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Software 2. Operating Systems 3. Linux In wake of Windows 10 retirement, over 780,000 Windows users skip Win 11 for Linux, says Zorin OS developers -- distro hits unprecedented 1 million downloads in five weeks News By Zak Killian published 24 November 2025 Windows-like Linux distribution claims over a million downloads in the past month for its latest build. * * * * * * * Comments (37) When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's how it works. A desktop screenshot of Zorin OS, showing the start menu and taskbar equivalents. (Image credit: Zorin OS) The developers of the Linux-based Zorin OS say their latest release, Zorin OS 18, has already been downloaded more than one million times, and according to telemetry, over 78% of those downloads came from Windows systems. It's not a perfect proxy for real migrations, but it's a striking data point during a moment when Microsoft's user base is unusually restless. As Windows 10's end-of-support deadline disappears further into the rear-view mirror, many users are still weighing their options, and Zorin OS appears to be one of the biggest beneficiaries. We tested an older version of Zorin OS and it came out in first place for The Best Windows 10 Alternative Distro. Zorin has always positioned itself as one of the most approachable Linux distributions for people who don't want to relearn their entire workflow; version 18 seemingly takes that philosophy further than ever. The developers describe it as "faster and more responsive," but the headline feature is the interface overhaul: a very familiar new layout that we'd describe as a hybrid of Windows 11 design with MacOS visual cues, including redesigned window controls, updated animations, and a more modern overall layout. The system also introduces Windows-style window tiling, fully integrated and accessible without add-ons--something even many other Linux desktops still treat as an optional experiment. A Zorin OS 18 screenshot showing the new Windows App Support warning. Zorin OS 18 will suggest more appropriate options for users when they attempt to install poorly-supported Windows software. (Image credit: Zorin OS) It's not just aesthetics, though. Zorin OS 18 expands beyond the usual Windows-to-Linux migration checklist by leaning heavily into web-app integration. The new Progressive Web App installer allows users to "install" services like Office 365, Teams, Google Docs, or even Photoshop Web as if they were native applications, with icons in the app grid and no need to keep a browser tab open. Combined with built-in OneDrive file-system integration, the distribution goes further than most to accommodate Windows users. Best picks for you * AMD Ryzen 5 9800X Combo Deal Newegg combo deal pairs AMD's Ryzen 9600X, MSI B850 motherboard, Montech Mesh case, and AIO for $338 * Best Black Friday 2025 Tech Deals Best Black Friday Tech and PC Hardware deals * Mirror Maze PC Build Best Gaming PCs of 2025 Indeed, compatibility remains a major part of Zorin's pitch, and the developers say Windows software support has been improved again in this release. It still relies on Wine and related compatibility layers behind the scenes, of course, but user-facing defaults and configuration have been refined so more Windows applications run out of the box without manual tweaking. It also helps that Linux gaming -- once a punchline -- has had a few years of rapid progress thanks to Valve's work on Proton. Zorin OS isn't a gaming-focused distribution, but the broader ecosystem shift makes the idea of leaving Windows a lot less intimidating than it used to be for most folks. The latest Zorin OS release introduces a handful of quality-of-life improvements too. A new Search Everywhere function in the Files app makes deep file navigation less cumbersome. RDP remote-login support is now integrated, which is particularly relevant for business users who still need to reach Windows machines. Bluetooth audio benefits from the move to the PipeWire audio stack, which improves latency and codec quality compared to older Linux audio stacks. Finally, because this is designated a Long Term Support release, updates are guaranteed until 2029, giving users a predictable upgrade horizon. Microsoft Windows 10 How to enroll in ESU window. Windows 10 users can enroll in Extended Security Updates, but it has onerous requirements, and is really only a band-aid on the problem. (Image credit: Microsoft) The timing is hard to ignore. Windows 10 support officially ended in October, and Microsoft has spent the last two years pushing Windows 11 in ways that many users--especially power users like this writer--haven't appreciated. Onerous and arbitrary hardware requirements, absurd background service creep, endless privacy complaints, and the company's aggressive (and aggressively tone-deaf) addition of questionable AI-driven features have created immense user fatigue. The fact that a still-testing build of Zorin OS 18 attracted over three-quarters of a million Windows-initiated downloads suggests that curiosity about alternatives is unusually high. Linux isn't on the verge of overtaking Windows on the desktop, but the trajectory is shifting. Between a newly energized Linux gaming ecosystem, the growth of SteamOS-based devices, and distributions like Zorin aiming directly at dissatisfied Windows users, the traditional barriers look weaker than they've been basically since Windows 95. If Microsoft's bet is that its user base will simply absorb the transition to Windows 11, Zorin OS' numbers hint at a different possibility: a slow but steady siphoning of users who've finally decided that enough is enough, and that they're willing to give another operating system their time. Stay On the Cutting Edge: Get the Tom's Hardware Newsletter Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. [ ][ ]Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands[ ]Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors[Sign me up] By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Google Preferred Source Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News, or add us as a preferred source , to get our latest news, analysis, & reviews in your feeds. See all comments (37) Zak Killian Zak Killian Contributor Zak is a freelance contributor to Tom's Hardware with decades of PC benchmarking experience who has also written for HotHardware and The Tech Report. A modern-day Renaissance man, he may not be an expert on anything, but he knows just a little about nearly everything. 