Zorin OS 18 Drives Windows Migration After Windows 10 End of Life

Zorin OS 18’s launch has become the clearest and most quantifiable signal so far that a large number of Windows users are actively testing — and in many cases replacing — Windows installations after Microsoft’s decision to end mainstream support for Windows 10. Within roughly five weeks of its October 14, 2025 release, Zorin Group announced that Zorin OS 18 had been downloaded about one million times, and the project reported that over 78% of those downloads originated from Windows systems — a milestone that transformed a well‑timed product update into a mainstream migration story.

---

Background​

The timing: a hard deadline and a product that landed on the same day​

Microsoft’s public lifecycle calendar closed the chapter on Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. After that date retail Windows 10 Home and Pro installations no longer received routine monthly security or feature updates; Microsoft pointed affected users toward Windows 11 or a time‑limited Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. That calendar-driven cutoff was an unambiguous trigger for risk‑averse households, schools and small businesses to evaluate alternatives. Zorin OS 18 landed on that same date and was explicitly positioned by its makers as a migration‑friendly alternative tailored to Windows holdouts: a visually familiar desktop, a migration assistant, OneDrive integration, a Web Apps utility for web-first workflows, and a modern upstream stack built on an Ubuntu LTS base. Zorin’s official blog and subsequent press coverage promoted the release as a practical way to extend device life without buying new hardware or paying for temporary ESU.

What Zorin OS 18 ships with (high‑level)​

• Built on the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS lineage with a Hardware Enablement kernel line (reported as Linux 6.14 in release images).
• A redesigned desktop with multiple “layout” presets that mimic Windows 10/11, classic Windows, macOS and compact modes via Zorin Appearance.
• OneDrive access through GNOME Online Accounts (mount/browse semantics rather than full selective sync).
• A Web Apps tool that converts web services (Office 365, Google Docs, Teams, Adobe Web) into desktop-style launchers.
• Bundled Windows compatibility tooling (reported integration of Wine 10), installer detection and triage, plus virtualization/VM suggestions for unsupported workloads.
• Multiple editions (Core, Pro, Education, Lite), with long‑term support scheduled through mid‑2029.

These product choices were deliberate: Zorin built a release that lowers the three classic barriers to desktop migration — familiarity, cloud continuity, and application compatibility — and timed it to when millions of users were actively questioning their Windows path.

---

Why the story matters: the nexus of policy, hardware and user choice​

Windows 10 EOL and the practical options facing users​

When vendor-supplied security updates stop flowing, the security posture of connected devices changes materially. Microsoft’s advice was straightforward: upgrade to Windows 11 where hardware permits; enroll eligible devices in ESU or buy new hardware; or migrate to a supported alternative OS. ESU provides time‑bound breathing room but is explicitly limited and, for many consumers, comes with enrollment caveats (e.g., a Microsoft account requirement in some consumer pathways).

Windows 11 hardware gates created a conversion problem​

Windows 11 enforces firmware and platform checks — TPM 2.0, UEFI Secure Boot, and a curated CPU list — that exclude a notable share of otherwise functional PCs from a supported in‑place upgrade. That technical gate turned an otherwise routine lifecycle update into a potential forced hardware refresh for many users, pushing cost‑sensitive households to consider alternative operating systems that can revive ageing devices. The scale of affected machines is material: independent estimates place the count in the hundreds of millions, and several industry analyses were widely cited when Zorin marketed the urgency of migration.

---

The numbers: what Zorin announced, how independent outlets covered it, and what the metrics actually mean​

The announcement and cross‑reporting​

Zorin Group publicly celebrated 1,000,000 downloads in just over a month and stated that “over 78%” of those downloads originated from Windows systems. This metric became the primary narrative fuel for mainstream coverage. Multiple outlets — including Tom’s Hardware, TechRadar, Windows Central and others — reproduced the milestone while amplifying the context (Windows 10 EOL + Windows 11 hardware barriers) and cautioning that downloads are not the same as completed, retained migrations.

Downloads vs. installs vs. permanent migrations​

It is essential to parse what a million downloads measures and what it doesn’t:

• Downloads show trial intent and scale: live USB tests, VM experiments, and bare‑metal installers will all produce download events.
• Downloads can be inflated by re‑fetches, multiple testers, mirror and torrent behavior, and automated tooling (e.g., provisioning pipelines).
• Downloads do not measure retention, daily active usage, or the number of machines permanently converted.

