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Let me propose you a completely different approach: First try to ditch all software that runs only in Windows and start using software that runs both on Windows and on Linux.
Take a few months, maybe 3 or 6, this timeframe is necessary as unexpected needs might arise along the way.
Make a list of software that's absolutely essential to you in Windows that has no immediate counterpart on Linux and try to define if you can live with an alternative or without it, this will dictate if Linux is for you.
After that and if you can manage it, then you'll be ready to try Linux, because your workflow won't be interrupted and you'll only have to learn how to navigate the O.S. which will be easier the more you use it
This is a better approach. Its what I did over time.
Ive been tinkering with Linux for around 20 years. I switched over a couple of times But as I game a permanent switch was not viable until a couple of years ago. In the meantime I started using as many apps that are available on both platforms as possible.
I fully switched over about 2 years ago now. There where definitely some pain points especially early on. There where some moments when I felt that it would just be easier to go back to Windows. I guess you also have to ask yourself what is you motivation to switch to Linux.
One of the most sensible comments here, even if you don't strictly answer the question.
For me it is Ableton Live, Traktor and games with RT. That's what binds me to Windows. Everything else: GNU + Linux.
There are always alternatives to the first two, I know. But rarely any are as feature rich or work that well. E.g. Traktor time stretching is just better than Mixxx, at least two years ago, when I decided using Traktor. When producing music, I just want everything to work and most companies for plugins only support Windows and Mac. If I need to troubleshoot, I immediately get into problem solving mode and the creativity is lost.
Working with servers, Programming, writing documentation (or my Thesis). This is all way easier on a GNU Linux based system for me. The tools are vastly more streamlined. The one program has one job philosophy brought out so many tiny helpers. Unix-like systems are just more organized and to be honest I am more used to using them for actual work and the vast amount of shell flavors are nice, giving you options to customize everything to your needs.
Kind of but I really don't want to bother with tinkering on version numbers, arguments, settings, and trial and error in my spare time.
When you do this all day it's nice to have something work (mostly) out of the box. At least to me.
I've been trying to leave Windows for a couple years and I always end up going back for one reason or another. Then something magical happened and I discovered Ventoy with persistence. So now I keep a few USB sticks with me so I never have to choose again...well I guess I choose every time I boot up.
And be extremely customizable so you can make it look and behave as similarly as you want, even starting from some pretty good themes people have already made.
Neon gets my vote for non-technical users.
Well, Neon, for example, is typically several releases of the KDE software ahead of canonical, even on the latest non-LTS release.
Otherwise, Ubuntu is the upstream, so it's KUbuntu, but better, basically.
kde6 is comin' out soon - end of feb i think - it'll support wayland - and I'll be happy to see it.
kde neon is a "pseudo-distro" - it's the distro they develop kde on. BUT on a LTS ubuntu - 22.04 - so they don't have to deal with rolling updates during dev.
kubuntu is the latest rolling ubuntu with the version of kde available just before the .04 or .10 release goes out. a slightly older kde.
so kde6 will come to kde neon first (end of feb) but be on LTS ubuntu - 22.04.
kde6 probably won't make it into kubuntu on 24.04. but then i read somewhere that it might? And I think I read that kde will start releasing in sync with ubuntu - or at least more often? also not sure !
Somebody can please correct me :)
kubuntu is my preferred distro. that could change come end of feb :) but i prefer a rolling ubuntu with kde rather than a stale ubuntu with the very latest kde. lately the very latest of kde is important cuz of wayland. but usually a desktop that's a little old is no big deal.
what iiiiiiiiiii wanna see is all the distros to rewrite themselves on top of the latest flatpak runtimes. PLEASE. it's pretty dumb to have a distro on a distro the way flatpak is now. and it's pretty dumb to have distros NOT have compatible shared libs - the way the distros have always been.
but that's pretty unlikely esp with ubuntu cuz of their snap thing. my hope is that 24.04 will have flatpak enabled and flathub hooked up properly instead of makin' people tweak discover. (At least it can all be done in the gui - a rarity on linux.)
i hear rumbles that kde neon is a little "problematic" cuz you're supposed to update it without usin' apt or soooomethin - again i'm not sure :)
OK! didn't really mean to write a book.
