---
name: "mkarchiso"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "archiso"
version: "92-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mkarchiso"
---

# mkarchiso(1)

Arch Linux ISO generator

## Name

mkarchiso - Arch Linux ISO generator

## Synopsis

**mkarchiso** \[options\] *profile\_directory*

## Description

**mkarchiso** creates an ISO, netboot artifacts and a bootstrap tarball and optionally signs them.

**Note:**

Running as a regular (non-root) user requires **[unshare(1)](/unshare/1.md)** and user namespace support in the kernel.

## Options

- **-A** *application*

  Set an application name for the ISO. Default: '*mkarchiso iso*'.

- **-C** *file*

  pacman configuration file. Default: */etc/pacman.conf*.

- **-D** *install\_dir*

  Set an install\_dir. All files will be located here. Default: *arch*.

  **Note:**

  For *iso* and *netboot*, use only *a-z0-9*. For *iso*, max 30 characters.

- **-L** *label*

  Set the ISO volume label. Default: *MKARCHISO*.

- **-P** *publisher*

  Set the ISO publisher. Default: *mkarchiso*.

- **-c** *cert\_and\_key*

  Provide certificates for codesigning of netboot artifacts as well as the rootfs artifact. Multiple files are provided as quoted, space delimited list. The first file is considered as the signing certificate, the second as the key and the third as the optional certificate authority.

- **-g** *gpg\_key*

  Set the PGP key ID to be used for signing the rootfs image. Passed to gpg as the value for **--default-key**.

- **-G** *mbox*

  Set the PGP signer (must include an email address). Passed to gpg as the value for **--sender**.

- **-h**

  Help message.

- **-m** *mode*

  Build mode(s) to use (valid modes are: *bootstrap*, *iso* and *netboot*). Multiple build modes are provided as quoted, space delimited list. Default: *iso*

- **-o** *out\_dir*

  Set the output directory. Default: *./out*.

- **-p** *packages*

  Package(s) to install. Multiple packages are provided as quoted, space delimited list.

- **-r**

  Delete the working directory at the end.

- **-v**

  Enable verbose output.

- **-w** *work\_dir*

  Set the working directory. Default: *./work*.

## Examples

### Build the releng profile

mkarchiso /usr/share/archiso/configs/releng

## Bugs

\<https://gitlab.archlinux.org/archlinux/archiso/-/issues\>

## Authors

archiso is maintained by the Arch Linux community. Refer to the *AUTHORS* file for a full list of contributors.

## Copyright

Copyright 🄯 archiso contributors. GPL-3.0-or-later.

## See also

- •

  /usr/share/doc/archiso/README.profile.rst