Zorin’s published numbers are a legitimate engagement metric and a real indicator of momentum. But equating downloads directly to permanent migrations is not supported by public telemetry: conversion and retention statistics are private to the project and unavailable for independent verification. Reporters and analysts therefore treat the one‑million figure as a robust signal of trial volume and interest, not a confirmed one‑million abandoned Windows installs.

---

Technical verification: what’s provable and cross‑checked​

Release date, upstream base and support window​

Zorin OS 18’s stable release date is documented as October 14, 2025 and the project lists Ubuntu 24.04 LTS as the upstream base. Zorin’s release notes and blog confirm a Long‑Term Support strategy extending the 18 series through at least 2029. These are direct, verifiable facts posted by Zorin.

Kernel, audio stack and OneDrive integration​

Multiple technical summaries and hands‑on reviews report that Zorin OS 18 ships with a hardware‑enablement kernel in the 6.14 series and uses PipeWire as the default audio server for better Bluetooth and multimedia handling. OneDrive access is provided through GNOME Online Accounts, presenting OneDrive as a mounted cloud location in the Files app (browse/open semantics rather than Windows‑style selective sync). Independent reviewers validated these behaviors in early testing and documented the same design trade‑offs.

Windows compatibility (Wine 10 and triage tooling)​

Zorin advertises enhanced Windows‑app compatibility via a bundled and polished Windows App Support runtime — reported by reviewers as integrating Wine 10 — and an installer‑detection assistant that classifies common .exe installers into native, web, Wine‑wrapped, or virtualized paths. Wine 10’s upstream improvements (Wayland/Vulkan and other compatibility fixes in 2025) materially improve the chances that many Windows apps will run, but they do not guarantee full parity — kernel‑mode drivers, copy‑protection, and specialized vendor utilities frequently still require a Windows VM.

---

Strengths: why Zorin OS 18 is resonating with Windows users​

• Low cognitive switching cost. Zorin Appearance and layout presets let users keep a familiar taskbar/menu arrangement so the initial productivity hit is small. This reduces training friction for non‑technical switchers.
• Cloud continuity. OneDrive browsing and the Web Apps utility drastically reduce the perceived loss for Microsoft 365 users by keeping files and web workflows accessible with minimal changes.
• Modern platform plumbing. The Ubuntu LTS base, hardware‑enablement kernel and PipeWire audio bring better out‑of‑the‑box hardware compatibility — a practical advantage when the explicit goal is to revive older machines without kernel tinkering.
• Realistic app‑continuity messaging. Bundled Wine support and an installer detection system provide a pragmatic triage process that reduces “Will my app run?” anxiety for many mainstream productivity apps and games.
• Edition segmentation. Core/Pro/Education/Lite editions allow matching of resource use to device capability, which suits both low‑end hardware and general consumer devices.

These strengths map directly to the most common objections Windows users give for not switching: unfamiliar UI, cloud and file access, and application compatibility.

---

Risks, limitations and the unanswered questions​

• Downloads ≠ conversions. As emphasized above, the headline download count doesn’t reveal retention or enterprise adoption. Public download counts can be noisy. Treat the figure as signal, not proof.
• Peripheral and vendor driver risk. Specialized printers, medical devices, certain fingerprint readers and vendor utilities often lack first‑class Linux drivers. These can be absolute blockers in corporate or institutional contexts.
• Enterprise application and management gaps. Many organisations rely on Windows‑centric device management, group policy, vendor support contracts and line‑of‑business (LOB) apps that assume Windows. Migration at scale requires architecture work (VMs, remote Windows hosts, hosted applications or porting) and non‑trivial procurement decisions.
• Offline OneDrive semantics. The Files app OneDrive integration is mount/browse, not a full selective sync clone. Users who rely on Files On‑Demand semantics or need guaranteed offline access must test and may need alternative sync strategies.
• Security and operational support. Home users benefit from community support, but organisations need SLAs, enterprise imaging and security tooling that historically have been Windows‑first. Zorin Pro and third‑party integrators help, but large migrations require operational commitment.
• Potential for churn. Some users will test Zorin and revert to Windows for comfort, incompatible peripherals, or enterprise‑imposed constraints — churn is inevitable and expected.

Where public claims cannot be independently verified — for example, the precise count of converted devices or the breakdown of installs by region and retention — those numbers must be treated with caution until third‑party telemetry or larger market studies validate them.

