Zorin OS

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Zorin OS
Zorin Logomark.svg
Logo
Zorin-18-Desktop Installed.png
Zorin OS 18 desktop with modified GNOME desktop environment
Developer Zorin Group
Written in C, C++, Python, D, Java
OS family Linux (Unix-like)
Working stateCurrent
Source model Open-source [1]
Initial release2009
Latest release 18 [2]   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg / 14 October 2025
Repository
Marketing target Personal computers
Available inOver 50 languages
Update method Software Updater
Package manager APT, dpkg, Snap, flatpak
Supported platformsx86_64
Kernel type Monolithic (Linux kernel)
Userland GNU
Default
user interface 		GNOME, Xfce
License Free software + some optional proprietary device drivers
Official website zorin.com/os/

Zorin OS is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu with both free and paid versions. [3] It uses a GNOME and Xfce 4 desktop environment by default, although the desktop is heavily customized for users more familiar with Windows and macOS. [4] [5] Zorin OS Pro is a premium paid version offering additional desktop appearance customization options and apps for creative users such as for photo or video editing. [6]

Contents

Features

Zorin OS is available in various free and paid versions [7] including versions using Xfce for use with older computers, instead of the traditional GNOME. [8] Zorin OS follows the long-term releases of the main Ubuntu system and uses its own software repositories as well as Ubuntu's repositories. The desktop environment themes can resemble those of Windows, macOS, or Ubuntu [9] [10] [11] and allow the interface to be familiar regardless of the previous system a user has come from. [12] Zorin OS Lite, the XFCE-based edition for older computers, will be supported through versions 17 and 18, with updates until June 2029, and is expected to be discontinued from version 19. [13]

In January 2020, the developers announced plans to release Zorin Grid, which would be software for installing and maintaining Zorin OS within a network, aimed at companies and schools. [14] [15] As of December 2025, the software is unreleased. [16]

History

The project was started in 2008 by co-founders Artyom and Kyrill Zorin. The company is based in Dublin, Ireland. [17]

Zorin OS was initially released on 1 July 2009. Since version 16.3, the system's upgrade tool can be used to upgrade existing installations; earlier versions required users to do a clean install. 18 is the most recent version.

Reception

Zorin OS has been noted as having intuitive and familiar layouts, functionality, and installation process; [18] [19] [20] as well as for making it easy to use a Windows-similar layout. [19] [21]

Adoption

In April 2016, the Italian city of Vicenza began migrating approximately 900 municipal computers from Windows to Zorin OS. [22] [23] The transition was reported to be cost-neutral while improving system speed on older hardware and offering security benefits. The city cited long-term cost savings and the ethical value of open-source software as key drivers for the decision. [24]

In October 2025, Microsoft officially retired [25] the Windows 10 operating system. The Windows 11 system requirements informed many users that their devices were not compatible with Windows 11 and their device was no longer supported [26] . Instead of purchasing new devices to meet the Windows 11 system requirements, with their functional hardware becoming e-waste, many users turned to alternatives. [27] Subsequently, Zorin OS saw a spike in downloads, reaching 1 million downloads in five weeks. [28] On January 12th, 2026 it was announced that downloads of Zorin OS 18 reached the 2 million mark in under three months, with a majority of downloads coming from Windows users. [29]

Versions

Legend:
Unsupported
Supported
Latest version
Preview version
Future version
VersionDateBaseKernel versionFeatures/Notes
Unsupported: Zorin OS 1617 August 2021 to 27 July 2023 Ubuntu 20.04 LTS 5.11, 5.13, 5.15Visual changes, based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, Flatpak support out of the box. [30] Ease of use, stronger security and better hardware compatibility. "Zorin OS Upgrader" tool added; updated software packages; same kernel version as Ubuntu 22.04. [31]
Supported: Zorin OS 1720 December 2023 to 26 March 2025 Ubuntu 22.04 LTS 6.2, 6.5, 6.8, Wine 9.0 and Bottles, Reading Strip, Logseq, LibreOffice 24.2, updated Linux Kernel and Graphics Stack, better hardware support. [32] Software updates, e. g. LibreOffice 24.8. [33] Additional window management and theming settings. Redesigned software store. For 17.3 Brave is the default web browser. [34]
Latest version:Zorin OS 1814 October 2025 Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS 6.14.0-xxTaskbar updates, updated apps (Evolution, Files, Calendar), new apps (Web Apps, Camera replaced Cheese), a new window tiling system, OneDrive file integration, enhanced performance, lower latency sound with PipeWire, menu changes, RDP, and better hardware compatibility. Supported to June 2029. [35] [36] [37]

