrotOS community is very friendly and helpful. If you get stuck, you can find answers on the official ParrotOS forums.