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{"id":196,"date":"2026-02-19T01:21:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T01:21:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/repair.bluebrad.com\/?p=196"},"modified":"2026-02-19T04:27:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T04:27:54","slug":"installing-ubuntu-on-intel-mac-laptops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/repair.bluebrad.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/19\/installing-ubuntu-on-intel-mac-laptops\/","title":{"rendered":"Installing Ubuntu on Intel Mac Laptops"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The best option is to use a current, up to date PC (or a friend\u2019s PC) and create a bootable USB with Ventoy, then copy the Ubuntu ISO onto that USB. After that, boot your 2012 MacBook Pro from the USB and install Ubuntu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Below is a step by step<\/strong> that works for most 2012 MacBook Pro<\/strong> models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
What you need<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
A USB flash drive: 16GB+<\/strong> recommended<\/li>\n\n\n\n
A PC (Windows is easiest, Linux is fine too)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Your 2012 or newer intel MacBook Pro<\/strong> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
Internet connection (WiFi)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Download Ventoy on the PC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n
Go to: https:\/\/www.ventoy.net<\/code><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Click Download<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Get the version for your PC:\n
\n
Windows<\/strong>: Ventoy Windows ZIP<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Linux<\/strong>: Ventoy Linux TAR.GZ<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Extract the downloaded file<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Install Ventoy onto the USB drive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
On Windows<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Plug in your USB drive<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Open the extracted Ventoy folder<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Run Ventoy2Disk.exe<\/strong> (right click \u2192 Run as Administrator)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
At the top, confirm the correct USB drive is selected Warning:<\/strong> This will wipe that USB drive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Click Install<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Confirm prompts until it finishes<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
On Linux (if you\u2019re using Linux instead)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Plug in USB<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Extract Ventoy<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Open Terminal in the Ventoy folder<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Run:sudo .\/Ventoy2Disk.sh -i \/dev\/sdX <\/code>Replace \/dev\/sdX<\/code> with your USB device (not a partition like \/dev\/sdX1<\/code>).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Download Ubuntu ISO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n
Go to: https:\/\/ubuntu.com\/download\/desktop<\/code><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Download the latest Ubuntu Desktop ISO<\/strong> (usually 64-bit)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
When the ISO finishes downloading, do not \u201cburn\u201d it or use Rufus. Just keep the ISO file.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Step 4: Copy the Ubuntu ISO onto the Ventoy USB<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n
Open the USB drive in File Explorer (Windows) or your file manager<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Drag and drop the Ubuntu .iso<\/code> file onto the USB That\u2019s it. Ventoy works by booting ISO files directly.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Step 5: Boot the 2012 MacBook Pro from the USB<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n
Plug the Ventoy USB into the MacBook Pro<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shut the MacBook Pro down completely<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Turn it on and immediately hold Option (Alt)<\/strong> Keep holding until the boot picker appears<\/li>\n\n\n\n
You should see something like EFI Boot<\/strong> (sometimes it shows the USB name)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Select EFI Boot<\/strong> and press Enter<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
If you do not see EFI Boot:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
Try a different USB port<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Try another USB stick (some are weird with Macs)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Recreate Ventoy using the \u201cInstall\u201d again<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Step 6: In Ventoy, choose the Ubuntu ISO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n
Ventoy menu will load<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Select the Ubuntu ISO you copied over<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Choose the default boot option<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Ubuntu should start loading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Step 7: Start the Ubuntu installer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Once Ubuntu loads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
Choose Try or Install Ubuntu<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
When you reach the desktop installer screen, click Install Ubuntu<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Step 8: Install settings that usually work best<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Notes for 2012 or newer MacBook Pros<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
If this MacBook Pro has a spinning hard drive, swapping to an SSD is the biggest speed upgrade.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Ubuntu will run fine on 8GB RAM. 4GB works but feels tighter.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
If your MacBook Pro is a 13-inch vs 15-inch<\/strong> and you tell me whether you want erase only<\/strong> or dual boot<\/strong>, I can tailor the exact install choices and avoid the usual pitfalls.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The best option is to use a current, up to date PC (or a friend\u2019s PC) and create a bootable USB with Ventoy, then copy the Ubuntu ISO onto that USB. After that, boot your 2012 MacBook Pro from the USB and install Ubuntu. Below is a step by step that works for most 2012 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-how-to-guides","category-ubuntu-how-to-guides"],"yoast_head":"\n
Installing Ubuntu on Intel Mac Laptops - Bluebrad Computer Services<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n