Before You Download
Check two things before you start. First, your computer: Linux Lite needs a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 4 GB of RAM, 40 GB of storage, and a display of 1366 x 768 or better. It is 64-bit only, and there is no official ARM version.
Second, your internet connection and time. The ISO is about 2.4 GB, so on a slow connection it takes a while. A torrent can be faster and can resume if the connection drops. Either way, start the download when you have time to let it finish.
You will also need a USB stick of at least 4 GB for the next step — writing the ISO to bootable media. A USB 3.0 stick is faster than USB 2.0, but any stick of 4 GB or more works.
System Requirements
These are the current official minimum requirements for Linux Lite:
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Processor | 1.5 GHz dual-core CPU |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 GB |
| Storage | 40 GB (HDD, SSD or NVMe) |
| Display | VGA, DVI, DP or HDMI at 1366 x 768 |
| Media | DVD drive or USB port for the ISO image |
Linux Lite is 64-bit only, and there is no official ARM version. A machine with 2 GB of RAM can run it in a pinch, but 4 GB is what makes multitasking comfortable. Machines with under 1 GB of RAM are not a good fit — lighter systems exist for those.
Requirements have grown as the distro has grown. In 2016, Linux Lite asked for a 700 MHz processor and 512 MB of RAM. The current figures reflect a fuller, more modern desktop.
How to Verify the Download (Checksum)
Checking the checksum on Windows
Open PowerShell, go to the folder with the ISO, and run the built-in checksum command on the file. Compare the result with the SHA256 value on the official download page. They must match exactly.
Checking the checksum on Linux
Open a terminal in the folder with the ISO and run the SHA256 checksum command on the file. Compare the output with the value on the official download page. They must match exactly.
Checking the checksum does not replace downloading from the official site — it only confirms the file arrived intact. Do both: official site first, checksum second.
Common Download Problems
The download is very slow.
Try the torrent option, or try a different mirror from the official download page. A 2.4 GB file takes time on a slow connection — let it finish rather than stopping and starting it.
The download stops partway.
Use the torrent, which resumes cleanly. Or start the direct download again. If it stops at the same point every time, try a different browser or a different mirror.
The checksum does not match.
The file is incomplete or damaged. Delete it and download it again, preferably through the torrent. Do not install from a file whose checksum does not match.
I downloaded a file, but it is not an ISO.
Check the file extension. The download should be a single file ending in .iso. If your browser saved it with a different name or extension, rename it back to .iso — or download it again and watch the file name.
