Windows 10 end of life: how to switch to Linux
Microsoft ended Windows 10 support on Oct 14, 2025. Extended Security Updates can keep a Windows 10 PC patched until Oct 12, 2027, and after that there are no more consumer security fixes. If your PC cannot run Windows 11, a beginner-friendly Linux distribution such as Linux Mint or Zorin OS keeps it secure, free, and familiar.
Your three options
- Upgrade to Windows 11 if your PC meets Microsoft’s requirements: a 1 GHz or faster processor with 2 or more cores on Microsoft’s approved CPU list, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability, TPM 2.0, and a DirectX 12 compatible graphics card. Most PCs with a processor older than Intel’s 8th generation or AMD’s Ryzen 2000 series fail the processor check.
- Enroll in Extended Security Updates to stay on Windows 10 until Oct 12, 2027. Microsoft offers enrollment by backing up your settings with Windows Backup, by redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or by a one-time $30 purchase. It buys time, but the end date is fixed.
- Switch to Linux. It is free, receives security updates for years, and runs on the hardware Windows 11 rejects. The rest of this guide covers which distribution to pick and how to switch.
Best Linux distros for Windows 10 users
Beginner-friendly distributions with a Windows-style taskbar and start menu, ordered by our live popularity ranking. Versions and support dates come from endoflife.date.
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Linux Mint#2 in rankings
A familiar desktop. A comfortable place to start. Linux Mint puts a traditional desktop, graphical update tools, and a straightforward software manager at the center of the experience.
Desktop: Cinnamon, MATE, Xfce · Suggested RAM: 4 GB+ · Latest: Linux Mint 22.3 · Supported until: Apr 30, 2029 (Linux Mint 22.3)
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Zorin OS#7 in rankings
A gentle switch from the desktop you know. Zorin OS adapts an Ubuntu-based desktop for people switching from other operating systems.
Desktop: GNOME-based (Xfce in Lite) · Suggested RAM: 4 GB+
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Kubuntu#14 in rankings
Ubuntu with the KDE Plasma desktop. Kubuntu is an official Ubuntu flavour that replaces GNOME with KDE Plasma.
Desktop: KDE Plasma · Suggested RAM: 4 GB+
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Linux Mint Debian Edition
Linux Mint’s desktop on a pure Debian base. LMDE delivers the Linux Mint Cinnamon experience on Debian Stable rather than Ubuntu.
Desktop: Cinnamon · Suggested RAM: 4 GB+ · Latest: LMDE 7
For older or low-memory PCs
Light desktops for machines with 2 to 4 GB of RAM, often the same PCs that cannot run Windows 11. More in lightweight distros for old laptops.
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MX Linux#16 in rankings
Debian Stable with a toolbox of helpful utilities. MX Linux is a collaboration between the antiX and former MEPIS communities.
Desktop: Xfce, KDE Plasma, Fluxbox · Suggested RAM: 2 GB+ · Latest: 25.3 · Supported until: Jun 30, 2030 (MX Linux 25)
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Lubuntu#34 in rankings
A lightweight Ubuntu flavour with LXQt. Lubuntu is the official Ubuntu flavour using the LXQt desktop.
Desktop: LXQt · Suggested RAM: 2 GB+
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Xubuntu#40 in rankings
Ubuntu with the light, steady Xfce desktop. Xubuntu is the official Ubuntu flavour with the Xfce desktop.
Desktop: Xfce · Suggested RAM: 2 GB+
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Q4OS#42 in rankings
A classic desktop on Debian, with a Trinity edition for old PCs. Q4OS is a Debian Stable-based desktop with two editions: KDE Plasma for current hardware and Trinity, a continuation of the KDE 3 desktop, for older machines.
Desktop: KDE Plasma, Trinity · Suggested RAM: 1 GB+
Still deciding?
