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Microsoft ended mainstream support for Windows 10 in October 2025. That means no more free security patches — and a hard nudge toward either buying a new Windows 11-capable PC or paying for an extended security update subscription. Millions of people are choosing a third option: switching to Linux.
If you're in that camp, this guide is written for you. We're not going to throw you into a terminal and tell you to compile a kernel. Instead, we've picked the distros that feel most familiar to someone coming from Windows, work on the hardware Windows 10 ran on (including machines that can't run Windows 11 due to TPM 2.0 requirements), and won't leave you stranded when something goes wrong.
Why Linux Makes Sense in 2026 for Windows Users
The numbers tell the story. As of mid-2026, StatCounter shows Linux desktop market share has climbed to roughly 4.5% globally — small in absolute terms, but the sharpest single-year gain since Linux was invented. A significant chunk of that growth is ex-Windows 10 users.
The practical case is strong:
- Your hardware still works. Linux runs well on machines from 2012 onward. A machine blocked from Windows 11 by TPM 2.0 or CPU restrictions runs Linux just fine.
- It's free. No license cost, no subscription, no nagging activation screens.
- It's secure. Linux gets security patches indefinitely — your distro of choice will keep supporting your machine long after Microsoft's deadline.
- Software has caught up. LibreOffice handles .docx and .xlsx files well. Firefox and Chrome are identical to Windows. Steam's Proton means thousands of Windows games work on Linux.
How We Ranked These Distros
We evaluated each distro on five criteria most relevant to Windows switchers:
- Desktop familiarity — how closely the layout, taskbar, and file manager resemble Windows
- Hardware compatibility — especially WiFi, Bluetooth, and printer support out of the box
- Software availability — ease of installing common apps without using a terminal
- Stability — how likely you are to hit a broken update or obscure bug in year one
- Community support — forums, YouTube tutorials, and documentation quality
The Top 6 Linux Distros for Windows 10 Refugees
Linux Mint's Cinnamon desktop is the closest thing to Windows 10 you'll find in the Linux world — and that's entirely intentional. The taskbar is at the bottom, there's a Start menu-style application launcher in the bottom-left, system tray icons sit in the bottom-right, and the file manager (Nemo) will feel immediately familiar to anyone who has used Windows Explorer.
Mint 22 is based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, which means it gets security support until 2029 and has access to tens of thousands of software packages. The Update Manager shows updates in plain English with a risk rating — you don't need to understand what a kernel patch is to use it safely. The Software Manager (graphical app store) lets you install apps by searching and clicking, with no terminal required.
RAM: 2 GB minimum, 4 GB recommended. Storage: 20 GB minimum. CPU: Any 64-bit processor from roughly 2009 onward.
- Driver Manager automatically detects and installs proprietary GPU drivers (NVIDIA, AMD)
- Timeshift backup is pre-installed — creates Windows-style restore points
- Ships with LibreOffice, Thunderbird, and the full Firefox browser
- Active forum community at forums.linuxmint.com with millions of answered questions
Zorin OS is built specifically for people switching from Windows (and macOS). The default layout mimics Windows 11 fairly closely, but you can switch to a Windows 7-style taskbar layout in one click via Zorin Appearance. It's arguably the most visually polished Linux distribution available, with a consistent design language that doesn't look like an afterthought.
The free "Core" edition is excellent. The paid "Pro" edition (~$47 one-time) adds more desktop layouts, a macOS-style layout, and additional software, but most switchers will be completely happy with Core. Zorin also includes a Windows App Support layer that helps run some Windows .exe files using Wine under the hood — handy for legacy software.
RAM: 2 GB minimum, 4 GB recommended. Storage: 15 GB minimum. Also based on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.
Ubuntu is the most widely used Linux desktop in the world, which has one massive practical advantage: when you search for help online, virtually every answer applies to Ubuntu. Canonical's GNOME-based desktop isn't as Windows-like as Mint or Zorin — the taskbar is on the left, and there's no traditional Start menu — but most users adapt within a week or two.
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat) is supported until April 2029. The App Center is clean and modern. Hardware support is excellent, especially for newer hardware, since Ubuntu often ships newer kernel versions than Mint. If you have a recent laptop with a Ryzen or 13th/14th-gen Intel chip, Ubuntu may actually have better out-of-the-box hardware support than Mint.
RAM: 4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended for comfortable use with GNOME. Storage: 25 GB minimum.
Fedora is Red Hat's community distro and tracks cutting-edge hardware support more aggressively than Ubuntu or Mint. If you have a brand new laptop and Mint's WiFi doesn't work out of the box, Fedora's newer kernel often fixes it. It also uses GNOME 46, which is polished and increasingly intuitive.
