The lightest linux distribution

14 Best lightweight Linux OS for old Laptop in 2019

At the dawn of 2019 while our life revolves with many electronic gadgets like mobile phones and computers almost everyone has multiple old devices back at their stash which they no longer use anymore. So, we are here with a list of lightweight Linux os to put old things back to work.

If you are an old laptop user, like if you are using a laptop which is from the era of the year 2000 to 2010, then those laptops are surely under-performing at this moment as well as you have already replaced that laptop with a new one. Many people may have bought multiple laptops even after that timeline. Now the point is not all of you have found a customer to buy your super old, under-performing laptop. many of you also do have a laptop with some emotional values which do not even run or boot-up properly with the latest Operating system. The story also can be that you need a laptop or old computer for your child’s education and you do not want to buy a new one at this moment, so you want to use your old laptop for that purpose. In this kind of situation, this article of ours may help you a lot.

As almost all the old laptops which were made and sold at the time of the year, 1998 to 2010 may have working hardware parts inside them but it is unusable as they are not capable of running the present OS options. If one is considering to use the old OS which came be the laptop, where he/she is facing the incompatibility to run all the modern apps and utilities. Which in turn make the laptop completely unusable.

So, now the question comes to that, Do you have an old laptop which is running slow? or under-performing? Are you in search of a lightweight operating system for your old computer? Are you looking for a free but modern OS for your new startup office computers (as many office pc tend to have old or low compatibility hardware within it)? Then we are listing a list of multiple lightweight OS any of which can operate without using much of PC hardware resources. So that you can bring an old laptop back to life with full compatibility and functionality, and also these Linux operating systems are less hardware resources hungry. So, you can take out the maximum performance juice out of the computer with these lightweight OS.

Your laptop may have been used with only Windows or Mac, but that is not going to matter. You can make an old slow laptop with a lightweight Linux distro completely usable without any issues. I am not discriminating or judging but the truth is that unlike Windows or Mac, Linux has multiple distributions, actually, the no. of distributions are so many that it is very hard to remember all the name and their features as well. As all the Linux distributions are free, one can enjoy a bunch of open-source Linux OS, Linux games, Linux apps and also the repositories of Linux based apps for free. Installation of open source apps can be done on any server and the pc itself, all you have to do is to choose the apps or games as per your need from the repositories. And a revived old PC is the bonus.

Though all these Linux OS are community-based open source, that is also the reason behind that sometimes these OS Developer teams will drop the project, as well as the support for it and that, usually leave the users in the dark.

We recommend you to first shortlist some of the enlisted OS beneath according to your own hardware’s specification and download the setup and make a bootable USB with the operating system your choice to test with your hardware. Why USB? as most of the laptop even laptop from the 1990s era can read the bootable USB devices where other methods like bootable CD may not work properly as in most of the old laptops there are damaged or malfunctioned optical drives are a common problem. As well as you can make a self bootable USB drive to start the whole OS from your USB device directly, in this way you can have the taste of the OS as well as you can check that all the hardware drivers are available for the operating system or not even before you try the OS on the local hard disk.

To know how to install Linux OS on a USB drive using Windows OS, see our article: How To Install Ubuntu From a USB Stick on Windows 10 PC

Most of the OS enlisted below gives you the freedom to boot from USB, which is really a useful function as you can carry your whole OS with your important files in a USB device and can boot with your own OS from any pc, anywhere, whenever needed. The USB bootable OS solely depends on RAM to load and work. Though that does not mean it is going to use a lot of your RAM, as most of those OS needs a minimum around 512mb RAM for the job.

Here are best lightweight Linux operating systems to run on old or new Windows-based PCs.

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Best Lightweight Linux Distributions For Older Computers

Last updated September 14, 2021 By Ankush Das 384 Comments

Brief: Don’t throw your old computer just yet. Use a lightweight Linux distro and revive that decades-old system.

What do you do with your old computers? The one which once had good a hardware configuration but now potentially outdated.

Why not revive your old computer with Linux? I am going to list the best lightweight Linux distributions that you can use on old computers.

Some of the distributions mentioned here are also a part of the best Linux distributions for beginners. So, you might want to check that if you’re new to the Linux universe.

While our focus is on older computers, you can also use most of these lightweight Linux distros on relatively new hardware. This will give you a better performance if you use your computer for resource-heavy usage such as video editing on Linux.

Let’s see which lightweight Linux distribution you can use.

Best Lightweight Linux distros for old laptops and desktops

Note: The list is in no particular order of ranking, take a look at the minimum system requirements to choose one for yourself.

16. Q4OS

Support for 32-bit systems: Yes

Q4OS is a Debian-based distribution which aims to provide a fast experience while also offering a 32-bit option. In fact, it is one of the best options for 32-bit systems. It features the Trinity Desktop for 32-bit edition and the KDE Plasma desktop on 64-bit image.

It may not offer the best looking user interface, but it is simple and it is indeed screaming fast on older hardware. You can easily try this on your old computer to test it out.