Will my Windows apps work on Linux?
| On Windows 10 | On Linux |
|---|---|
| Chrome, Edge, Firefox | All three have native Linux versions. Sign in to sync bookmarks and passwords. |
| Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) | No desktop Office for Linux. Use Office on the web in a browser, or LibreOffice / ONLYOFFICE, which open and save .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx files. |
| Microsoft Teams | Use Teams in the browser; Microsoft no longer offers a Linux desktop app. |
| Zoom, Slack, Discord, Spotify | Native Linux apps are available. |
| Visual Studio Code | Native Linux version from Microsoft. |
| Steam games | Steam for Linux runs many Windows games through Proton. Multiplayer games with kernel-level anti-cheat often do not work; check each game first. |
| Adobe Photoshop, Premiere, Lightroom | No official Linux versions. Alternatives: GIMP or Krita (images), Kdenlive or DaVinci Resolve (video), darktable (photos). Photoshop 2021 and 2025 can run through patched Wine, experimentally: see Photoshop on Linux. |
| Other Windows-only programs | Some run through Wine or Bottles, but test before relying on them. Check your apps and games in the Will it run on Linux? checker. |
How to switch from Windows 10 to Linux, step by step
- Back up your files. Copy documents, photos, and browser data to an external drive or cloud storage. If Windows device encryption or BitLocker is on, save the recovery key before changing anything.
- List the apps you depend on. Check each one in our Will it run on Linux? checker, which covers popular apps and games. If a program you cannot replace is Windows-only, keep Windows on that PC or dual-boot.
- Pick a distribution. Start with one of the distros above, or answer five questions in the distro finder.
- Make a bootable USB stick. Download the ISO image from the project’s official site and write it to a USB stick of 8 GB or more with a tool such as balenaEtcher, Rufus, or Ventoy.
- Test it live, without installing. Boot from the USB stick (usually F12, F10, Esc, or F2 at start-up) and check Wi-Fi, sound, graphics, touchpad, printer, and sleep. Nothing is written to your disk.
- Install. Choose “erase disk” to replace Windows, or “install alongside” to keep it and pick at start-up. Ubuntu, Fedora, and Linux Mint support Secure Boot, so you normally do not need to disable it.
- Update and add your apps. Run the update manager, install any offered drivers (for example for NVIDIA graphics), then install your apps from the software manager.
Before you install, you can check laptop, graphics, and Wi-Fi reports on the hardware compatibility page.
Windows 10 end of life: common questions
When did Windows 10 support end?
Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on Oct 14, 2025. Since then, PCs outside the Extended Security Updates program receive no security fixes, feature updates, or technical support.
How long can I keep using Windows 10?
Windows 10 keeps working, but it is only safe while it gets security updates. Enrolling in Extended Security Updates (ESU) covers you until Oct 12, 2027, 371 days from Oct 7, 2026. After that date, no consumer security updates are planned.
How do I get Windows 10 Extended Security Updates?
Microsoft offers three consumer enrollment options: back up your PC settings with Windows Backup, redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or make a one-time purchase of $30 (or the local equivalent). Terms can differ by region, such as in the European Economic Area.
Which Linux is most like Windows 10?
Linux Mint, Zorin OS, Kubuntu have a taskbar, start menu, and system tray laid out much like Windows 10, and are aimed at beginners.
Will Linux run on a PC that cannot run Windows 11?
Usually, yes. Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0, Secure Boot capability, and a processor on Microsoft’s approved list. The Linux distributions in this guide do not require TPM 2.0 or an approved processor, so most PCs that shipped with Windows 10 run them well.
Can I try Linux without deleting Windows?
Yes. Boot a live USB stick to test Linux without touching your disk, or install it alongside Windows and choose which one to start each time.
Is Linux free?
The distributions recommended here are free to download, install, and update, with no license key or subscription.
Can I run Windows programs on Linux?
Many popular programs have Linux versions or web versions. Some Windows-only programs run through Wine or Bottles, and many Windows games run through Steam’s Proton, but compatibility varies, so test the ones you depend on.
Sources
- Microsoft: Windows 10 support has ended
- Microsoft: Windows 10 Extended Security Updates
- Microsoft: Windows 11 system requirements
- endoflife.date: Linux release support dates
Microsoft dates and ESU terms checked Sep 26, 2026. Distribution picks and versions update with each site rebuild.