---

A practical migration playbook: step‑by‑step (home users and small orgs)​

• Back up everything first. Create a full disk image or at minimum copy important files and credentials to an external drive or cloud location.
• Inventory critical apps and peripherals. Classify each item as: native Linux available, web/PWA replacement, Works under Wine/Proton, requires virtualization, or Windows‑only hardware driver. Use that triage to prioritize.
• Test with a Live USB. Boot Zorin OS 18 from a USB stick and validate network, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, audio, display, and peripheral drivers. Don’t skip real hardware tests for printers, scanners and special devices.
• Pilot a small fleet. For small organisations run a pilot group of 10–50 users across the major device/role types (knowledge worker, power user, kiosk). Measure support volume, app fidelity and productivity impact.
• Use virtualization for stubborn apps. Run complex or driver‑dependent Windows apps in a Windows VM (local or hosted) and treat the VM as a fallback for edge cases.
• Train and communicate. Provide short, targeted training sessions and quick reference guides that show differences in file access, app equivalents and common troubleshooting.
• Harden retained Windows hosts. For any machines retained on Windows 10 under ESU or otherwise, apply network segmentation, endpoint detection, remediation tooling and strict privilege controls.
• Execute staged rollouts and measure retention. Convert in waves and monitor helpdesk tickets, application breakage and user satisfaction to inform further rollouts.

This plan treats Zorin as one tool in a broader migration toolkit: a pragmatic path for many endpoints but not a universal, one‑size‑fits‑all replacement.

---

Recommendations for enterprises and IT leaders​

• Do the inventory. Visibility into installed apps and attached peripherals is the single most valuable asset when planning migrations. Use discovery tools and MDM/endpoint management data before drawing conclusions.
• Segment critical systems for ESU or rapid migration. Reserve ESU only for truly critical, hard‑to‑migrate devices; use it as a bridge, not a long‑term strategy.
• Pilot with measurable KPIs. Define success criteria (time‑to‑task, support calls per user, application fidelity) and run tightly scoped pilots.
• Plan for hybrid models. Some endpoints will be converted to Zorin; others will remain Windows (refreshed to Windows 11 or kept under ESU) and some applications will be hosted in VMs. Mix and match to minimize user disruption.
• Engage vendors early. Work with printer/scanner/embedded device vendors to confirm Linux driver support or replacement strategies before finalizing migration decisions.

Large organisations should budget training, procurement and potential application rework as part of total migration cost — the sticker price of avoiding hardware refreshes can be offset by migration personnel and support costs if not planned carefully.

---

The broader ecosystem impact: market, sustainability and strategy​

• An alternative path reduces immediate hardware churn. For households and small institutions, Linux options like Zorin can meaningfully reduce e‑waste by prolonging usable life for perfectly serviceable PCs.
• A renewed focus on compatibility tooling matters. Wine/Proton improvements, better Flatpak and Snap packaging, and Web Apps reduce friction. Continued investment in these areas will further close gaps that historically locked users into Windows.
• Microsoft’s strategy will adapt. A visible migration signal — especially one amplified by public metrics — is likely to affect product and policy messaging from larger vendors over time, if only to counter optics around hardware gating and perceived forced upgrades.

Zorin’s milestone is best read as a market shock‑test: it proves that a practical migration product, timed to a vendor lifecycle event and offering pragmatic continuity features, can convert curiosity into real, measurable trial volume at scale. Whether that interest translates into durable market share is the next and harder question.

---

Conclusion: a measured reading of a headline moment​

Zorin OS 18’s one‑million‑download milestone — and the claim that roughly 78% of those downloads came from Windows systems — is real, verifiable and newsworthy. It demonstrates that a significant number of Windows users sought out alternatives immediately after Windows 10’s end of mainstream support. The product’s design choices (familiar layouts, OneDrive integration, Web Apps, and improved Windows compatibility tooling) are well aligned to reduce the common migration blockers, and the release is a textbook example of effective timing and product‑market fit. At the same time, the headline must be interpreted carefully. Downloads are an early and necessary indicator of momentum, not definitive proof of completed migrations or enterprise adoption. Practical migration planning still requires inventory, pilot testing, virtualization fallbacks for edge workloads, and an honest appraisal of peripheral and vendor driver risks. For households and small organisations, Zorin OS 18 is a credible, low‑cost option to extend device life without a forced hardware purchase; for enterprises it is a useful element of a hybrid strategy rather than a universal replacement.
In short: the Zorin phenomenon is real, its technical claims are verifiable, and its risks are ordinary and surmountable as long as migration plans are pragmatic, tested and measured. The story now shifts from “if” to “how” — how organisations and users will pilot, harden, and institutionalize migration choices amid a changing desktop landscape.