Minimum Requirements for Q4OS:

• RAM: 128 MB (Trinity Desktop) / 1 GB (Plasma Desktop)
• CPU: 300 MHz (Trinity Desktop) / 1 GHz (Plasma Desktop)
• Storage Space: 5 GB (Plasma Desktop) / 3 GB (Trinity Desktop)

15. Slax

Support for 32-bit systems: Yes

Slax is a really portable lightweight Linux distro based on Debian which you can use it on a USB drive without installing it.

The ISO file size is just under 300 MB – which makes it a great option for older computers. The user interface is simple and usable with essential pre-built packages for an average user. You can even try to customize the OS and make permanent changes on the fly if you require it.

Minimum system requirements for Slax:

• RAM: 128 MB (offline usage) / 512 MB (for web browser usage)
• CPU: i686 or newer

14. Ubuntu MATE

Support for 32-bit systems: Yes

Ubuntu MATE is an impressive lightweight Linux distro that runs fast enough on older computers. It features the MATE desktop – so the user interface might seem a little different at first but it’s easy to use as well.

In addition to the desktop support, you can also try it on a Raspberry Pi or Jetson Nano.

Minimum system requirements for Ubuntu MATE:

• RAM: 1 GB
• CPU: Pentium M 1.0 GHz
• Disk Space: 9 GB
• Display Resolution: 1024 x 768

13. Zorin OS Lite

Support for 32-bit systems: Yes

Zorin OS is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution. It offers a lite edition for older computers that features the Xfce desktop environment.

If you have a decent system (not too old), you can also try the regular Zorin OS to see if it fits your purpose.

Minimum system requirements for Zorin OS Lite:

• RAM: 512 MB
• CPU: 700 MHz Single Core
• Disk Space: 8 GB
• Display: 640 × 480 resolution

12. Xubuntu

Support for 32-bit systems: Yes

Xubuntu is one of the official flavors of Ubuntu that features the lightweight Xfce desktop.

You will find it easy to use and can also install it on your older computers with no issues. Head to their official website to download the ISO (32-bit/64-bit) you need and get started.

Minimum system requirements for Xubuntu:

• RAM: 512 MB (1 GB recommended)
• Processor: Pentium Pro or AMD Athlon

11. Linux Mint Xfce

Support for 32-bit systems: Yes

If you have a decent hardware configuration (refer to the minimum requirements below), Linux Mint Xfce edition will be a great option to have.

While being an Ubuntu-based distro, it also features the Xfce desktop which makes it good enough for some old computers. Considering that Linux Mint as one of the best Linux distros, you can also try other editions (like Cinnamon) available.

Minimum system requirements for Linux Mint Xfce:

• 1GB RAM (2GB recommended).
• 15GB of disk space (20GB recommended).
• 1024×768 resolution

10. Peppermint

Support for 32-bit systems: Yes

Peppermint is a cloud-focused Linux distribution that doesn’t need high-end hardware. It is based on Ubuntu and uses LXDE desktop environment to give you a smoother experience.

Originally created with the web-centric approach of netbooks in mind, Peppermint includes the ICE application for integrating any website or web app as a standalone desktop app.

You’ll find the documentation helpful as well. A dedicated forum also exists to help troubleshooting issues and answering your questions.

Minimum system requirements for Peppermint OS:

• RAM: 1 GB of RAM (recommended 2 GB)
• CPU: Processor based on Intel x86 architecture
• Disk space: At least 4 GB of available disk space

You can get more information about Peppermint on its official website.

9. Lubuntu

Support for 32-bit systems: Yes (older versions)

Next on our list of best lightweight Linux distributions is Lubuntu. As the name suggests, a member of the Ubuntu family but it utilizes either LXDE/LXQT desktop environment. From Ubuntu 18.10 and above, you will find LXQT as the default desktop environment and could find LXDE as the default in its previous releases.

Lubuntu supports older computers that have been buried (Just kidding! You can also use Lubuntu on modern hardware). Lubuntu is one of the lightest derivatives of Ubuntu so it specializes in speed and the support for older hardware.

Lubuntu has fewer packages pre-installed consisting mostly of lightweight Linux applications.

Software and repositories are the same so you will get all the software that you were using on Ubuntu from their repositories. However, I’d suggest to always prefer to select an application that doesn’t consume a lot of system resources.

Minimum hardware requirements for Lubuntu:

• RAM: 1 GB of RAM
• CPU: Pentium 4 or Pentium M or AMD K8 or higher

8. Linux Lite

Support for 32-bit systems: Yes (older versions)

As the name suggests Linux Lite is a lightweight Linux distro that does not need high-end hardware to run it. Even a beginner will be able to use it on older computers easily. Linux Lite is based on Ubuntu LTS (Long Term Support) releases.

Even though it’s a lightweight distro – it comes baked with some essential tools.

For instance, you may find Firefox for web browsing, Thunderbird for emails, Dropbox for Cloud storage, VLC Media Player for Music, LibreOffice for office, Gimp for image editing and Lite tweaks to tweak your desktop. (this can change depending what version you’re using).

Considering that it is based on Ubuntu, you’ll have plenty of support and resources available online as you can follow the Ubuntu tutorials.

