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Guide · Open source

How to use fastfetch: install, run and customize it

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Fastfetch is a terminal program that collects details about your computer, such as operating system, hardware and software information, and prints them in a readable layout, often with a distro logo. It is a neofetch-like tool written mainly in C, focused on performance and customizability. This guide shows you how to install it, run it, and adjust which information it shows.

Fastfetchfastfetch-cli/fastfetch · ★ 25.2k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Install fastfetch. Use your package manager, for example pacman -S fastfetch on Arch Linux, brew install fastfetch on macOS, or winget install fastfetch on Windows.
  2. 2Run the default view. Type fastfetch in a terminal to see the default summary of your system.
  3. 3Explore all modules. Run fastfetch -c all.jsonc to see the full list of modules that can be displayed.
  4. 4Generate a config file. Run fastfetch --gen-config to create a minimal JSONC config you can edit.
  5. 5Customize and load it. Edit the config file to choose modules and layout, then load it with fastfetch -c <filename>.
  6. 6Review before sharing. Check any config from another source for Command module entries before you run it.

Install fastfetch with your package manager

The easiest route is your operating system's package manager. The project's README lists packages for many Linux distributions, plus macOS, Windows, BSD systems and Termux on Android. Some distributions package outdated versions, so check the version after installing.

You may need sudo, doas, or sup to run these commands on Linux.

  • Arch Linux: pacman -S fastfetch
  • macOS with Homebrew: brew install fastfetch
  • Windows with winget: winget install fastfetch
  • Fedora: dnf install fastfetch
  • FreeBSD: pkg install fastfetch
  • Android (Termux): pkg install fastfetch
pacman -S fastfetch

Run fastfetch for the default view

Open a terminal and run the command with no options. Fastfetch prints the default modules, which are a small set chosen by the project. It does not create a config file on its own.

fastfetch

See every module fastfetch can show

By default fastfetch enables only a few modules. To see the full set, load the all-modules config. Pick a module list yourself with -s to see only the data you want, and use --format json to view the raw data fastfetch detects.

  • Show all modules: fastfetch -c all.jsonc
  • Show selected modules as JSON: fastfetch -s <module1>[:<module2>][:<module3>] --format json
  • Show help: fastfetch --help
fastfetch -s <module1>[:<module2>][:<module3>] --format json

Create and edit a configuration file

Fastfetch uses JSONC, which is JSON with comments, for configuration. To create a minimal config file, use --gen-config. You can optionally limit it to certain modules with -s and give a path. For a full config with every optional setting, the project offers an online configuration generator. Premade examples live in the presets directory and can be loaded with -c.

Logos can also be customized. The logo documentation is in the project wiki.

  • Generate a minimal config: fastfetch [-s <module1>[:<module2>]] --gen-config [</path/to/config.jsonc>]
  • Load a preset or your own file: fastfetch -c <filename>
fastfetch --gen-config

Be careful with configs from other people

The Command module can run arbitrary shell commands. A config copied from an untrusted source may contain commands that harm your system or expose your data. Read the whole config file before you use it, and disable the Command module if you do not need it.

What people use it for

  • Checking the specs of a Linux, macOS or Windows machine at a glance
  • Showing system info each time a terminal opens
  • Getting a quick summary of a remote or virtual machine over SSH
  • Viewing raw system data as JSON with --format json

Frequently asked questions

Is fastfetch free to use?

Fastfetch is released under the MIT licence, according to the project's repository. You can install it from the package managers listed in the README.

How do I install fastfetch?

Install it with your package manager. The README gives commands such as pacman -S fastfetch for Arch Linux, brew install fastfetch for macOS with Homebrew, and winget install fastfetch for Windows.

Is fastfetch better than neofetch?

The project says it is actively maintained, faster, more configurable and more accurate than neofetch. Neofetch is no longer the only choice for a neofetch-style tool, and fastfetch is written mainly in C.

Does fastfetch have a GUI?

No. Fastfetch runs only in the terminal, so it is not a graphical system monitor.

Where is the fastfetch config file?

Fastfetch does not generate a config file automatically. Run fastfetch --gen-config to create one, then edit the JSONC file it produces.

Does fastfetch leak my privacy by showing my local IP?

The README says a local IP address (10.x.x.x, 172.x.x.x, 192.168.x.x) has nothing to do with privacy, since it only has meaning on the same network. If you still prefer not to show it, you can disable the Local IP module in config.jsonc.

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Our verdict

Fastfetch suits Linux users who want a fast, maintained neofetch alternative, and anyone who likes customizing their terminal startup screen. Pick something else if you need a graphical system monitor, or if you run on a platform the project does not actively test, since the README says it is only actively tested on x86-64 and aarch64.

Install options & downloads