---

Source: Windows Report https://windowsreport.com/zorin-os-...-migration-amid-rising-hardware-requirements/

 

[ChatGPT]

Zorin OS 18 has gone from niche contender to headline-making alternative in a matter of months, recording a seven-figure download milestone and sparking renewed debate about whether mainstream Windows users will seriously consider Linux as a practical migration path now that Windows 10’s support window has closed. Zorin Group’s mid-November announcement that Zorin OS 18 exceeded one million downloads, followed by a January update and widespread press coverage claiming roughly two million downloads in under three months, shows the distribution is capturing trial volume at scale—but this surge should be read carefully: downloads indicate interest, not guaranteed conversions.

---

Background / Overview​

Zorin OS 18 landed on October 14, 2025—the exact day Microsoft formally ended mainstream support for Windows 10—and the timing was hardly accidental. The release was explicitly positioned as a migration-focused desktop that lowers the psychological and technical barriers for Windows users who are weighing expensive hardware upgrades or paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) against switching to an alternative OS. Zorin’s official announcement celebrated a rapid one‑million-download milestone in mid-November, and subsequent reports in January indicate continued momentum with higher totals. Microsoft’s support cutoff for Windows 10 (October 14, 2025) created a real decision point for hundreds of millions of PCs: upgrade eligible machines to Windows 11, enroll in ESU as a temporary bridge, or replace/repurpose devices. Microsoft’s consumer ESU program remains available into 2026 under defined conditions, but the practical effect for many households, schools, and small businesses was urgency: if a device can’t reasonably upgrade to Windows 11 (because of TPM, UEFI, or CPU restrictions), users needed alternatives. That structural squeeze opened a rare window for migration-focused Linux distributions to convert curiosity into concrete trials.

---

What the numbers say — parsing downloads vs. migrations​

Zorin’s own blog announced the “1 million downloads in just over a month” milestone and noted that over 78% of those downloads originated from Windows systems, a claim the team used to emphasize Zorin’s role as a Windows-friendly alternative. Independent outlets repeated that figure and later coverage (and a Zorin social post amplified across tech press) raised the total to roughly 2 million downloads in under three months, with press estimates saying roughly three-quarters of those downloads came from Windows-origin traffic. Key caveats readers must understand:

• Downloads are not equivalent to installed, daily‑use systems. An ISO can be downloaded for a live USB test, installed in a virtual machine, re-downloaded multiple times, or fetched across mirrors and torrents—each inflates the raw count. The funnel is: downloads → installs → daily use → long-term retention, and drop-off occurs at each stage.
• Origin metrics are directional, not definitive. “Downloads initiated from Windows” typically relies on web referrer analytics and user-agent strings; they indicate where the download button was clicked, not whether the device was wiped and repurposed.
• Press totals vary. Zorin’s own mid-November blog post provides the most conservative, verified anchor (1M in ~5 weeks), while later summaries and social posts pushed the figure higher; multiple outlets have reported the two-million mark based on Zorin’s public messaging and social posts. Cross-checks against mirrors, torrents, and aggregated telemetry are limited, so independent verification beyond Zorin’s published numbers remains incomplete.

The honest reading: Zorin OS 18 has generated an exceptional volume of trials, especially from Windows-origin systems. That is a meaningful indicator of market interest and of successful product positioning—not proof that millions of desktops have permanently migrated away from Windows.

---

Why Zorin OS 18 resonates with Windows users​

Zorin’s design and engineering choices intentionally lower the three biggest barriers that stop many Windows users from trying Linux: unfamiliar UI, loss of cloud workflows, and uncertainty about application compatibility.

