---
title: "Debian GNU/Linux on the Surface Go 2"
language: en
topics: ["Freedom", "SSH", "creating", "design", "experiment", "howto", "laptop", "linux", "minimal", "tablet"]
full_article_url: https://willem.com/en/2020-09-28_refining-my-tablet-os-experience/
---
# Debian GNU/Linux on the Surface Go 2

*A Linux tablet as daily driver, with the i3 tiling window manager.*

> Yes. In 2020 I ran Debian GNU/Linux with the i3 tiling window manager on a Surface Go 2 as my daily main computer. Update Windows and firmware first, boot from a USB installer, then refine.

The top model Surface Go 2 pairs well with Linux: a 10.5 inch 1920x1250 touch screen, 8th generation Intel Core m3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD plus a 512GB MicroSDXC card, and LTE Advanced. The installation follows the same steps as on the original Surface Go: update Windows 10 and all firmware first, create a bootable USB with your distribution, boot from it and install.
The refinement is what matters. I used the i3 tiling window manager with workspaces, fusuma for three finger trackpad gestures, the adwaita-dark theme with HighContrast icons and Open Sans Light, and Debian's non-free wireless firmware for WiFi. I encrypted the MicroSD card that holds my photos.
After months of intense daily use I eventually abandoned the setup, but the hardware itself runs Debian well.