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In the wake of Windows 10 EOL, over 780,000 Windows users skip 11 for Linux, says Zorin OS developers shutterstock_1353160409 Lenovo stockpiles RAM as prices skyrocket, reportedly has enough inventory to last through 2026 Micro Center RAM pricing Memory MSRPs and fixed price tags disappear at Micro Center as some stores shift to spot pricing [ ] 37 Comments Comment from the forums * TechieTwo I imagine many people are tired or the extortion for a defective OS. Reply * Dr3ams TechieTwo said: I imagine many people are tired or the extortion for a defective OS. Windows 11 isn't defective. I've been using it since 2022 and the only issue I had was the inability to creat folders in the start menu. Microsoft corrected that issue. As far as ads and privacy is concerned...ads can be disabled and if you think companies and government agencies aren't snooping into Linux distros, then I have an acre of land in Middle Earth I can sell you. Reply * bigdragon Windows 11 is so broken and bad that I've started running Linux on my main workstation too. Linux isn't perfect, but it sure feels fast and snappy compared to 11. I haven't tried any serious gaming yet. Steam installed easily and all my other daily apps have Linux versions that seem fine. I went with Ubuntu. I do prefer the user interface in Zorin though. Reply * SomeoneElse23 Dr3ams said: Windows 11 isn't defective. I've been using it since 2022 and the only issue I had was the inability to creat folders in the start menu. Microsoft corrected that issue. As far as ads and privacy is concerned...ads can be disabled and if you think companies and government agencies aren't snooping into Linux distros, then I have an acre of land in Middle Earth I can sell you. I agree, it's not defective. But it's definitively a downgrade from W10, with things more difficult to do for no good reason at all. It's also increasingly unstable with AI nonsense shoved down your throat. I tried really hard to make W11 work, but it's just too hard to use, compared to W10. Reply * Dr3ams bigdragon said: Windows 11 is so broken and bad What was so broken and bad...elaborate. Reply * timsSOFTWARE It makes sense - there aren't a whole lot of good alternatives for many of the older machines. Without updates, they become security risks if kept online. So Linux is the only real option other than just retiring them. Reply * JamesJones44 Dr3ams said: What was so broken and bad...elaborate. Just search "microsoft breaks windows 11 upgrade" and you'll find it's broken about once a month. You simply can't relay on the OS because Microsoft will release an "upgrade" that breaks a large portion of users every single month. Even Microsoft admits Windows 11 upgrades have been problematic: https://www.neowin.net/news/ microsoft-finally-admits-almost-all-major-windows-11-core-features-are-broken / Reply * ZephirDX This guy thinks adding folders to a start menu makes his OS not a broken pile of spyware. Like that's literally the argument you just made here LMFAO, No worries mate, I got you covered. The proper argument is: you are willing to be spied on and used as a product to sell to advertisers and will pay MS for the pleasure just so you don't have to be arsed to know how computers work, which you clearly don't. It's okay. I know Loonix is hard to use and hates you and you hate it. That's fine. But don't delude yourself into thinking you AREN'T taking the lazy way out and paying the price for it. And certainly don't try to lord your laziness over others as some sort of "smart" choice you are making. Cheers! Enjoy being a product. Reply * Dr3ams JamesJones44 said: Just search "microsoft breaks windows 11 upgrade" and you'll find it's broken about once a month. You simply can't relay on the OS because Microsoft will release an "upgrade" that breaks a large portion of users every single month. Even Microsoft admits Windows 11 upgrades have been problematic: https://www.neowin.net/news/ microsoft-finally-admits-almost-all-major-windows-11-core-features-are-broken / I don't need a Google search. Like I said before, I've been using Windows 11 Professional since 2022 and not one upgrade has broke the operating system. Maybe there are a lot of noobs who don't know how Windows functions. Like turning off upgrades and waiting to see if a new update causes problems and if it does then wait for a patch before installing it. In the world of software this is the reality. Learn how to navigate the waters or get wrecked on the rocks. It's not rocket science. Reply * heffeque SomeoneElse23 said: I agree, it's not defective. But it's definitively a downgrade from W10, with things more difficult to do for no good reason at all. It's also increasingly unstable with AI nonsense shoved down your throat. I tried really hard to make W11 work, but it's just too hard to use, compared to W10. "It's not defective". Then proceeds to mentions defects. I managed to make W11 fairly usable using THIS GUIDE + then tweaking/cleaning it even further with other tools once installed, but I'll be investigating how possible it'll be for me to migrate to Bazzite (at least for my daily use, I'll probably have to keep Windows just in case). I'll start with my old laptop, test from there, and hopefully I'll leave W11 for emergencies. Reply * View All 37 Comments Show more comments Tom's Hardware is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. 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