Technology Zorin OS 18 has reached 2 million downloads, with 1M+ Windows defections fueling one of Linux’s biggest growth stories in 2026

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Zorin OS 18 passes 2 million downloads in under three months, with most coming from Windows users as Windows 10 support ends and hardware limits tighten.

Zorin OS is a Linux distro designed as an alternative to Windows and macOS. Over the past three months, it has seen an impressive influx of Windows users, likely driven by Windows 10 reaching end of life and Linux becoming a more appealing platform as Microsoft continues to push AI deeper into Windows and its wider ecosystem.

One of Linux’s biggest strengths is how widely it supports different hardware. Unlike Windows 11, it is not locked behind requirements like TPM 2.0, which leaves a large number of still capable PCs unable to upgrade. For many users, that makes Linux an increasingly attractive fallback, since it lets them keep using hardware that still works instead of being forced into buying something new just to stay secure and supported.

It is no surprise to see Zorin OS 18 making the most of Windows 10 reaching end of life. The update for the Linux distro released on the same day Windows 10 lost support from Microsoft, and it has since seen over 2 million downloads in under three months, with around 75% coming from Windows 10 and Windows 11 users. The group behind the distro has described it as the biggest release in the project’s history.

www.windowscentral.com

Over 1 million Windows users have jumped ship — Zorin OS 18 is booming

Zorin OS 18 passes 2 million downloads in under three months, with most coming from Windows users as Windows 10 support ends and hardware limits tighten.
www.windowscentral.com www.windowscentral.com


Yes people, Windows 11 is that BAD! This is a good thing though because Linux is better than Windows! Freaking anything is better than Windows 11 though.
 
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