The trade-off: Fedora releases every 6 months and each release is only supported for about 13 months. You'll need to do a version upgrade once a year. This is painless with dnf system-upgrade but it's more maintenance than an LTS distro. Fedora also defaults to not including some proprietary codecs, though they're easy to add via the RPM Fusion repository.
RAM: 2 GB minimum, 4 GB recommended. Storage: 15 GB minimum.
If your machine has 2 GB of RAM or you're running a spinning hard drive, Mint's MATE edition is the smarter pick over Cinnamon. MATE is a lightweight desktop environment descended from the classic GNOME 2 — it's highly efficient, uses around 400–500 MB idle RAM versus Cinnamon's 700–900 MB, and still has that familiar taskbar-at-the-bottom Windows feel.
Everything else about Mint MATE is identical to the Cinnamon edition — same Software Manager, same Update Manager, same Timeshift, same package repositories. You're just trading a few visual effects for noticeably snappier performance on older hardware.
RAM: 1 GB minimum (2 GB recommended). Storage: 15 GB minimum.
System76's Pop!_OS is aimed at power users, gamers, and creative professionals who are coming from Windows. It ships with NVIDIA drivers pre-installed on the dedicated NVIDIA ISO — no hunting for GPU drivers on day one. Valve's Steam and Proton integration is seamless, and the tiling window manager (COSMIC in the new 24.04 release) is genuinely innovative for productivity.
Pop!_OS 24.04 introduces the new COSMIC desktop, which System76 wrote entirely in Rust. It's fast, crash-resistant, and highly configurable. The learning curve is slightly higher than Mint, but for gamers or anyone doing video editing with DaVinci Resolve (which runs well on Linux), it's a top choice.
RAM: 4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended. Storage: 20 GB minimum.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Distro | Base | Desktop | Min RAM | Windows Feel | Support Until | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux Mint 22 | Ubuntu 24.04 | Cinnamon | 2 GB | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2029 | Most switchers |
| Zorin OS 17 | Ubuntu 22.04 | GNOME (modified) | 2 GB | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2027 | Polish seekers |
| Ubuntu 24.04 | Debian | GNOME 46 | 4 GB | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2029 | Large community |
| Fedora 40 | RPM / Red Hat | GNOME 46 | 2 GB | ⭐⭐⭐ | ~13 months | New hardware |
| Mint 22 MATE | Ubuntu 24.04 | MATE | 1 GB | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2029 | Old/slow PCs |
| Pop!_OS 24.04 | Ubuntu 24.04 | COSMIC | 4 GB | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2029 | Gaming / creative |
The Windows-to-Linux Software Map
One of the biggest fears for switchers is losing access to familiar software. In reality, almost everything you use on Windows has a Linux equivalent — or the actual same app:
| Windows App | Linux Equivalent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Edge / Chrome | Firefox, Chrome, Brave | Chrome and Brave install natively on Linux |
| Microsoft Office | LibreOffice, OnlyOffice | OnlyOffice has excellent .docx/.xlsx compatibility |
| Windows Media Player | VLC | VLC on Linux plays everything |
| Notepad / Notepad++ | Gedit, Kate, VS Code | VS Code has an official Linux build |
| Adobe Photoshop | GIMP, Krita | Photoshop can run via Bottles (Wine) with mixed results |
| Windows Explorer | Nemo (Mint), Nautilus (GNOME) | Both support network drives and USB drives |
| Task Manager | GNOME System Monitor, htop | Nearly identical functionality |
| Steam | Steam (native Linux app) | Identical app; Proton plays most Windows games |
| 7-Zip | 7-Zip for Linux, PeaZip | 7-Zip has an official Linux command-line build |
| Skype / Teams | Teams (native), Zoom, Signal | Microsoft Teams has an official Linux package |
How to Install Linux Mint: Step by Step
Here's the process from zero to booting Linux Mint for the first time. You'll need a USB drive of at least 8 GB.
Step 1 — Download the ISO
Go to linuxmint.com/download.php and download the Cinnamon edition. The file will be around 2.7 GB.
Step 2 — Flash the USB drive
Download balenaEtcher (free, runs on Windows). Open it, select your ISO, select your USB drive, and click Flash. Takes about 5 minutes.
Step 3 — Boot from USB
Restart your PC and press the boot menu key (usually F12, F2, or Del — it varies by manufacturer). Select your USB drive. You'll boot into the live Mint environment where you can try it before installing.
Step 4 — Run the installer
Double-click "Install Linux Mint" on the desktop. Choose your language, keyboard layout, and whether to install alongside Windows (dual boot) or replace it entirely.