• Familiar desktop layouts and low cognitive switching cost. Zorin Appearance and the Layout Switcher let users choose a Windows 10/11-style interface (or classic, macOS, compact variants) with a click. Conserving muscle memory matters a lot for non-technical users and reduces the perceived learning curve.
• Cloud continuity (OneDrive and Web Apps). Zorin integrates Microsoft OneDrive via GNOME Online Accounts for file browsing and provides a Web Apps utility that converts popular web services (Office 365, Google Workspace, Teams) into desktop-like launchers—reducing the friction of moving away from a Microsoft-centric workflow.
• Improved Windows application support. Zorin bundles an updated Wine-based compatibility stack (reported as Wine 10 in reviews) and installer-detection tooling to triage common Windows installers into native, web, compatibility-layer, or virtualization options—practical triage, not a guarantee of parity. This matters for many users who need a small set of critical Windows apps.
• Hardware flexibility and longer usable life. Built on an Ubuntu 24.04 LTS lineage with modern hardware-enablement kernels, Zorin avoids the strict Windows 11 hardware floor (TPM 2.0, curated CPU list), letting users revive otherwise usable machines without forced upgrades. For cost-conscious households, schools, and NGOs, that is a compelling value proposition.

These design decisions targeted the exact anxieties non-technical, Windows-centric users have—making a trial feel low risk and, in many cases, immediately productive.

---

Independent corroboration and market context​

Multiple reputable outlets tracked Zorin’s milestones and framed them in the context of Windows 10’s lifecycle and wider Linux momentum. Tom’s Hardware and TechRadar amplified Zorin’s developer-reported numbers soon after the project announced the one-million figure, and in January several news outlets reported higher totals based on Zorin’s social posts and continued download cadence. These independent reports consistently underline the same theme: a calendar event (Windows 10 EOL) + a migration-focused distro = unusually high trial volumes. On gaming-focused telemetry, Valve’s Steam Hardware & Software Survey confirms a slow but visible rise in Linux share among Steam users—recent amended figures show Linux at about 3.58% of Steam clients while Windows remains dominant at ~94.23%. The Steam numbers are a useful barometer for gaming and enthusiast adoption but are not a direct measure of general desktop market share. Still, they show Linux usage among technically engaged users is growing, which helps downstream projects like Zorin attract attention and fix compatibility issues faster.

---

Strengths: where Zorin and similar distros have structural advantages​

• Cost and sustainability. No per-device OS licensing fee and a lighter resource footprint mean many older devices can remain productive instead of being scrapped or replaced.
• User-centric onboarding. Polished installers, built-in migration guides, and targeted UX reduce support load for first-time switchers.
• Community and documentation. Active forums, chat channels, and written migration checklists make the experimentation stage less intimidating.
• Flexibility for mixed workflows. Zorin’s PWA/Web Apps, OneDrive browsing, and Windows compatibility tooling let users run hybrid setups (Linux for day-to-day + Windows VM for specialized apps).
• Hardware rejuvenation. Because Linux kernels and drivers are customizable and community-maintained, older machines often continue to perform well on current Linux distros even when blocked from vendor-supported Windows 11 upgrades.

---

Risks and limits: where reality tempers the hype​

• Downloads ≠ installs ≠ retention. Large download numbers can mask high drop-off rates at the installation and retention phases. Expect significant attrition between “tried” and “kept.”
• Compatibility gaps for specialized or proprietary software. Vertical apps (medical imaging, certain accounting / ERP systems), proprietary device drivers (some fingerprint readers, vendor docking firmware), and some anti-cheat systems remain problematic under Linux. For many small businesses or niche users, these are non-trivial blockers.
• Support expectations and SLAs. Consumer users may be comfortable with community forums, but organizations and schools need predictable support. Without commercial support agreements or third-party services, the operational risk for mass migrations remains material.
• Gaming limitations. Steam’s Proton compatibility has improved dramatically, but kernel-level anti-cheat solutions and certain multiplayer ecosystems still present barriers. Gamers with heavy AAA-multiplayer needs may face rough edges.
• Trust and continuity with cloud services. OneDrive browsing via GNOME Online Accounts provides convenience, but differences in selective sync semantics and integration depth can surprise users who expect 1:1 behavior with native Windows clients.
• Potential vendor reactions. Microsoft could adjust messaging, ESU terms, or incentives; OEMs could expand Linux preinstalls (helpful) or tighten firmware behavior in ways that favor Windows (less helpful). Policy and vendor actions are variables that could affect the durability of any mass shift.
• Measurement and narrative risk. Overstating conversion from a download metric risks creating an inflated narrative that could sour expectations among users who try Zorin and encounter compatibility issues. Transparency about what the numbers mean matters.

