How to Install YAY on Arch Linux in 2 Minutes

 

If you’re new to Arch Linux or tired of installing AUR packages manually, then using an AUR helper like YAY is a must. In this beginner-friendly guide, I will show you how to install YAY on Arch Linux in just 2 minutes. This tutorial is simple, fast, and perfect for both new and experienced Arch users.

I also created a step-by-step YouTube video explaining this entire process visually.
👉 Watch the full video here: Install YAY on Arch Linux in 3 Minutes | Beginner-Friendly Tutorial (youtu.be/qrLsNhxdAZk)

What Is YAY?

YAY (Yet Another Yaourt) is a lightweight and fast AUR helper written in Go. It makes installing AUR packages incredibly easy by automating the cloning, building, and installation process. Instead of manually cloning PKGBUILDs and running makepkg every time, YAY does it all with a single command.

With YAY, you can:

• Install AUR and official packages

• Update all system + AUR packages together

• Search for packages easily

• Manage dependencies automatically

If you use the AUR often, YAY is a game-changer.

🛠 Step 1: Install Required Dependencies

Before installing YAY, you need git and base-devel. They contain the tools required to build packages from source.

Open your terminal and run:

sudo pacman -S --needed git base-devel

This ensures all necessary development tools are installed.

🧩 Step 2: Clone the YAY Repository from the AUR

YAY is available in the Arch User Repository (AUR), so we need to clone it using Git:

git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git

After cloning the repository, enter the directory:

cd yay

⚙️ Step 3: Build and Install YAY

Now run the command below to build the package and install it:

makepkg -si

This command will:

• Download package dependencies

• Build the package

• Install YAY on your system

That’s it — YAY is now installed!

🚀 How to Use YAY (Basic Commands)

Once installed, here are some useful commands:

🔍 Search for a package:

yay -Ss package_name

📥 Install a package:

yay -S package_name

🔄 Update all packages (official + AUR):

yay -Syu

This is one of the biggest advantages of YAY — upgrading both repositories with a single command.

📺 Watch the Full Video Tutorial on YouTube

If you prefer following along with a visual guide, check out my YouTube tutorial:

👉 Install YAY on Arch Linux in 3 Minutes | Beginner-Friendly Tutorial
(youtu.be/qrLsNhxdAZk)

The video walks through each step with clear instructions—perfect for beginners.

🎯 Conclusion

Installing YAY on Arch Linux is quick and simple. With just a few commands, you unlock the full power of the Arch User Repository and make your Linux experience smoother and more efficient.

Whether you're installing popular AUR packages like Google Chrome, Visual Studio Code, or Spotify, YAY makes the process effortless.

If this guide helped you, make sure to watch the video and share this article with fellow Arch users!