End Of 10 Replace Windows 10 With A Linux Distro

Leo Migdal

-Dec 6, 2025, 6:08 AM

end of 10 replace windows 10 with a linux distro

Windows 10, it's almost time to bid you adieu. Support ends soon, and many of those PCs simply aren't powerful enough to run the successor to what has been one of the most widely used desktop OSes on the planet. But users have choices. It's that last option -- touted by a campaign called End of 10 -- that should pique the interest of most Windows 10 users. Why? Because it makes the most sense.

End of 10 is more than just a website with an opinion. It's a movement with a digital purpose that aims to help those who aren't sure A) what to do with their Windows 10 PCs, and B) aren't sure what Linux is all about. Also: This Linux app makes sharing files to Android a breeze - here's how The End of 10 campaign states up front: "Support for Windows 10 ends on October 14, 2025." You could switch to Windows 11... or you could ditch Windows altogether.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 on Oct. 14, 2025. After that, there won't be any feature updates or security patches for your machine. The company has been pushing users to switch to devices that are ready for Windows 11, including its new Copilot+ PCs.But a small group calling itself "End of 10" has a different idea —...

The team, which includes some people involved in the Linux community and KDE project, is pushing for people to install Linux on their Windows 10 PCs, or to find someone with technical expertise to... There's also a compelling fiscal argument: installing a free, open-source operating system on your old PC is definitely cheaper than buying a new machine. End of 10 suggests that most people should be able to install Linux on their own (though it doesn't make distribution recommendations, instead suggesting that you "Search for Linux distributions for beginners" to find... If you don't have that knowledge or confidence, the group is promising that the Linux community is there to support you.The site features a list of shops and tech collectives that say they're willing... But as of this writing, the vast majority of the 43 listed places are in Germany, with most others sprinkled elsewhere throughout Europe. There's a similar case in a section filled with events dedicated to helping to install and teach Linux.

End of 10 isn't the only organization switching to Linux. Some computer charities are also giving it a shot to give people in need laptops that might otherwise end up in landfills.Windows 11 has some strict system requirements, including 8th Gen Core or more... Newer AI-focused Copilot+ laptops using chips with NPUs, including the Intel Core Ultra 200V series, AMD Ryzen AI 300 chips, and Qualcomm Snapdragon X, X Plus, or X Elite. They also require at least 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, though Windows 11 only requires 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.And while End of 10 is pointing at Linux, there have... It's not a new argument, but since the Linux community is opening its arms, perhaps it will earn a few new fans. Well, here we are.

We all knew it was coming. We had clear warnings. And now, it's finally here. Microsoft's beloved operating system, Windows 10, has reached its end-of-life date. It's weird writing that in a sombre way, because I still remember the early days of Windows 10, where Microsoft fought to get stubborn people off of Windows 8.1 and the legendary Windows 7,... Now, Microsoft is doing the same thing, except it is trying to nudge the millions of loyal users still on Windows 10 to upgrade to Windows 11.

And yes, Windows 10's market share is still quite high. But between the two Microsoft-sanctioned options of using Windows 10's extended support plan for another year of security updates and upgrading to Windows 11 is a third option: migrating to another operating system. Some XDA writers moved to macOS, while I went for Linux. Given how you can turn a fairly old Windows 10 PC into a Linux machine for free, I wanted to share what I believe is the best Linux distribution for Windows escapees. I feel like Linux Mint is often recommended for Windows users, so I tried to think of another distribution that might be a better fit. However, it's tough to think of something else that's more suitable for people leaving Windows, especially given how it was my first distro when moving away from Windows 10.

As such, I'd prefer to draw on my own personal experience of how Linux Mint was for me instead of plucking out any old distro. People recommend Linux Mint a lot because it uses Cinnamon, a desktop environment that's really easy for Windows fans to understand. All your basics are there: a Start menu look-alike, a taskbar with all the essentials arranged like Windows, and even a wallpaper that resembles Microsoft's style. The end-of-life date for Windows 10 is rapidly approaching, and the new ‘End of 10’ campaign is promoting desktop Linux as an alternative to buying a new Windows 11 computer. It’s organized by some members of the Linux community, including developers and designers from GNOME and KDE. Windows 11 has higher system requirements than Windows 10, preventing PCs with older CPUs, no TPM 2.0 support, and no Secure Boot from officially upgrading.

