Is France switching from Windows to Linux?
France’s government is moving toward Linux, but not yet across the board. The Gendarmerie Nationale has run its own Ubuntu-based system, GendBuntu, since 2008, and in 2026 the state asked ministries to produce plans for replacing Windows workstations. Most French public-sector PCs still run Windows today.
- Announced
- Pilot
- Rolling out
- Widely deployed
Scope: Central government ministries (plans), Gendarmerie Nationale (deployed). Updated Oct 6, 2026.
What operating system does French government use?
- GendBuntu
Custom Ubuntu build used by the Gendarmerie Nationale, reported at more than 100,000 workstations.
- La Suite numérique
Open-source collaboration tools (Visio, Tchap, FranceTransfert) replacing Teams, Zoom and Dropbox.
France’s Linux timeline
- 2004
The Gendarmerie Nationale begins adopting open-source software.
- 2008
GendBuntu, a custom Ubuntu deployment, is launched.
- Jan 2026
The state announces it will replace Teams and Zoom with the open-source Visio platform for civil servants by 2027.
- Apr 2026
An interministerial instruction asks ministries to plan the migration of Windows workstations to Linux, led by DINUM and inspired by the Gendarmerie.
- Autumn 2026
Deadline for ministries, operators and affiliated bodies to submit their own reduction plans.
What is still unclear
This is a general picture, not a measurement.
- The 2026 instruction asks for plans; it does not mean every ministry has already switched.
- Figures come from press coverage of government announcements, not from an official census of desktops.
Sources
France: common questions
Is France switching from Windows to Linux?
Partly. The Gendarmerie Nationale has used Ubuntu-based GendBuntu since 2008, and in April 2026 the state asked ministries to plan the migration of Windows workstations to Linux. Most government PCs still run Windows while those plans are drawn up.
What operating system does the French government use?
Mostly Windows today. The Gendarmerie Nationale is the large exception, with a custom Ubuntu build called GendBuntu, and the state is moving collaboration tools to open-source alternatives.
Which Linux distribution does France use?
Ubuntu. GendBuntu, the Gendarmerie’s system, is a customised Ubuntu.
Other countries
Want to try it yourself? Read how to switch from Windows to Linux.