Notes and references

  1. ↑ "Zorin OS: Make your computer better". zorin.com. Zorin Group. 4 December 2025. Zorin OS is Open Source, so anyone can audit its source code to verify its privacy.
  2. ↑ "Zorin OS 18 Has Arrived". 14 October 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  3. ↑ Phillip, Watt (29 August 2015). Pro Freeware and Open Source Solutions for Business. Apress. p. 218. ISBN   978-1-4842-1130-4.
  4. ↑ "Zorin OS: The Linux Distribution for Windows XP and 7 Fans". linux.com. The Linux Foundation. 24 February 2016.
  5. ↑ "10 reasons to try Zorin OS 9, the Linux OS that looks like Windows". pcworld.com. PC World. 30 July 2014.
  6. ↑ "Zorin OS Pro - Zorin OS". Zorin. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  7. ↑ Johnston, Mike (5 December 2016). "Zorin OS 12 Review". CMS Critic. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  8. ↑ Moore, Shawn (17 December 2019). "Zorin OS Lite Review – 15.1 Lite Edition". CMS Critic. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  9. ↑ "Zorin OS-Home". Zorin OS. Retrieved 19 March 2016. Zorin OS is a multi-functional operating system designed specifically for newcomers to Linux. It's based on Ubuntu Linux....The Look Changer lets you change your desktop to look and act like either Windows 7, XP, 2000, Ubuntu Unity, Mac OS X or GNOME 2 for ultimate ease of use.
  10. ↑ "Zorin OS". DistroWatch.com. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  11. ↑ Speed, Richard (14 August 2018). "Linux 4.18 arrives fashionably late while Zorin OS shines up its Windows". The Register. Situation Publishing. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  12. ↑ "Zorin OS Review – An alternative to macOS and Windows". www.fosslinux.com/. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  13. ↑ "The Future of Zorin OS Lite". Zorin OS Blog. Zorin Group. 16 April 2024. Archived from the original on 30 March 2025. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  14. ↑ "Zorin Grid – Manage all of your computers. As easily as one" . Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  15. ↑ "Zorin Grid Lets You Remotely Manage Multiple Zorin OS Computers". 16 January 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  16. ↑ "Zorin Grid". Zorin. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  17. ↑ Prakash, Abhishek (November 2017). "Zorin OS: From the Hobby Project of Two Teenagers to a Growing Startup – It's FOSS". It's Foss. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  18. ↑ Bidwell, Jonni (22 February 2017). "Zorin OS 12 Core". TechRadar. Future plc. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  19. 1 2 "Zorin OS 12 Review: LinuxAndUbuntu Distro Review Of The Week". LinuxAndUbuntu. 2 November 2017. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  20. ↑ Fagioli, Brian (14 August 2018). "Zorin OS 12.4 Linux distribution is here – switch from Microsoft Windows 10 now!". betanews. BetaNews, Inc. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  21. ↑ Germain, Jack M. (8 October 2021). "Zorin OS 16: Better GNOME With Much More Simplicity". LinuxInsider. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  22. ↑ "The City of Vicenza is Choosing Zorin OS". Zorin OS Blog. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  23. ↑ "Computer comunali, al via la sperimentazione del sistema operativo Zorin" (in Italian). Comune di Vicenza. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  24. ↑ "Linux statt Windows: Vicenza ist das neue München". Der Standard (in German). Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  25. ↑ Microsoft. "End of support for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 | Microsoft Windows". Windows. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  26. ↑ "Windows 11 on devices that don't meet minimum system requirements - Microsoft Support". support.microsoft.com. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  27. ↑ Pickstone, James (18 June 2025). "Let's stop Microsoft creating millions of tonnes of e-waste this October". The Restart Project. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  28. ↑ Zak, Killian (24 November 2025). "In wake of Windows 10 retirement, over 780,000 Windows users skip Win 11 for Linux, says Zorin OS developers — distro hits unprecedented 1 million downloads in five weeks". Tom's Hardware. p. 1. Retrieved 7 December 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  29. ↑ Borisov, Bobby (12 January 2026). "Zorin OS 18 Hits 2 Million Downloads as Windows Users Drive Growth". Linuxiac. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  30. ↑ "Introducing Zorin OS 16: Test the Beta Today". 16 April 2021.
  31. ↑ "Zorin OS 16.3 Is Released". blog.zorin.com. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  32. ↑ "Zorin OS 17.1 Is Released". blog.zorin.com. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  33. ↑ "Zorin OS 17.2 Has Landed". blog.zorin.com. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  34. ↑ "Zorin OS 17.3 is Here". blog.zorin.com. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  35. ↑ "Zorin OS 18 Has Arrived". blog.zorin.com. 14 October 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  36. ↑ Sneddon, Joey (14 October 2025). "Zorin OS 18 Released with New Look, New Apps + More". OMG! Ubuntu. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  37. ↑ Nestor, Marius (14 October 2025). "Zorin OS 18 Officially Released, Specifically Tailored for Windows 10 Expats". 9to5Linux. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
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