Is China switching from Windows to Linux?
China has the most state-driven push away from Windows. Under its Xinchuang (IT application innovation) policy, government and state-linked organisations are directed to adopt domestic operating systems, most of them Linux-based: openKylin, Kylin, UOS and deepin. Windows still dominates China’s consumer desktops.
- Announced
- Pilot
- Rolling out
- Widely deployed
Scope: Government bodies and state-linked organisations; not the consumer market. Updated Oct 6, 2026.
What operating system does Chinese government use?
- openKylin
Open-source desktop OS developed with industry and community backing.
- Kylin / UOS
Commercial Linux-based systems built for government use.
- deepin
Linux distribution from Wuhan Deepin Technology.
China’s Linux timeline
- 2022
Reports of a 2027 deadline for replacing foreign software in state-owned and government systems.
- 2026
Reports that government-affiliated organisations are told to remove a customised Windows 10 edition and move faster toward domestic OSes.
What is still unclear
This is a general picture, not a measurement.
- Deadlines and machine counts (such as “50 million PCs”) come from press and analyst reports, not official figures.
- Domestic systems are often Linux-based but customised, so they are not the Linux distributions most readers know.
Sources
China: common questions
Is China switching from Windows to Linux?
For government and state-linked organisations, yes, through domestic Linux-based systems such as openKylin, Kylin and UOS. Reported deadlines are around 2027. Consumers and most businesses still run Windows.
What Linux does China use?
Domestic builds: openKylin and Kylin, UOS (UnionTech) and deepin are the best known. Many are based on Debian or Ubuntu code.
Other countries
Want to try it yourself? Read how to switch from Windows to Linux.