Have you seen the surface-linux project on GitHub? They've been maintaining a kernel for it. Idk if it'll work with your distro but I'd start there
this post was submitted on 05 Jul 2025
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Thanks! I saw that but... honestly, that's not what I can do given the experience and time I have.
Quick follow-up, because tonight I installed EndeavourOS on my Surface Pro 4. (It's not Garuda, but it's still Arch.)
If you can follow instructions and copy/paste Pacman commands, you can install the Surface kernel. I did hit a couple of unexpected errors along the way, but the error messages were very specific. So it was easy to resolve them.
The instructions page is written very well, and there's a whole section dedicated to Arch.
There are only two things I haven't done yet: set up secure boot, and enable Bluetooth. Both of those things are pretty well documented, I just haven't tried to do it yet.
Hey, just wanted to provide an update: gave it a shot and installed everything. Then there thing didn't boot anymore. Reverted to previous kernel. 🤣
That's... odd. I wonder if it's a Garuda thing.
I've now installed four different flavors of Linux on a variety of Surface devices. Haven't had that happen to me, but I also didn't try Garuda.
Sorry to hear about that.
I'm on CachyOS, as Garuda was not a good experience. Also Arch, thought.
Only step from the instruction I skipped was the safe boot one. Anyways, touch pad isn't that important. I just hoped I could get more out of the 620 integrated graphics.
Maybe try Endeavour? I haven't used Cachy, but I've heard it's a little more unstable. And I know I've gotten Endeavour to work.
Here's a list of what I've got actively installed now, in case it helps:
SP4 - Endeavour, SP6 - Ubuntu vanilla, Mint Cinnamon
I don't have access to a 5, otherwise I'd play around and try to help.
Thanks, I'll give it a shot!
Any chance you could run basemark on the 4?
A powerhouse of a gaming PC ;-)
Thank you! Still way better than my SF5... 😅
I'll give Endeavour a try next week.
Oof. Painful to hear your 5 is being so clunky. Hopefully Endeavour helps!
Thanks!
Funnily enough, Bluetooth is already working. I'd say the only thing missing is touch screen and, well, proper GPU performance.
Yeah, I'm sure Bluetooth is just from something I missed. Some config I need to update, or something.
Touchscreen and pen both work perfectly with the new kernel.
When installing a new kernel, you basically stop getting kernel updates from the main repository, right?
I really have to look into all this a bit more I guess.
You add the new kernel's repository to your repo list. During updates, Pacman will pull what it needs from the various repos.
That's the short-short version. Possibly not technically accurate, but that's basically what it does.
After I ran the setup commands, edited the config file, then ran the command to install + update, it updated without me having to manually select any files.
Frankly, that leaves you with two options:
-
Be patient and learn, so eventually you have a working system.
-
Don't have a working system.
The Surface Pro is a very proprietary device. It requires the extra work in order for Linux to function on it.
There are communities of people who will be happy to help you on your journey to learn, but unless you go through the effort you won't solve your problem.