Windows like linux distros

6 Linux Distributions to Replace Windows 10 & 7

Windows 7 is long gone but even in 2021, 100 million PCs were actively using it. You can either upgrade to Windows 10 or switch to Linux. Considering that you do not like Windows 10 or just cannot have your old system run Windows 10, you might want to consider using Linux instead.

If you want to have a similar user interface to Windows 10 / Windows 7 or better, you should try the Linux distributions that look like Windows.

Here, I have picked some of the best Linux distributions for Windows users that you’d find comfortable using.

Best Linux Distributions That Look Like Windows

While you may not find the same applications or tools on Linux — the user interface is what will make you feel comfortable using the OS.

Of course, if you don’t have a specific requirement but just want to have a Linux distro, you can take a look at the best Linux distributions out there.

So, in this article, I shall mention only the distributions that resemble the look and feel of Windows (to some extent, at least).

Once, you’re done choosing what you want — you can simply take a look around for the essential applications available on Linux, installing themes, and many similar resources available in our portal.

1. Linux Lite

Windows 7 users may not have the latest and greatest hardware — so it is essential to suggest a Linux distribution that is lightweight and easy-to-use.

Linux Lite targets Windows users with a similar UI offering a taskbar, Windows-inspired wallpaper, and a lot more to go on with that includes the Libre Office suite as well.

You do not need to upgrade your system just because Windows 10 is resource hungry. Linux Lite should work perfectly fine with an old configuration as well.

If you are curious to try other distros, you can check out our list of lightweight Linux distributions. But the user interface in most of the options may not be like Windows 10 or 7.

2. Zorin OS

Zorin OS is a beautiful Linux distribution based on Ubuntu. The user interface should make both Windows and macOS users feel right at home after installing it. In fact, I find it a great modern alternative to Windows 10 as well.

They also offer a lite edition to their OS if you have a slightly underpowered hardware configuration on your system. You can also take a quick look at our impressions on Zorin OS lite to know more about it.

It looks and feels incredibly good with a quick learning curve. For starters, if you want to make the most out of Zorin OS while having all the essential software tools bundled, you can opt to buy the Zorin OS ultimate edition.

3. Kubuntu

If you’re new to Linux — it is worth noting that there are different desktop environments.

If you want to try something that resembles the look and feel of Windows, you can try any distro with KDE’s Plasma on board. And Kubuntu is an official KDE flavor of Ubuntu.

You may not find this to be the prettiest Windows-like distro – however, if you want something that does the work reliably, Kubuntu should do the trick.

4. Linux Mint

Linux Mint also targets the Windows 7 users trying to make the switch to Linux. Many users also use it as a replacement to Windows 10 because of its familiar user interface and useful features.

Among all the others mentioned in this list, Linux Mint would be my personal recommendation. Linux Mint is reliable, performs great, and offers several desktop environment editions as well (including the MATE desktop).

If you’re curious, you can also take a detailed look at how it looks and works for one of its recent releases Linux Mint 20.

5. Ubuntu MATE

Ubuntu MATE is yet another Windows alternative Linux distribution that provides a snappy experience across a range of hardware configuration.

This may not directly resemble the UI of Windows in general – however, you will find it quite easy to get comfortable with. It is also interesting to note that Ubuntu MATE works well with NVIDIA’s Jetson Nano as well, which happens to be one of the raspberry pi alternatives.

If you want a slightly unique experience with a similar layout, you can try this!

6. Solus

Solus is one of the most beautiful Windows replacements. You may like it more than Windows 10. It is not based on Ubuntu, so unless you are not comfortable taking up a slight learning curve, you should stick to the options mentioned above.

This is an independently developed Linux distribution aimed at making home computing experience elegant and easier. You will get several essential tools pre-installed to get started quickly.

It offers its own “Budgie” desktop and provides other desktop editions if you want.

