A 30-Day Omarchy Migration Plan for Windows and macOS Users

Move Start, Spotlight, Command, Alt-Tab, virtual desktops, files, and professional workflows into Omarchy through a four-week practice plan.

A successful migration is not the removal of Windows or macOS. It is the ability to repeat critical work in Omarchy and return to the old environment when a dependency fails. This 30-day plan separates learning, data, and compatibility risk.

Before day one: keep an exit

Retain the old machine, dual boot, or bootable recovery media.
Prove backups of documents, photos, projects, and password vaults.
List mandatory apps, formats, plugins, VPNs, and peripherals.
Choose one non-critical project for the entire month.
Record failed actions instead of immediately remapping keys.

Migrate tasks, not icons

Ask how to sign a PDF, join a meeting, or ship code before choosing a Linux application. A familiar name does not prove format, plugin, and permission compatibility.

Goal: launch, browse, open a terminal, close windows, and switch workspaces without a reference card.

Old habit	Omarchy model
Start / Spotlight	`Super + Space` menu and app search
Command / Windows key	`Super` modifier
Alt-Tab / Command-Tab	Directional focus and fixed workspaces
Dragging split windows	Hyprland automatic tiling
Virtual desktops / Spaces	`Super + 1…9` task locations

Keep browser, editor, terminal, and communication on workspaces 1–4. Do not replace default bindings in the first week.

Days 8–14: files and communication

Goal: complete a full low-risk workday.

Use unified clipboard and history.
Reach the same project from file manager and terminal.
Test screenshots, OCR, recording, and LocalSend.
Verify input method, fonts, and PDFs.
Run a test meeting with camera, microphone, and screen sharing.
Restore one test file from backup.

Days 15–21: development and professional software

Goal: complete one real but non-critical project cycle.

Install the project's runtime through mise.
Verify Git identity, SSH, signing, and private repositories.
Run dependency installation, tests, build, and local services.
Understand sudo versus docker-group access.
Make one change through Tmux/LazyVim or your chosen editor.
Add an AI agent only after the manual workflow is stable.

For Office macros, Adobe formats, enterprise VPNs, anti-cheat games, and vendor peripheral tools, maintain a table of fully usable, partly usable, and old-system-only. Do not substitute optimism for a test.

Days 22–30: maintenance and customization

Goal: prove that you can maintain the system, not merely boot it.

Run one Omarchy update in a window with recovery time.
Confirm automatic snapshots and Limine access.
Practice collecting redacted debug evidence.
Change one theme or binding and record the diff.
Test again after logout, reboot, sleep, and wake.
Check backup recency and restore one file.
Decide how long to keep the old operating system.

Weekly review

Question	Record
Which tasks are repeatable?	Steps and applications used
Which are only partial?	Missing format, plugin, or hardware support
Which require the old system?	Frequency and business impact
Which shortcut is still looked up?	Practice it before remapping
Is recovery proven?	Date of the latest restore test

Decision after 30 days

Use Omarchy as primary: work, backup, update, and recovery all pass.
Keep dual boot: a few critical jobs still need Windows.
Keep a Mac or remote host: hardware or professional software has no adequate replacement.
Pause migration: current data, downtime, or compatibility risk exceeds the benefit.

This is evidence-based environment design, not a score. See the Windows/macOS comparison and your first day.

Sources: Omarchy Coming From Mac or Windows and Navigation.