Microsoft still isn’t budging on those requirements, and the official recommendation for unsupported hardware is to buy a new computer. You can use workarounds to get Windows 11 on some unsupported PCs, but there’s no telling how long that will work, and staying on Windows 10 will require paying for extended support after October... Thankfully, desktop Linux still works on all those PCs that Windows 11 left behind, and the ‘End of 10’ campaign is organizing resources and events to help people make the switch. The website explains, “Microsoft wants you to buy a new computer. But what if you could make your current one fast and secure again? […] By just installing an up-to-date Linux operating system you can keep using it for years to come.

Installing a new operating system may sound difficult, but the community behind the ‘End Of 10’ is here to help! In towns and cities around the globe, there are people and places ready to lend you a hand or even install Linux for you.” Is your Windows PC working as expected—without any bugs or problems—but you still feel unsatisfied using it? Well, you don’t need one thing to be faulty to switch to another! Here’s why I switched to Linux, even though my Windows system was working fine! The project is compiling a list of repair shops, organizations, groups, and other places where you can get help with Linux.

The locations are mostly in Europe right now, but there are a few places in the United States, Brazil, India, Australia, and other countries. There’s also a growing list of upcoming events for help with using Linux—one of the US events is a Linux Mint Cinnamon demonstration with help from volunteers at the Humboldt Repair Café in Arcata,... End of 10 is also working on translations, flyers, and social media campaigns to reach as many people as possible. Your laptop or PC isn't obsolete, no matter how many times Microsoft says otherwise When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

In news unlikely to surprise anybody, Windows 10 is rapidly approaching its October 14 expiration date. That doesn't mean you'll be waking up on October 15 to a computer that no longer functions, but it does mean you'll miss out on Microsoft's technical support, feature updates, and security patches. You can probably make do with the former, but the latter will leave you, your data, your hardware, and your system integrity completely exposed to every ne'er-do-well netizen with a willingness to exploit legacy... The official solution? Upgrade to Windows 11, obviously. And if your hardware doesn't meet Windows 11's stricter requirements?

According to Microsoft, it's time to scrap your hardware and invest in one of the best laptops that comes pre-installed with Windows 11, instead. The "End of 10" group wants novice users to switch to Linux, but its various distros still lack full app and anti-cheat support. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Windows 10 hits its end-of-support date on October 14, 2025, and it's fast approaching. Despite requests and pleas from millions of users, including a Public Interest Research Group that filed a petition asking Microsoft to reconsider its decision to end support for Windows 10, citing "the single biggest...

As such, Windows 10 users are left with limited options: upgrading to Windows 11, paying up for an additional year of support through the Extended Security Updates program, or switching to another operating system... It's apparent that Microsoft wants users to upgrade to Windows 11, but its stringent minimum system requirements for the operating system are making the transition an uphill task. Many Windows 10 users may have to ditch their current, incompatible devices to buy new Copilot+ PCs or other devices loaded with Windows 11. Today we're launching "End Of 10" (endof10.org) and bringing Linux to Windows 10 users! On 14 October 2025, Microsoft will end support for Windows 10. Microsoft will no longer provide updates for the system and this will turn an estimated 200 to 400 million laptops and computers worldwide into security risks and heavily polluting e-waste.

But what if you could make your current computer fast and secure again so you can continue to use it? There is an alternative to Windows, one that is free, receives regular updates and works on nearly all devices, from most smartphones and routers, to supercomputers that predict the weather and robots on Mars. Yes, it's Linux. Linux is extremely flexible and adaptable, and it can work for you too. Linux can run smoothly on your latest laptop and on a machine from 10-20 years ago. The cheapest and most environmentally-friendly computer is the one you already own.

End Of 10 Replace Windows 10 With A Linux Distro

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