Is Switzerland switching from Windows to Linux?
Switzerland is piloting a move away from Microsoft, though the focus is the Microsoft 365 office suite rather than Windows itself. After a proof of concept with 172 federal employees using the open-source openDesk suite, the government is working toward replacing Microsoft 365 on about 3,000 workstations by the end of 2027.
- Announced
- Pilot
- Rolling out
- Widely deployed
Scope: Federal administration pilot; the military cyber unit is moving ahead faster. Updated Oct 6, 2026.
What operating system does Swiss federal government use?
- openDesk
German open-source collaboration suite tested in the Swiss proof of concept.
Switzerland’s Linux timeline
- 2024
A new law requires federal government software to be published as open source.
- Sep 2026
The Federal Council publishes results of “PoC BOSS”, a feasibility test of openDesk with 172 federal employees.
- Oct 2026
The military Cyber Command is reported to be ready to replace Microsoft 365 with openDesk entirely.
- End 2027
Target for the 3,000-workstation migration.
What is still unclear
This is a general picture, not a measurement.
- The change is mostly about office and collaboration software; it does not by itself mean Linux desktops.
- Dates are targets, not completed work.
Could Switzerland switch to Linux in the future?
What to watch next:
- Whether the Federal Council extends the pilot beyond 3,000 workstations
- Whether Linux desktops are added after the office suite moves
Sources
Switzerland: common questions
Is Switzerland switching to Linux?
It is piloting open-source software instead of Microsoft 365 on about 3,000 federal workstations, with a target of the end of 2027. The pilot is about office software; Windows itself is not explicitly being replaced.
What is openDesk?
openDesk is an open-source collaboration suite developed in Germany for public administrations, covering email, documents and video calls.
Other countries
Want to try it yourself? Read how to switch from Windows to Linux.