Summary
Most people have two reasons for using Windows. For most, it’s the default operating system that comes installed out of the box on almost every non-Apple computer, and it runs any software that your work or school needs. Another solid reason is gaming, and there’s no denying that Windows is the go-to OS for casual and serious gamers alike. However, there are at least half a dozen reasons why some may want to leave Windows. Over 400 million Windows PCs and laptops couldn’t upgrade due to strict hardware requirements for Windows 11. Others dislike the forced updates, forced ads, and high system requirements. If you’re thinking of switching, these Linux distros give you a solid reason to leave Windows behind. Linux Mint Total control over updates and zero bloatware The biggest reason Linux Mint offers for leaving Windows is the total control it gives you. It will never force a reboot or reinstall an update without you explicitly choosing to do so. You decide what gets updated and when, and the updates often happen quietly in the background without interrupting your workflow. Unlike Windows, Linux Mint is completely free to use without any watermarks, upgrade prompts, or feature locks as you get with an unregistered Windows license. It ships with only the apps you need, so the bloatware problem is taken care of right out of the box. It’s fast, boots quickly, and launches apps without much delay, even on dated hardware. Linux’s app ecosystem has gotten significantly better over the years and even comes with a software manager for one-click app installs. And for the apps that still don’t support Linux, like Microsoft’s Office Suite, there are plenty of solid alternatives. You can use LibreOffice in place of Word and Excel, and VS Code, Android Studio, and IntelliJ are all available for coding. You can even game on Linux thanks to Steam and Proton, though games with kernel-level anti-cheat may not work as expected. Zorin OS The distro that looks and works like Windows When the news of Windows 10 end-of-life broke, over 1 million people left Windows for Zorin OS in just five weeks. The reason? It looks and feels like Windows. Zorin OS comes with an Appearance manager that lets you change your workspace layout. It offers a taskbar, a Start menu-like experience, and familiar app behavior in the taskbar. The layouts aren’t just themes either, as they replicate the Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS workflow. For instance, when I chose the most Windows-like layout, I could right-click, copy, and paste the same way I did on Windows. The window title manager works much the same way, and the Start menu in the bottom-left corner is exactly where you’d expect it to be. Zorin OS has its own app store built-in so that you can install apps with one click. It can even recognize .exe and .msi files, though it uses Wine to run them or suggests an alternative. The Pro version takes things further and lets you make your PC look like macOS, Windows, or even ChromeOS. Pop!_OS A clean break from telemetry and forced AI If heavy telemetry, forced Copilot integration everywhere, and ads for Microsoft 365 are reason enough to switch, Pop!_OS offers a break from all of that in a beginner-friendly package that’s also excellent for development. Pop!_OS feels lighter on its feet and more responsive than Windows, especially on older hardware, but you can feel the difference on newer machines as well. The Cosmic desktop sits on top of the OS as a separate layer and offers plenty of customization, with automatic window tiling and stacking built in. What’s more, it also has a decent app store with Flatpak sandboxing, and VPNs that plug right into the network settings. Pop!_OS with Proton makes it easy to play your favorite titles on Linux, but there’s noticeable performance loss compared to a Windows PC. As for apps that are still not available natively, you can find alternatives, such as PhotoshopCCLinux to replace Adobe’s premium photo editor, and LibreOffice to replace Microsoft Office. It’s not a perfect replacement for every workflow, but for most people it covers what matters. Kubuntu Lower system requirements, familiar interface If you are looking to switch because the Windows 11 system requirements made your PC obsolete, even after trying workarounds to get Windows 11 on older hardware, Kubuntu is an excellent option. The interface feels familiar right out of the box, and there’s no Pro version to pay for. The taskbar looks like Windows, and the Start menu feels more like Windows 10 than 11, with your apps on the left and pinned shortcuts on the right. Settings, though a bit basic, keeps everything in one place, so there’s less config file tinkering and more one-click changes. Installing apps is a one-click affair through the software center, and it already comes with some solid built-in apps. The Dolphin file manager in particular feels years ahead of what File Explorer offers. As for apps, there are plenty of alternatives. KDE Connect replaces Phone Link for managing your phone from your desktop, Kdenlive for video editing, and Kate for coding. Much like most Linux distros, gaming is supported via Proton with Steam. Bazzite The Linux distro built for gaming If you’re stuck on Windows because of gaming, Bazzite might make you change your mind. Think of Bazzite as SteamOS but for better hardware. Bazzite also has a handheld and HTPC version, which looks and behaves almost the same as Gaming Mode on the Steam Deck. The desktop version supports Nvidia GPUs out of the box, which have historically been a pain to set up with Linux. From Sea of Thieves and Forza Horizon 5 to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 and Minecraft, most games on Bazzite work through Proton. For everything else, Lutris comes pre-installed and manages Steam, Epic, and GOG games while configuring the compatibility layer. When you’re not gaming, it offers a clean and polished interface that works fine for everyday office tasks, and supports the usual set of Linux apps as well as Windows apps over Wine. On the flip side, it’s not without limitations. Games with kernel-level anti-cheat like Valorant won’t run, VR games have poor compatibility, and some newer titles may take their own sweet time to work. Leaving Windows is easier than you think Leaving Windows isn’t as difficult as it used to be, especially if your school or work doesn’t rely on a very specific app that’s not available on Linux. The app and gaming gap has narrowed considerably thanks to Proton, Wine, and the growing library of native Linux software. Most of what you do on Windows, from browsing and coding to video editing and gaming, has a working equivalent on the other side. You need to find the distro that fits how you use your computer, and these five are a good place to start.