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- With Windows 10 no longer supported, Linux is on the rise.
- Two distributions have greatly benefited from the demise of Windows 10.
- Each of these distros serves a different purpose, but they’re both Linux.
October 14 marked the end of Windows 10.
At the time, that was one of the most widely used operating systems on the planet. Typically, an OS upgrade is fairly straightforward, but this time around, Microsoft had other plans. The hardware requirements for Windows 11 were too much for a majority of those Windows 10 machines, which meant users would be forced to purchase a new PC.
That did not go over well.
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Amid the outcry from Windows users, Linux continued evolving and expanding. Many of us in the Linux/open-source community sang the praises of Linux, calling it the best option for those abandoned by Microsoft.
But then, something happened… Something big.
One particular Linux distribution saw downloads skyrocket. My brilliant colleague (and all-round awesome person) Stephen Vaughn-Nichols gave his spot-on take as to why this was happening and mentioned the sudden rise in Zorin OS downloads.
One million downloads in two months. Even more telling was that 78% of those downloads came from Windows machines.
That makes total sense, because Zorin OS is not only one of the most user-friendly distributions on the market, but it will make Windows users feel right at home, thanks to its familiar layout.
And then, just this morning, Tom’s Hardware reported that the gaming-centric Linux distribution, Bazzite, had delivered a petabyte of downloads, which came to roughly 150,000 downloads in a month.
That’s only two of the hundreds of Linux distributions, and I’m confident we’ll be seeing more and more reports coming in that tell a similar story: People are leaving Windows for Linux.
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Those of us who’ve been covering Linux for decades knew this moment would eventually come. At some point, Microsoft would do the unthinkable and find a way to scare off its base, who would then turn to alternatives. Consumers who can’t afford an iMac or MacBook would have only two choices: Linux or ChromeOS.
While Chromebooks are great for certain users, those who want a full-blown, multitasking OS (like Windows) are best served by Linux.
Why these two distributions?
To me, the writing is on the wall.
There are two distinct user groups who are turning to Linux: Regular users and gamers. Regular users are turning to Zorin OS, and gamers to Bazzite. It makes sense because both distributions are ideal for their respective user type. Zorin OS has everything users need to be creative, productive, and entertained, and Bazzite has everything necessary to play nearly all the games people want.
On top of being an outstanding gaming platform, Bazzite is also immutable, which means it offers significant security improvements over Windows. Not only are you getting much simplified gaming on Linux, but you can be certain that your operating system will always “just work.”
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I wouldn’t be surprised if those two distributions not only continue seeing record-breaking downloads but also help other Linux distributions rise in popularity.
Those two distributions alone cover the majority of PC user needs, and given their recent download numbers, consumers agree. It may have taken decades to happen, but it looks like the “year of Linux” is finally upon us.
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I predict that 2026 will be a banner year for the open-source operating system. Linux might even top double-digits in market share before the coming year ends.
One might think Linux’ rise in popularity can be attributed solely to the missteps of Microsoft, but you cannot discount everything Linux brings to the table: Security, stability, ease of use, zero cost, flexibility, creativity, and long-term support.
Mark my words, my friends, 2026 will be the year of the Linux desktop.