The critically acclaimed Linux distribution Zorin OS has experienced a massive surge in popularity, recording an astonishing one million downloads in just over a month following the release of version 18. This dramatic spike in downloads occurred on the exact day that Microsoft officially ceased providing technical support for Windows 10, strongly suggesting a significant migration of users away from Microsoft’s desktop ecosystem in search of an alternative.
The developers of Zorin OS have publicly boasted about this achievement, noting in a recent blog post that version 18 has “amassed 1 million downloads in just over a month since its release, breaking all previous records.” They further point out that their data shows a compelling 78% of these downloads originated from Windows PCs. In theory, this suggests that roughly 780,000 individuals are potential converts or are at least exploring a move to Linux.
Analysis and Caveats on the Migration Figures
While the sheer number of downloads is impressive and clearly demonstrates a robust interest in Zorin OS, the article advises caution when translating this figure directly into one million new, active Linux users. A download originating from a Windows PC does not automatically equate to a full-fledged migration. For instance, a person might download the operating system onto one machine to install it on a secondary, non-Windows computer. Others may simply be curious enough to download the installation file but never follow through with the full installation process, or they might try it briefly and decide against switching.
Nevertheless, it is highly probable that this activity represents a hefty portion of defectors from Windows 10. These are likely users who are either unable or unwilling to upgrade to Windows 11 due to its steeper hardware requirements, or simply prefer to avoid the upgrade. Zorin OS is particularly appealing to this group because it is specifically built to be user-friendly for former Windows users, featuring a familiar, Windows-like desktop environment. The ‘Lite’ version of Zorin OS, which is highly rated for older PCs, is likely serving a good number of these migrants who are running older hardware.
For now, Zorin OS is capitalizing considerably on the official sunsetting of Windows 10 support. This is happening despite the availability of extended paid support from Microsoft, which allows Windows 10 usage to continue until October 2026. This significant level of user activity moving away from Windows may be a growing cause for concern for Microsoft, particularly if other Linux distributions report similar increases in the coming months.
