Introduction

KAIT2EN adds Intel T2 Mac support to stock Fedora without replacing Fedora's kernel. Hardware support is provided by DKMS modules, system configuration and small desktop tools maintained in this repository. Fedora kernel updates remain normal Fedora updates; DKMS rebuilds the out-of-tree modules for each new kernel.

KAIT2EN supports Fedora only. The project deliberately uses an otherwise stock Fedora installation so hardware problems can be reproduced, fixed and moved toward upstream Linux without distribution-specific kernel patches obscuring the result.

Choose an installation path

Automatic installation

The automatic installer is the recommended path for a new Fedora installation. Run it from macOS with an empty USB drive. It prepares an official Fedora installer with temporary KAIT2EN boot support, copies the matching Apple firmware and continues the setup after Fedora has been installed.

Internal keyboard and trackpad work in the automatic installer. The Fedora installation payload and kernel remain stock; KAIT2EN is installed afterward as a separate driver, configuration and tooling layer.

Manual installation

Use the manual path when you need to inspect or control every installation step. Start by copying the Broadcom firmware from macOS, then prepare a standard Fedora installer and install KAIT2EN from this repository.

A plain Fedora installer does not contain the required T2 input drivers. On a MacBook, the manual path therefore requires a wired USB keyboard and mouse, or wireless devices with their own USB receiver. Bluetooth input devices will not work at that stage. Wi-Fi also becomes available only after the Apple firmware has been installed.

Keep a separate copy of this repository and the firmware files. Fedora Media Writer and dd overwrite the installer drive, so using a second USB drive is the least error-prone manual setup.

Existing T2 Linux Fedora installation

KAIT2EN can also replace the patched T2 Linux stack on an existing Fedora installation. Install the KAIT2EN modules and applications first, then follow the migration guide to remove conflicting T2 Linux packages and return to Fedora's stock kernel.

Do not keep both driver stacks active. They provide competing modules and configuration for the same hardware.

Before you start

KAIT2EN is intended for Intel Macs with an Apple T2 security chip. Back up important data before changing partitions or boot settings.

Keep macOS installed. It is the clean source for model-specific Apple firmware, can recover T2 and bridgeOS hardware states, and is the only place where bridgeOS panic logs are available. If macOS must be removed completely, this installation path is not supported.

Create a real partition for Fedora from macOS Disk Utility. Do not delete the EFI partition or the macOS installation. Apple Secure Boot must be disabled and booting from external media must be allowed before a standard Fedora installer can start.

Firmware copied from macOS is never distributed by KAIT2EN. The installer and manual guide only copy firmware already present on your own Mac and install it locally.

After installation

To update KAIT2EN, pull the latest repository changes and run the main installer from the repository root:

sudo bash ./scripts/fedora/install.sh

See Updating KAIT2EN for details.

Some T2 models still require specific GPU configuration or have unresolved hardware limitations. Review Configure GPUs before changing graphics modes or testing suspend on a dual-GPU Mac.

For installation problems, open an issue on GitHub, join the Discord community, or use the KAIT2EN Matrix space.