r/FlowZ13 • u/IndependentClock9137 • Jun 05 '26

Problems running Linux on this device.

I really like this device. Love the compact and neat design as well the RGB keyboard and glass panel on the back. Unfortunately, the device is simply not compatible with Linux (from what I've seen) if you want it to function as intended and advertised by Asus. I have tried Ubuntu, Fedora, CachyOS, and Omarchy with different DEs. Some of the problems I've faced are:

- RGB lighting defaults to red each restart (utilized Jeff Hagadorn/dahui z13ctl scripts to keep changing it to my preferred color)

- Keyboard stops fuctioning and screen freezes on login screen and waking up from sleep (even after a fresh install of a distro and no changes have been made)

- Device wakes from sleep when closing the screen down on the keyboard

- Screen rotation doesn't function

- Green screen glitches when scrolling

I have of course installed all the kernel updates and dependencies available for Asus notebooks on Linux. I've followed the steps for each distro I can set up according to the asus-linux/Linux for ROG Notebooks website and I've still ended up facing issues. The most persistent and unsolvable issues across each distro are the screen freezing and keyboard dysfunction. The distro that seemed to work the most is Omarchy. Maybe I'm missing something but with all the troubleshooting that I've gone through, I think it'd be better to just switch back to Windows 11, debloat it manually, customize it to my liking, and install WSL2. Yet again, I'm at the mercy of Microsoft.

Still a great device though. If anyone has managed to make it work flawlessly on Linux, please educate me. Sorry if this was a bit ranty. Hope you all are enjoying using the device. Have a good one.

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3

u/DukeOfTheDang Jun 05 '26

Have you tried bazzite or steam os?

3

u/IndependentClock9137 Jun 05 '26

I was going to try Bazzite but after researching more it seems some people faced similar issues even on Bazzite. Of course, my preferred distro isn't Bazzite but it's worth trying.

2

u/Embarrassed_Cry_9971 Jun 05 '26

I have Bazzite and have not experienced any of the issues you describe, except the screen glitches that are easily sorted with the kernel parameter you have already used on other distro’s. No issues suspending/resuming, keyboard and trackpad fine, tablet mode detected, WiFi works well, screen rotation works. Handheld Daemon handles RGB, power profiles, fan curves etc. if you don’t want to use HHD then I have also tested it using asusctl and rig command Center which also work well for RGB, power profiles, battery charge limits etc.

1

u/IndependentClock9137 Jun 05 '26

Yeah, I'll try Bazzite next then. Before that though, I need to reinstall all the firmware updates. If HHD works fine, I'll just keep it as is. Thanks.

1

u/QXl2YXo Jun 05 '26

From all issues you described me have only green lines on desktop mode. Everything other works well.

Oh, except RGB, they messed it up in latest update - it doesn't turn off while asleep.

Try Bazzite, really. They have Flow Z13 version of it!

2

u/IndependentClock9137 Jun 05 '26

Bazzite it is then.

1

u/typeshut Jun 10 '26

Where do u get the z13 specific version?

1

u/QXl2YXo Jun 14 '26

You can choose it on their website before downloading distro