Hyprland is a dynamic tiling Wayland compositor that has been gaining traction in the Linux community due to its modern aesthetics, smooth animations, and extensive configurability.
Unlike traditional X11 window managers, Hyprland leverages Wayland's capabilities to provide a more fluid and visually appealing desktop experience. Its growing popularity is evident in discussions across forums and communities, where people have been praising its performance and customization options.
But if you look at our Hyprland tutorial series, you'll realize that setting up Hyprland can be a huge challenge. And that's why I am listing a few options that lower the entry barrier by providing a preconfigured Hyprland option. Let's see them.
1. Garuda Linux
Garuda Linux offers a dedicated Hyprland edition, preconfigured with themes, wallpapers, and essential applications. It is designed for users who want a visually appealing and ready-to-use desktop without manually configuring Hyprland.
The distribution includes performance-oriented buffs such as the Zen kernel, Btrfs snapshots, and optimized compositor settings. Users can enjoy a responsive system with minimal tweaking needed post-install.
Garuda’s tools, like "Rani," simplify maintenance and system management. This ensures even users new to Linux can manage updates, drivers, and desktop settings efficiently.
⭐ Key Features
- Preinstalled tools for system management.
- Ready-to-use desktop layout with Hyprland.
- Rolling release updates via Arch Linux repos.
2. ArchRiot
ArchRiot is a community-driven, Arch-based distribution that comes with Hyprland preinstalled. It includes essential applications and cool themes for a ready-to-use desktop experience.
The distribution provides a Go-based installer that automates setup and includes rollback support, reducing setup errors. Plus, the distro follows a rolling release model, allowing users to stay up to date with the latest packages and Hyprland features.
Initially started as a fork of Omarchy (discussed later), it has evolved into a distinct project with custom developed tools.
⭐ Key Features
- Go-based installer with rollback support.
- Dependable community support for new users.
- Preconfigured Hyprland with curated apps and themes.
3. CachyOS
CachyOS is an Arch-based distribution focused on speed and ease of use. It offers a Hyprland option during installation, letting users start with a functional, preconfigured desktop.
It includes a simple installer, and the post-install tools are helpful to manage packages, settings, and desktop customization without extra complexity. This is a suitable option for both beginners and experienced users who want a fast Arch-based system with Hyprland ready to go.
⭐ Key Features
- GUI and CLI installation options.
- Tools for hardware detection and system customization.
- Optimized kernel with BORE scheduler for better performance.
Ankush Das
4. Omarchy (A Script for Arch Linux)
Omarchy is a script for Arch Linux that automates the installation and configuration of Hyprland. It sets up themes, layouts, keybinds, and essential applications.
The script reduces manual setup effort, allowing users to get a functional desktop with a single command. It supports optional packages for productivity and multimedia, letting users tailor the environment to their needs.
Omarchy is ideal for users who want the flexibility of Arch Linux without configuring every component manually.
⭐ Key Features
- Many preinstalled themes.
- Automated Hyprland setup in one command.
- Optional productivity and multimedia integrations.
Sourav Rudra
5. KooL's Arch - Hyprland (Another Script for Arch Linux)
KooL's Arch - Hyprland is an automated installation script that sets up a complete Hyprland desktop environment on minimal Arch Linux systems. The script installs Hyprland along with a curated collection of themes, applications, and preconfigured dotfiles from a centralized repository, creating a polished and functional desktop experience out of the box.
While the setup is relatively opinionated and comes with various configurations, users still need to be comfortable with terminal usage and basic configuration file editing for system maintenance and minor adjustments.
⭐ Key Features
- One-script setup with complete Hyprland environment installation.
- Curated preconfigured dotfiles from an actively maintained repository.
- Flexible display manager options, including GDM and SDDM support.
6. ML4W (Dotfiles for Hyprland)
ML4W, short for My Linux for Work, is not a standalone Linux distribution but a set of dotfiles and scripts designed to provide a complete Hyprland desktop environment on top of an existing Linux system. It primarily supports Arch Linux, Fedora, and openSUSE, making it accessible to users across popular distributions without requiring a full reinstall.
The setup includes a structured installer that handles dependencies, applies theming, and sets up a curated set of applications for daily use. This makes it easier for users who want a polished Hyprland environment without spending hours configuring it from scratch.
⭐ Key Features
- Ships graphical tools for adjusting themes and settings.
- Provides regular updates and documentation for maintaining the setup.
- Comes with preconfigured menus, notification systems, and terminal tweaks.
7. PikaOS
PikaOS is a rolling distribution based on Debian Sid that focuses on delivering newer packages than standard Debian. While it is still relatively niche, it has support for Wayland compositors, including Hyprland, giving users access to a more modern tiling workflow.
Unlike Arch-based alternatives, PikaOS balances Debian’s wide repository ecosystem with experimental additions like Hyprland, though it may not always be as seamless or stable as more mature offerings. Still, it represents a noteworthy option for those who prefer Debian but want to explore Hyprland without building everything from scratch.
⭐ Key Features
- Provides its own package repositories with up-to-date kernels and drivers.
- Offers two ISO images, a standard edition and an NVIDIA-optimized edition.
- Focus on gaming performance, with tools like Proton GE and Wine packaged.
8. end_4's Hyprland dotfiles
end_4’s Hyprland dotfiles delivers a ready-to-use Hyprland configuration layer that can be applied to an existing distribution. Unlike a full distro, it is purely a set of dotfiles, but it goes beyond simple theming by integrating workflow enhancements, usability tweaks, and consistent design choices.
The dotfiles cover multiple aspects of the desktop, from animations and notification handling to workspace interaction. This makes it an appealing option for users who enjoy experimenting but want a strong baseline to start from instead of configuring everything manually.
⭐ Key Features
- Implements Material Design 3 styling and animations.
- Provides a clear wiki for installation and customization guidance.
- Includes workspace drag-and-drop functionality and grouped notifications.
Conclusion
If you want a distribution that boots directly into Hyprland with minimal setup, Garuda Linux (Hyprland edition), CachyOS, and ArchRiot are the best candidates. They provide preconfigured desktops, themes, and essential tools without requiring you to fiddle with anything.
For Arch enthusiasts who want to stay close to vanilla, Omarchy with Arch Linux or Arch Linux combined with JaKooLit’s script (number 5) are strong alternatives. These do not qualify as full "Hyprland distros," but they automate the setup process and deliver a comparable experience.
And don't forget that there are several enthusiasts who have specific Hyprland setups that can be achieved with their dot files.
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Abhishek Prakash
