PyTorch XPU Setup & Usage

This skill covers end-to-end setup and usage of PyTorch on Intel GPUs (XPU) on Windows and Linux.

Important Context (as of 2026):

• Intel Extension for PyTorch (IPEX) reached end of life in March 2026. All XPU support is now native in upstream PyTorch.
• There are no conda packages for XPU. Only pip wheels exist from the XPU index URL.
• The recommended workflow: create a conda env → install via pip inside it.

Quick Reference — Installation

Prerequisites

1. Intel GPU Driver — required for all users.
   • Windows: Download from Intel Arc & Iris Xe Graphics - Windows. Include LevelZeroSDK in the install for torch.compile support.
   • Linux: Follow Client GPU installation instructions.
   • Full prerequisites page: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/developer/articles/tool/pytorch-prerequisites-for-intel-gpu/2-11.html