Which Linux Distro Should You Install Coming from Windows 10? (October 2025)

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Linux Mint is your best bet...

Windows 10 is running out the clock. If you don’t want to jump to Windows 11—or your hardware doesn’t qualify—Linux is the off-ramp: fast, free, secure, and surprisingly friendly in 2025. But which distro should you pick when you’ve spent years living with a Start menu, taskbar, and right-click everything?

Below you’ll find a no-nonsense buyer’s guide for Windows migrants: who should install what, why it makes sense this year, and how to switch with minimal chaos.

First reality check: the Windows 10 timeline

  • End of support hits October 14, 2025. Your PC will still boot, but you won’t get security or feature updates unless you pay for Extended Security Updates (ESU). That’s the big shove toward change.

Quick picks (TL;DR)

  • Safest default for ex-Windows users: Linux Mint 22.2 Cinnamon — familiar layout, LTS through 2029, “it just works.”

  • Looks/flows most like Windows out of the box: Zorin OS 17.3 — sensible defaults, optional Windows app support, supported to June 2027.

  • Big ecosystem + long runway: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (pick a Windows-like flavor such as Cinnamon/Budgie if you prefer) — standard support to April 2029; even longer under Ubuntu Pro.

  • Old laptop, tiny RAM: Linux Lite 7.6 — lightweight, friendly, updated in 2025 with new docs and polish.

  • You’re curious and don’t mind a modern workflow: Pop!_OS (COSMIC) — polished, keyboard-centric, evolving fast. (Great on newer hardware.)

How to choose (coming from Windows 10)

Priority Best fits Why it clicks for Windows users
Familiarity first Mint Cinnamon, Zorin 17 Taskbar at the bottom, classic menu, sane defaults.
Long support Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, Mint 22.x Update cadence like Windows LTS; fewer surprises.
Lighter than Windows 10 Linux Lite, Xfce flavors Snappy on older CPUs/4–8 GB RAM.
Big app store Ubuntu, Mint, Zorin Huge repos + Flatpak/Snap; easy “one-click” installs.
Bleeding-edge desktop Fedora Workstation Latest GNOME, Wayland-first polish. (Not my first pick for beginners, but lovely once you’re comfy.)

Distro deep-dives (2025)

Linux Mint 22.2 “Zara” (Cinnamon)

Mint is the comfort food of Linux: you install it, and life is normal again. Cinnamon feels like Windows done right—fast menus, logical settings, excellent tray behavior. The 22.2 release adds niceties like native fingerprint support and refined desktop polish, and its LTS runs through 2029, which matters if you’re replacing an OS that’s aging out.

Best for: users who want stability, predictability, and a familiar interface.

Zorin OS 17.3

If you want your Linux to look like Windows on day one, Zorin nails it. The layout switcher gives you a “Windows-y” panel and menu, and optional Windows app support lowers friction for that one legacy .exe you still love. Support for the 17 series runs until June 2027, which is a nice multi-year runway past Windows 10’s EoS date.

Best for: non-tinkerers who crave a gentle landing.

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (plus flavors)

Ubuntu has the biggest “how-to” footprint on the internet and a calmer LTS cadence than rolling distros. If stock GNOME feels too different, try Ubuntu Cinnamon or Ubuntu Budgie to get a start-menu vibe. Standard support through April 2029, with Pro extending far beyond that if you ever need it.

Best for: users who want broad hardware support, documentation, and an enormous software catalog.

Linux Lite 7.6

That aging Windows 10 laptop you’re saving from landfill? Linux Lite keeps it useful. The 7.6 update in 2025 focuses on stability, a community wiki, and practical defaults; RAM usage at idle is modest by 2025 standards, and the desktop (Xfce) stays uncluttered.

Best for: low-spec machines and anyone who values clarity over flash.

Fedora Workstation (41 and beyond)

Fedora brings you tomorrow’s desktop today—new GNOME releases, Wayland-first, and up-to-the-minute stacks. It’s fabulous once you know your way around, but updates are more frequent than LTS distros. If you’re moving directly from Windows 10, try Mint/Zorin/Ubuntu first, then “graduate” to Fedora if you catch the bug.

Best for: adventurous users on newer hardware.

The smooth-switch game plan (do this)

  1. Back up everything (files + a full system image).

  2. Test in Live mode from a USB. Kick the tires: Wi-Fi, sound, touchpad gestures, external monitor, printer.

  3. Dual-boot for two weeks (or longer). Learn the ropes without burning bridges.

  4. Pick one app per task (browser, office, photo editor, backup). Don’t install five of everything—consistency beats novelty.

  5. Use the software store first (APT/Flatpak/Snap). One-click installs beat command incantations early on.

  6. Learn three terminal commands: update, install, search. Momentum > mastery.

  7. After you’re comfy, consider a full switch (wipe Windows 10) or keep it as a tiny partition for the rare program you can’t replace yet.

What about gaming?

Linux gaming is not the punchline it used to be. Thanks to Proton/Steam and better GPU drivers, many titles run beautifully. The bigger risk, ironically, is staying on Windows 10 as studios begin to drop compatibility post-EoS—several publishers are already warning about support. If games matter to you, move to a supported platform (Windows 11 or a Linux distro you like) rather than clinging to an unpatched OS.

Decision tree (fast)

  • Want “Windows but calmer”? → Mint or Zorin.

  • Want massive community + 5-year base support? → Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.

  • Old machine that wheezes on Windows 10? → Linux Lite.

  • Newer hardware and you enjoy the “latest”? → Fedora (after you’ve learned the ropes).

Final recommendation (September 2025)

If you’re stepping off Windows 10 today, install Linux Mint 22.2 Cinnamon first. It feels instantly familiar, it’s calm and predictable, and its support horizon stretches well past your Windows 10 sunset. If Mint’s vibe isn’t your thing, Zorin OS 17.3 and Ubuntu 24.04 LTS are excellent Plan B options. Try them live, pick one, and commit for a couple of weeks—the best Linux is the one you actually stick with.

FAQ (fast but useful)

  • Will my Windows programs run on Linux?
    Some do via Proton/Wine, but for day-to-day apps you’ll usually pick native equivalents (e.g., LibreOffice, Firefox/Chrome, GIMP, VLC).

  • Can I keep Windows and Linux together?
    Yes—dual-boot is common. Use the installer’s “Install alongside” option and keep backups.

  • How long will my distro be supported?
    Mint 22.x to 2029; Ubuntu 24.04 LTS to 2029 (longer with Pro); Zorin 17 series to June 2027. Linux Lite follows Ubuntu LTS cadence.

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