loading . . . The Zorin OS team announced the general availability of the Zorin OS 18 release, a major update to this Ubuntu-based distribution for Linux newcomers, specifically tailored for Windows 10 expats.
Based on **Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS (Noble Numbat)** and powered by Linux kernel 6.14, Zorin OS 18 brings a refreshed default theme that features a floating panel with a rounded style, a lighter colour palette for select elements, an increased tint for backgrounds and sidebars, and a new workspace indicator.
The refreshed theme in Zorin OS 18 is accompanied by a powerful new window tiling manager that promises to boost productivity, a new built-in Web Apps tool to make it even easier to install your favorite apps, especially Windows apps, if you are migrating from Windows 10, which reached end of life today, to Linux.
“With Windows 10 reaching its end of life today in most of the world, an estimated 240 million computers that don’t meet Windows 11’s strict hardware requirements will be left behind. Many users are faced with the choice of either buying a new computer soon or switching to a supported, modern operating system,” said the Zorin OS team.”
Zorin OS 18 also introduces OneDrive file integration into the built-in Online Accounts feature if you sign in to your MS 365 account, along with better detection of installer files for popular Windows apps. Moreover, Zorin OS 18 offers tailored alternatives to sideloading their Windows executables for more than 170 Windows apps.
“If you’re migrating from Windows, this means you’ll get tailored guidance on how to get the most compatible versions of your favourite apps in Zorin OS. It’s another reason why Zorin OS is the ideal choice for Windows 10 users making the switch to a modern operating system,” said the Zorin OS devs.
Among other noteworthy changes, Zorin OS 18 ships with the **PipeWire** audio server backend by default for better sound quality with lower latency, new Yellow and Brown theme colors, three new desktop layouts in Zorin OS Pro, new system sounds, remote login with RDP, and improvements to Zorin Menu.
Zorin OS Pro, the commercial version of Zorin OS, also comes with 11 new apps, including the Deskflow tool for sharing your mouse and keyboard across computers, **Linux Mint’s Warpinator** tool for securely sending files through your local network or over the Internet, and Valot, a time tracking app for professionals.
Zorin OS Education also received four new apps, including Gradebook, a tool that gives students a simple way to keep track of grades, Spedread, a tool that helps you to speed read so you can study more efficiently, and TurboWarp, a tool for learning programming.
Zorin OS 18 is available for download right now from the _official website_ as Core and Education editions. A Zorin OS 18 Pro edition is also available for purchase for €47.99 EUR (~$55.6 USD), featuring six premium desktop layouts, a professional-grade creative suite of apps, and technical support for installing Zorin OS. https://9to5linux.com/zorin-os-18-officially-released-specifically-tailored-for-windows-10-expats