Step 5 — First things after install
# Update your system (run this in Terminal after first boot)
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
# Install restricted multimedia codecs if you skipped during install
sudo apt install mint-meta-codecs
# Optional: install VLC for video playback
sudo apt install vlc
# Optional: install OnlyOffice for better Office compatibility
# (or use the Software Manager GUI to search for it)Dealing with the Most Common Switcher Problems
WiFi doesn't work after install
This is the most common pain point, especially with Broadcom and some Realtek chips. On Linux Mint, open the Driver Manager (Menu → Administration → Driver Manager) — it will detect your hardware and offer to install the correct proprietary driver. A reboot usually fixes it. If you can't get online at all, connect via Ethernet first, then run Driver Manager.
Printer won't install
CUPS (the Linux print system) supports most printers automatically. Plug in your printer and go to System Settings → Printers. If it's not detected automatically, look up your printer model on openprinting.org — it lists Linux driver support for almost every printer ever made. HP printers work especially well on Linux via the hplip package.
My Windows software doesn't run
For essential Windows-only applications, two tools help: Bottles (a graphical Wine manager, installable as a Flatpak) lets you run many Windows .exe files in isolated containers. PlayOnLinux is another option for older software. For the most stubborn apps, consider keeping a lightweight Windows 10 VM using VirtualBox — it's free and works well for occasional use of legacy software.
I can't find my files
On Linux, your personal files live in /home/yourusername/ — the equivalent of C:\Users\YourName\. The folder structure inside (Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music, Videos) is identical. Your old Windows files can be accessed by mounting the Windows partition from the file manager.
Should You Try Linux in a Virtual Machine First?
Absolutely, and it's the safest way to explore before committing. If your PC has 8 GB of RAM, you can run VirtualBox on Windows, create a VM with 2–3 GB of RAM and 20 GB of disk, and install Linux Mint inside it. You can run both Windows and Linux simultaneously side by side.
# After installing VirtualBox on Windows, create a VM from the command line (optional)
VBoxManage createvm --name "Linux Mint 22" --ostype Ubuntu_64 --register
VBoxManage modifyvm "Linux Mint 22" --memory 3072 --cpus 2 --vram 128
VBoxManage createhd --filename "LinuxMint22.vdi" --size 25000
# Then attach the ISO and start the VM from the VirtualBox GUI🚀 Want to Try Linux in the Cloud First?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I dual-boot Linux and Windows 10 on the same PC?
Yes, and it's the recommended approach for beginners. Linux Mint's installer handles this automatically — it will shrink your Windows partition and install Linux in the freed space. Every time you boot, a menu (GRUB) lets you choose which OS to load. You can remove Windows later once you're settled.
Will my PC that can't run Windows 11 run Linux?
Almost certainly yes. Linux has no TPM 2.0 requirement, no Secure Boot mandate (though it supports Secure Boot), and no CPU compatibility blocklist. A machine that Microsoft says can't run Windows 11 will typically run Linux Mint or Ubuntu with full hardware support and noticeably better performance than it had on Windows 10.
Can I still use Microsoft Office on Linux?
Microsoft Office does not have a native Linux desktop application. Your options are: (1) use Office 365 in a web browser — it works identically on Linux, (2) use LibreOffice or OnlyOffice for local editing with good .docx/.xlsx compatibility, or (3) run the Windows version of Office inside a Wine container via Bottles, which works for older Office versions (2016/2019) with some limitations.
Is Linux safe to use without antivirus?
Linux is significantly more resistant to malware than Windows by design. Running as a non-root user (which is the default) means malicious software can't modify system files without your password. Most home Linux users don't run antivirus software. That said, ClamAV is a free Linux antivirus if you want peace of mind, and it's available in every major distro's repositories.
How long will Linux Mint 22 be supported?
Linux Mint 22 is based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and will receive security updates until April 2029. After that, Linux Mint 24 (or equivalent) will be available, and upgrading is a straightforward process — not a paid license purchase like Windows upgrades.
What about gaming? Can I play my Steam library?
Steam on Linux with Proton (Valve's compatibility layer) runs a large majority of the Windows Steam catalog. As of 2026, over 80% of the top 1,000 Steam games on SteamDB are rated as working on Linux. Anti-cheat is the main exception — games with kernel-level anti-cheat (like VALORANT) do not work. Check ProtonDB.com to see ratings for any specific game.
Which Linux distro is best if I have an old laptop from 2010?
Linux Mint 22 MATE edition is our top pick for old hardware — it runs well with 2 GB of RAM. If your machine has only 1 GB of RAM, look at antiX Linux or MX Linux instead, both of which are designed specifically for very old hardware and can run comfortably with as little as 512 MB RAM.