Installing Zoxide on Linux: The Definitive Guide for Arch and NixOS Users

Linux users enjoy a variety of distributions, but two that stand out for their unique package management styles are Arch Linux and NixOS. While Zoxide is a cross-platform tool, the installation and configuration process differs significantly between these systems. This guide explores how to properly set up the zoxide arch and zoxide nixos packages while avoiding common pitfalls.

Installing on Arch Linux

For Arch Linux enthusiasts, the zoxide arch package is readily available in the official repositories. It is lightweight and fast. You can install it simply by running:

Once installed, the most important step is adding the initialization line to your shell config. Without this line, your zoxide alias commands won't work, and the tool won't be able to track your directory movements. Arch users often combine Zoxide with other Rust-based tools like exa and bat to create a modern terminal experience.

Installing on NixOS

On the other hand, zoxide nixos users live in a different world. Because NixOS relies on declarative configuration files, you cannot simply run an install command and expect it to persist. Instead, you should use home-manager.

Here is a snippet for your home.nix file to enable Zoxide with full integration:

This declarative method is powerful because it simplifies enabling zoxide autocomplete. If programs.fzf.enable is also set to true in your config, NixOS often wires them together automatically.

Handling "No Match Found"

A frequent issue that users on both platforms report is the zoxide no match found error when trying to jump to a newly created project folder.

This is not a bug but a feature of how the database works. It needs to "see" you visit a directory at least once. If you just installed Zoxide, your database is empty. To mitigate this quickly, ensure your zoxide alias is set up to replace cd (as shown in the Nix config above). This way, your initial navigation is recorded.

Verifying the Installation

After setting up, verify that zoxide autocomplete and aliases are working by checking the version and database health:

Whether you are running a minimal zoxide arch setup or a complex zoxide nixos flake, properly configuring these elements ensures you spend less time typing paths and more time coding.