Minimum hardware requirements for Linux Lite:

• RAM: 768 MB RAM (recommended 1 GB)
• CPU: 1Ghz processor
• Display: VGA screen 1024×768 resolution (recommended VGA, DVI or HDMI screen 1366×768)
• Disk space: At least 8 GB free disk space

7. LXLE

Support for 32-bit systems: Yes

LXLE is actually a respin of the Lubuntu LTS version. Now that Lubuntu ships with LXQT by default, LXLE is a great option for users who want to use the LXDE desktop environment.

Despite being lightweight Linux distro, LXLE tries to provide an intuitive UI and eye candies. The system is tweaked to improve performance and comes with a wide range of lightweight applications installed by default.

Minimum hardware requirements for LXLE:

• RAM: 512 MB (recommended 1 GB)
• CPU: Pentium 3 (recommended Pentium 4)
• Disk space: 8 GB

6. CrunchBang++

Support for 32-bit systems: Yes (older versions)

CrunchBang++ is also known as CBPP or #!++ or CrunchBang Plus Plus. Crunchbang++ is the clone of Crunchbang Linux which has been discontinued.

CrunchBang++ supports old computers and runs without any issue. CrunchBang++ is based on Debian 10 with the minimal design interface.

Some of the default applications in Crunchbang++ at the time of writing this were Geany IDE, Terminator terminal emulator, Thunar File Manager, Gimp for image editing, Viewnior image viewer, VLC Media Player for music, Xfburn CD/DVD burning software, and so on.

It may not be the best one around for every user- but you can give it a try and see it yourself.

Minimum hardware requirements for CrunchBang++:

• RAM: 1 GB of RAM
• CPU: Pentium 4 or Pentium M or AMD K8 or higher

5. Bodhi Linux

Support for 32-bit systems: Yes (older versions)

Yet another light Linux distribution – Bodhi Linux, that gives life to older PCs & Laptops. Bodhi Linux is quite known for its minimal approach and the support for low-end hardware.

It doesn’t feature a lot of things pre-installed – hence, you will notice that the ISO file size will be less than 1 GB.

The presence of Moksh Desktop makes Bodhi Linux is a decent choice for older hardware configurations while providing a good user experience.

Minimum hardware requirements for Bodhi Linux:

• RAM: 256 MB of RAM
• CPU: 1.0 GHz
• Disk space: 5 GB of drive space

4. antiX Linux

Support for 32-bit systems: Yes

antiX is a lightweight Linux distribution based on Debian Linux. If you are looking for something that does not include systemd, this is a great option.

antiX also uses icewm window manager to keep the system running on low-end hardware. It doesn’t have much pre-installed software so the ISO file size is around 700 MB. You can always download and install more software later if you have access to an active internet connection.

Minimum hardware requirements for antiX Linux:

• RAM: 256 MB of RAM
• CPU: PIII systems
• Disk space: 5 GB of drive space

3. SparkyLinux

SparkyLinux is another lightweight distro but at the same time, it also targets modern computers.

Depending on what you need – you will find two variants of SparkyLinux. One based on Debian’s stable release and the other based on Debian’s testing branch. So, you can opt for anyone you see fit.

In addition to the variants, you will also find different editions of ISO to download. For instance, an LXQT desktop-based edition, a GameOver edition with pre-installed stuff, and so on.

You can head down to their download page and click on “Stable” or “(Semi-)Rolling” releases to find all the editions listed.

Minimum hardware requirements for SparkyLinux:

• RAM: 512 MB
• CPU: Pentium 4, or AMD Athlon
• Disk space: 2 GB (CLI Edition), 10 GB (Home Edition), 20 GB (GameOver Edition)

2. Puppy Linux

Support for 32-bit systems: Yes (older versions)

Puppy Linux can be booted live with either a CD/DVD/USB.

Puppy Linux uses JWM and Openbox window managers by default which makes it very easy on system resources.

Because Puppy Linux is built to be fast, it does not come along with bundles of applications. It does have some basic apps, though. In other words, it can get your work done if you want to utilize a really old computer.

Minimum hardware requirements for Puppy Linux:

• RAM: 256 MB
• CPU: 600 Hz Processor

1. Tiny Core

Probably, technically, the most lightweight distro there is. However, it isn’t a complete Linux distribution for an average desktop user.

Tiny Core simply incorporates the fundamental core of an OS which includes the kernel and the root filesystem. In other words, it features the foundation of a desktop OS.

If you simply want a system to boot up coupled with a wired Internet connection, you can get started using it. But, you should not expect proper hardware support out of the box.

So, if you’re someone who knows how to set up or compile tools necessary with Tiny Core Linux to make it a complete desktop experience, you can give it a try.

Minimum hardware requirements for Tiny Core Linux:

• RAM: 64 MB (128 MB recommended)
• CPU: i486DX

Also, if you’re curious about similar tiny/smallest Linux distros for your old hardware, here are some suggestions to take a look at:

Conclusion

Most of the Linux distros should be easy to install on older computers without any hassle. If you’re inclined for a good user experience, easy to use UI, and stability, there’s a lot of options in our list.

Don’t forget to tell me about your favorite Linux distributions in the comment below.

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