Zorin OS 18 Beta Unveils Windows-Friendly Pipeline to Post-Windows 10 Era

A public beta of Zorin OS 18 has been launched, offering a reimagined interface and a suite of tools aimed at easing the migration from Windows as support for Windows 10 ends on 14 October 2025. The developers position this release as a compelling alternative for PCs that don’t qualify for Windows 11, while businesses, schools and individual users explore paths away from Microsoft’s ecosystem.

The new beta introduces a floating, rounded taskbar style and a lighter theme across system apps to modernise the user experience. A revamped window-tiling system allows users to drag and snap windows into layouts or set up custom presets — features designed to appeal to those accustomed to Windows’ Snap behaviour. The desktop redesign comes with enhanced multi-monitor support, a reactive workspace indicator, and refinements to default app interfaces.

Under the hood, Zorin OS 18 is built upon Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS and uses Linux kernel 6.14, which broadens hardware compatibility for newer devices. The distribution now enables PipeWire by default to improve audio performance with lower latency, especially over Bluetooth connections.

One of the most notable additions is native OneDrive integration: signed-in Microsoft 365 users can browse and manage cloud files directly within the Files app via the Online Accounts tool. The system also offers a Web Apps utility, allowing any website to behave like a desktop app, which helps bridge reliance on web-based services such as Office 365, Google Docs or Teams. To assist users migrating from Windows, the beta version scans for Windows installer files and suggests native or web-based equivalents within Zorin.

The development team emphasises long-term support, committing to software security and stability updates through April 2029. It is expected that upgrades from Zorin OS 17 will be enabled once the final stable build is released. Meanwhile, Zorin maintains its “release when ready” policy and has not yet confirmed a precise launch date beyond the indicated second half of 2025 window.

The beta’s arrival coincides with the termination of support for Windows 10, a milestone that leaves an estimated 240 million devices unsupported by Microsoft’s updates. Zorin’s branding leans hard into this moment, positioning OS 18 as a transition path for users whose machines are incompatible with Windows 11.

Analysts of Linux and open-source ecosystems say Zorin’s strategy mirrors that of other “Windows-friendly” distributions — combining visual familiarity, migration tools, and cloud integration to reduce switching friction. But some observers caution that the scope of support and stability in the release candidate will matter greatly. A preview from one open-source commentary warns that while layout switching and performance gains are impressive, the full system stability of core apps under real-world workloads must be proven.

In the user community, responses are cautiously optimistic. Some praise the streamlined user experience and Microsoft-style transitions, while others note caveats: the beta label implies unfinished elements, and critics say migration aids will have limits when proprietary or niche Windows software is involved. Zorin’s pro version is expected to include additional desktop layouts and design themes as part of its paid offering.