---

Practical checklist for Windows users considering Zorin OS 18​

• Back up everything now. Full image backups and cloud backups are essential before you touch partitions.
• Test with a live USB first (no installation required) to check Wi‑Fi, display, keyboard, audio, and basic peripherals.
• Try critical applications in a VM first (VirtualBox, GNOME Boxes, or a Windows VM) to confirm licensing and driver behavior.
• Verify peripherals: printers, scanners, fingerprint readers, and docking stations—some require vendor drivers not available on Linux.
• Check gaming needs: consult ProtonDB and Wine AppDB for specific titles; test anti-cheat paths if multiplayer is needed.
• Consider dual‑boot for 30 days to verify workflow continuity before committing.
• If the PC is required by a school or business, check with IT about audit, compliance, and support implications.

---

Migration pathway: recommended sequence​

• Create a verified backup (disk image + cloud sync).
• Boot Zorin OS 18 from a live USB and test hardware.
• Install in a dual‑boot configuration or to a spare drive.
• Migrate data in phases (documents, mail profiles, browser profiles).
• Recreate workflows via native or web apps; use Wine/Proton for necessary Windows programs.
• When confident, perform a full cutover and maintain a recovery image for rollback.

This staged approach minimizes downtime and gives users a safety net during the critical early adoption window.

---

How this matters to Microsoft, OEMs, and the wider desktop market​

• For Microsoft: Zorin’s momentum is a marketing and design challenge more than an immediate existential threat. Windows remains dominant on both consumer and gaming desktops, but a visible shift in trials—driven by perceived excessive hardware gating, aggressive AI features, or telemetry concerns—signals that Microsoft’s choices influence user trust and upgrade decisions. Expect Microsoft to continue refining upgrade messaging, ESU incentives, and Windows 11 hardware outreach.
• For OEMs: Reviving older hardware with Linux can be a sustainability win, but OEMs also profit from hardware refresh cycles. The most constructive outcome would be more devices shipping with official Linux options and vendor-supported drivers—lowering friction for users who want a supported Linux experience.
• For ISVs and enterprise software vendors: If trial volumes convert into real uptake, software vendors will need to prioritize Linux support, especially for web-first, cross-platform SaaS offerings and for critical vertical apps. That’s a longer-term ecosystem shift that would significantly raise Linux’s permanence on desktop endpoints.

---

Final assessment — signal vs. noise​

Zorin OS 18’s rapid download milestones are an unambiguous signal of large-scale curiosity and a successful product-market fit for Windows switchers. The combination of carefully engineered migration paths, OneDrive and PWA continuity, and pragmatic Windows-compatibility tooling gave Zorin the leverage it needed when a large cohort of users faced a forced decision at Windows 10’s end of support. The project’s announcements and the broader press coverage are backed by multiple independent reports, and Steam telemetry shows Linux usage in gaming continuing a slow upward trend—context that supports the narrative of growing Linux interest. That said, the stretch from trial to sustained migration at scale is where the story remains unresolved. Downloads are a powerful metric of interest, but long-term adoption will hinge on pragmatic items: ISV and peripheral vendor support, improved anti-cheat and specialized driver coverage, reliable end-user support models, and how Microsoft, OEMs, and the Linux community respond in the coming months. Until conversion, retention, and usage telemetry—beyond download counts—are demonstrably high, the headline numbers should be read as a dramatic and important early-stage shift, not an immediate wholesale replatforming of the desktop.

---

Conclusion​

Zorin OS 18’s launch and the subsequent download surge are a rare example of a small project executing a perfectly timed release that aligned product design with a significant vendor lifecycle event. The result is unprecedented trial volume and renewed conversation about practical Linux alternatives for mainstream Windows users. The milestone proves that when three conditions align—user anxiety (Windows 10 EOL), a clear practical obstacle to vendor upgrades (Windows 11 hardware gates), and a lower‑friction alternative (Zorin’s migration tooling)—large-scale experimentation becomes inevitable.
For individuals and organizations considering the move, the smart approach is pragmatic: test with live USBs and VMs, validate critical apps and peripherals, consider ESU as a temporary runway if necessary, and plan a staged migration with robust backups. Zorin OS 18 offers a credible and polished option that may well extend the useful life of many PCs—and the download numbers show real interest. Whether that interest converts into durable, everyday usage at scale will depend on technical compatibility, vendor support, and how both communities and corporations respond to this inflection.

---

Source: Emegypt Zorin OS 18 Attracts Over 1 Million Windows Users