Wrapping Up

Potentially, you can install any beginner-friendly Linux distribution, however, I do not want you to confuse yourself with a whole lot of choices available.

So, I recommend trying the distributions mentioned in this article if you’re switching from Windows to Linux in general. Also, if you’ve tried something else and you like it a lot – feel free to let me know about it in the comments below.

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Best Windows-like Linux Distributions

One of the problems that we can find when changing the operating system is that we feel uncomfortable when starting to use the new operating system. Most users, especially those without much computer knowledge, know how to defend themselves by the options and menus in Windows. So when trying a Linux distro , and encountering such a drastic change, many feel overwhelmed and do not know how to continue using the new operating system.

One of the best qualities of Linux operating systems is customization. Thanks to the nature of this operating system, users or developers can completely customize and adapt its appearance. This allows some developers to bet on focusing the nature of their distros in favor of usability, imitating the appearance of Windows, as well as its programs and the rest of the elements of the Microsoft operating system that most users are used to.

Below we are going to see some of the best Linux distros designed to imitate the appearance of Windows .

Best Linux distros similar to Windows

Zorin OS

Zorin is one of the most popular distros when it comes to replacing Windows with a system similar to this one. This distribution is designed to bring users the best of Linux (security, stability, privacy and performance) as well as a very intuitive and easy to use desktop, mixing aspects of both Windows and macOS.

Any user who has ever used Windows will have absolutely no problem using Zorin OS and will feel comfortable from the first moment. Also, it comes with a series of programs installed by default to

We can download Zorin OS from its website .

Kubuntu (KDE Plasma)

Kubuntu is one of the official Ubuntu-based Canonical distributions. This distro, broadly speaking, may have nothing to do with Windows. However, KDE Plasma, your default desktop (hence the name’s K) is one of the desktops that can best mimic the look of Windows, especially Windows 7.

This desktop mimics wallpaper and effects, such as transparencies, to give the distro a personalized touch. Thanks to these effects, together with its launcher (the equivalent of the start menu), the file explorer and the default KDE Plasma applications (LibreOffice, Krita and Firefox to replace Office, Photoshop and Chrome) it is able to look a lot like Windows .

We can download Kubuntu from the following link . We could also replace Kubuntu with any other KDE Plasma based distro.

Chalet OS

Chalet OS is a distro based on Xubuntu (with XFCE desktop) which has modifications to adapt its appearance as much as possible to that of Windows Vista and Windows 7. The start menu, the taskbar, the explorer and many other elements are very similar to those of the Microsoft operating system, being a great alternative for those looking for a light, efficient and very simple to use distro.

We can download Chalet OS from its main website . The problem with this distro is that it has been updated since 2016, although being LTS it still receives security patches.

Freespire

Freespire was born as a community-maintained free distro based on the Linspire project. However, this distro has been missing for 10 years, until last 2018, when the community decided to retake the project to offer users a 100% free alternative to Windows.

Thanks to its KDE Plasma desktop we can find a distro very similar to Windows, both in the start menu and in the taskbar as well as in the file explorer and the other elements that make up the distro. It also has a series of totally free programs to replace those that are often used in Windows.

We can download Linspire for free from this link .

Linuxfx

Linuxfx is probably one of the Linux distros that most blatantly mimics the look of Windows 10. This distro uses a lightweight Cinnamon desktop, which has been designed to look like Windows. From the background to the appearance of the taskbar, the browser and even the applications installed by default (LibreOffice uses the icons and the general appearance of Office) will make many users think that it is an original version of Windows, but with all the advantages that a Linux system brings us.

We can download this Linux distro, also known as Windowsfx, from its repository .

Linux Mint

Mint is not focused on imitating the appearance of Windows, since its objective is a different one. However, it does have a very important role in facilitating its use for all types of users. It has a taskbar similar to that of Windows, a start menu and a desktop very similar in many aspects to which we will surely be familiar.

We can download Linux Mint from its main website .

