Windows 10 retirement pushes 780,000 users to Linux as Zorin OS Hits 1M downloads — but Microsoft still wants to evolve Windows 11 into an agentic AI OS

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The Zorin OS developer recently disclosed that the Linux distro gained approximately 780,000 users from Windows, a little over a month since Microsoft pulled the plug on Windows 10.

Windows 10
Have people been leaving Windows 10 and going to Linux? (Image credit: Windows Central)
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Many people are seemingly still conflicted about Microsoft's unpopular decision to pull the plug on Windows 10, which happened last month on October 14. Multiple reports suggest that the operating system's death has left approximately 400 million PCs unsupported.

While we're still in the early days of Microsoft ending support for Windows 10, a damning report seemingly suggests that a large number of users have ditched Microsoft's Windows ecosystem for Linux.

As spotted by Tom's Hardware, Zorin, a Linux-based operating system designed to rival macOS and Windows, recently surpassed a million downloads following the release of a new update, which bumped it to version 18 of the Linux distro.

We're thrilled to announce that Zorin OS 18 has amassed 1 million downloads in just over a month since its release, breaking all previous records.

Zorin OS

Perhaps more interestingly, Zorin's developer claimed that 78% of the downloads were from Windows devices. This doesn’t necessarily mean that all 780,000 downloads came from Windows 10 users abandoning Microsoft’s Windows 11 in favor of the Linux distro.

According to TechRadar, the surge in downloads may stem from several factors, such as users driven by curiosity who download the operating system but never complete the installation process.

Zorin OS delivers strong performance even on older devices, as the debate over planned obsolescence intensifies following Microsoft’s end of support for Windows 10. It also offers enhanced privacy and a user interface reminiscent of the familiar Windows ecosystem.

Elsewhere, a group called End of 10 has been pushing for users to transition to Linux, leading up to Windows 10's imminent death. The campaign urged Windows 10 users to abandon Microsoft’s ecosystem altogether and adopt a Linux distribution on outdated devices, highlighting the absence of ads and telemetry tracking as its main selling points.

This news comes after Microsoft highlighted its decision to evolve Windows into an agentic AI OS, which was received with backlash from users.

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Kevin Okemwa
Kevin Okemwa
Contributor

Kevin Okemwa is a seasoned tech journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya with lots of experience covering the latest trends and developments in the industry at Windows Central. With a passion for innovation and a keen eye for detail, he has written for leading publications such as OnMSFT, MakeUseOf, and Windows Report, providing insightful analysis and breaking news on everything revolving around the Microsoft ecosystem. While AFK and not busy following the ever-emerging trends in tech, you can find him exploring the world or listening to music.

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