Robolinux

Robolinux, although it is not as aesthetically equal to Windows, wants to become one of the easiest to use. For this, in addition to imitating many aspects of Windows (although adapted in their own way), its developers have included within this distro everything necessary to install and use Windows programs as if they were used in the Microsoft operating system. It even allows us to copy the entire C drive from Windows to Linux, so that the directory tree looks as familiar as possible.

We can download Robolinux from the following link .

Kali Linux

Finally we could not close without talking about Kali Linux. This is not exactly a focused distro for the average user, as its target audience is hackers and security researchers. However, since 2019 this distro has a “Windows mode” called Undercover. This function allows us to convert in a second the appearance of Kali Linux into the classic appearance of Windows 10.

Very useful especially not to attract attention if we are going to use the distro in public spaces. We can download Kali Linux from the website of your project .

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5 Best Linux Distros looks like Windows 7/10/XP Interface

Why is the Windows operating system popular among us? It is because of ease of usage, availability of software and tools, and graphical user interface to perform any task. But everything comes at some price, no doubt the Windows is really an easy to use OS but lag somewhere behind in terms of security and customization. On the other hand, the Linux is open source, free to use, can customize highly, and very secure too. If you are new in the Linux world and confused with lots of Linux distributions, that which one you have to choose and which not. Then this article would help you. Because users those are moving from Windows operating system are much familiar with its interface and definitely want something like in Linux too. There are a couple of Windows alternative in Linux those almost looks similar to Windows and help the users a lot to get familiar with Linux’s strange world. So today, I will introduce several such Linux distributions those desktop environment is very similar to the Windows systems, let’s get started!

Note: If you think you know any better Linux OS than those mentioned in the article, please let us know…

Here is the list of best Windows like Linux distributions with a similar interface for beginners

Linux Mint

The first very popular Windows like Linux distribution I would like to introduce to you is the ” Linux Mint Operating System“. When you decide to use a Linux system instead of a Windows system, you should have heard of the Linux Mint distribution in some places. Most of the websites recommend the Linux Mint as Windows the best WIndows look like an alternative operating system to beginners. It is Ubuntu based and like the Ubuntu system, Linux Mint is recognized as one of the best Linux distributions. They also provide LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition) which is based on Debian. The Linux Mint system is known for its simple, easy-to-use, powerful Cinnamon desktop environment. Cinnamon is very easy to use, and you can use a variety of desktop themes, icon libraries, desktop widgets, and application components to configure the Linux Mint system to be the same as the Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10 system. Cinnamon is also one of the most popular desktop environments in Linux. You will love this easy-to-use, most stable and powerful desktop environment.

• License: Free & Opensource
• Linux Mint latest version download Link
• Linux mint minimum system 19 requirements
  • 1GB RAM (2GB recommended for a comfortable usage).
  • 15GB of disk space (20GB recommended).
  • 1024×768 resolution (on lower resolutions, press ALT to drag windows with the mouse if they don’t fit in the screen).

Zorin OS

The Zorin OS operating system is also a very popular Linux distribution that can be used to replace Windows 7 systems. Its start menu and taskbar are very beautiful, the overall interface is beautiful and vibrant, and it is also very good in terms of speed and stability. If you like Windows 7 instead of Windows 10, then Zorin OS will be your best choice. Zorin OS also pre-installs a lot of software including Wine to run Windows software on Linux, so it means this is the Linux that runs windows programs, without the hotchpotch of Wine installation.

The interface style of its gorgeous imitation Windows 7 system is even more impressive. Try it out boldly. Zorin OS is translated into over 50 languages. This Windows like Linux includes multiple themes full office suite to professional photo editing software.

• License: Free & Open source
• Zorin OS download link.
• Zorin os minimum system requirements
  • Zorin OS 12 standard
    • CPU 1 GHz Single Core
    • RAM 1.5 GB
    • Storage 10 GB (Core) or 20 GB (Ultimate)
    • Display 800 × 600 resolution
  • Zorin OS Lite
    • CPU 700 MHz Single Core
    • RAM 512 MB
    • Storage 8 GB
    • Display 640 × 480 resolution

Robolinux

The Robolinux operating system is another Linux distribution with a Windows operating environment (Wine) embedded. It allows users to run Windows applications on a Linux system, so you no longer have to worry about your favorite Windows applications being unusable on Linux systems. In the Robolinux system, this feature is called “Stealth VM” that easily let you run Windows within the OS virtually. It has one-click installer for Window 10, 7 & XP. At the same time, the Robolinux system also includes several other desktop environments, you can choose a desktop environment according to your preferences. There is also a tool in this system for a full backup of the C drive that won’t let you lose any files. Very unique, right?

• License: Free & Open source
• Robolinux download link.
• System Requirements
  • 2GB RAM and 20 GB or more storage if you are planning to use Windows VM

ChaletOS

Has anyone used the ChaletOS operating system? This is one of the Linux distributions that are closest in appearance to the look and feel of the Windows’ interface, same icons, and style. The screenshot above is the result of the Windows 10 icon and theme package. After using this theme package, the desktop of ChaletOS can be made the same as the Windows 10 interface. Some pre-installed applications can also help you better use the ChaletOS system. In the process of using it, you seem to be back in the familiar Windows world. The screenshot above actually made my friends believe that it was true. Give a try to this Windows-like Linux distro, you will definitely like this release.

• License: Free & Open source
• ChaletOS download link.
• ChaletOS minimum system requirements
  • CPU: 1GHz+
  • RAM: 512MiB+ for Desktop / LiveCD – 768MiB recommended
  • Hard drive space: 8GB
  • Graphics card and monitor capable of 1024×768 resolution

Kubuntu

When we talk about the Linux distribution for a beginner that also look like Windows then how we can we forget the Kubuntu. The clean and sleek interface of the Kubuntu is really adorable. It developed by a worldwide community of developers and can be a best free and open-source alternative to Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. Kubuntu is an Ubuntu-based Linux operating system that combined with beautiful looking Plasma desktop environment. It comes with pre-installed applications to full fill most of our daily requirements. It includes productivity, office, email, graphics, photography, and music applications. For example, Firefox, Kmail, LibreOffice, Gwenview and more, the best part is it has the Discover software center to install the software with one click.

The benefit of the Kubuntu is it built using the Qt toolkit that gives it a sleek look and mobile-ready. Anyone can easily access this Linux desktop from Phone or Tablet just by installing the KDE connect from Google play store.

• License: Free & Open source
• Kubuntu download link.
• Kubuntu minimum system requirements
  • Processor 2 GHz dual-core (x86)
  • Memory: 2 GB RAM
  • Hard drive capacity 25 GB
  • Video card VGA @ 1024×768

Windows look like Linux distribution or operating system: Verdict

To neutralize the perplexion of Linux beginners, I tried to make this Windows-like Linux distribution list as comprised as with only the best available options from my point of view. However, if you have some proficiency in Linux you can customize any Linux distro to look exactly like Windows 10/7/XP. There are also some Linux distributions with the great user interface or desktop environment that are not mentioned in this article. If you want to know about them here it is 10 Top Most Beautiful Linux Distros or Operating systems. I hope that you will come up with the comments below to help our new friends make the right choices in the process of choosing a Linux distribution.

These five operating systems are the most widely used Linux distributions for new users from Windows to Linux, and of course, Elementary OS systems but that not look like a Windows that’s why it is not in the list. Which version you want to install is entirely up to you. In most cases, the Linux Mint operating system has always been the leader for Windows like Linux category. If you are just entering the world of Linux, I suggest you start with the Linux Mint system. Take action, install a Linux system of your choice, and move forward to become a member of the Linux open source world.

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