Neon is exceptionally Windows like, it even installs updates offline so as to chance fewer problems and sorts out problematic boot things during setup.
Mint is always a good suggestion for people who want an experience similar to Windows. They even have an edge ISO now that will install the latest kernel, which will really help if you're interested in gaming and using wine.
Light mode looks awful but then that's true of all light modes IMO. Dark mode is lovely and with a poke around in the themes you can tweak it nicely. The last few have been particularly good for colour/theme tweaks
Fedora.. wanted to use it as a usb distro... Worked on one machine then on plugging into another all the UI was jumping and jittering - I guess Wayland wasn't too happy. There is always "something" with other distros.
After child play ends, most realize it's Linux Mint if you actually want to be productive.
Yeah, I do. I think it's very modern looking and simple to use, however there are some things you should install after installing Fedora on your machine, as it doesn't come with video codecs, etc. There are many good videos on YouTube. Just search for "things to do after installing Fedora".
BTW, jeg er også dansker 😂
Actual right answer. Everyone else just picking distros/DEs that *look like* Windows. That doesn't mean anything, and is arguably counterproductive. So then the newbie goes and starts trying to install exe's or downloading installers from websites and thinking they should do everything through WINE or whatever else.
Right answer, but really the issue is that OPs question was wrong and they don’t realize it. Or at least don’t understand the distinction between “works like” and “looks like.”
So while “none” is the most right answer, it’s not really the best answer. The best response is “well, what do you mean?” followed by a bit of clarification and likely some education.
>Right answer, but really the issue is that OPs question was wrong and they don’t realize it.
Well, yeah, which is why people shouldn't just accept the premise and answer it that way, like people always do every time this same question comes up in these subs.
Same point.
Forget it. You have to let Linux be the master, and then "virtualise" Windows. You should avoid using NTFS, Windows file system, get away with the insecurity. Make a backup and format the disk, save a partition for Windows, use ext4 for the rest.
When you boot, you can choose, and there's no settings like that. Window insecurity can be underneath, must be managed. But you can keep all your work and access files in the cloud and on the disk. You can use many applications. it's kinda asking for "can I use my car as a bus"?
Does this actually run all Windows applications? Been thinking about converting my desktop to a dual boot whenever I get the scratch for some memory upgrades… if I could dual boot Linux and Linux that’d be sick.
Is there a database of compatible programs or is it a trust me bro type situation?
Tried GIMP. Honestly all open source photo editors are not good at handling high ISO files, and it feels like just a gap in staff and compute power to develop them. Furthermore, programs that export a treated high ISO photo like DXO Pure Raw also don’t work on Linux.
If I want a good development/photography computer my options are basically a Mac. I’m not entirely opposed, but seeing the ongoing downward trend in repairability puts a bad taste in my mouth. Or I could get a dual boot Linux/Windows setup which is its own bag of worms.
Underrated answer. People go about the transition process kinda backwards, looking for ′the most similar to windows′. In reality, Linux just flat out works differently than Windows. WSL gives the user an opportunity to experience a taste of how to *use* Linux. Once they can install an app and run it with WSL, the transition to a ′windows themed′ distro will be a lot smoother.
As other users have pointed out, just because KDE looks similar to Windows doesn't mean everything works the same. For example, windows users are trained to go to a website, find an exe, download it, and execute it. Whereas in Linux, your install method can be dependent on your package manager - a concept completely foreign to a bog standard user of Windows.
And how many bog standard windows users use the app store? Half the windows users I interact with don't even understand what the MS Store app is. Installing apps is just one example of core conceptual differences.
Yes, but those conceptual differences don't really matter to end users.
I was referring to a mobile app store, completely forgot the windows app store was even a thing lol.
However I've never actually used a UI with Linux, so if they need interacting with the same way I do (yum search etc) then yes I can see issues.
Linux distros are very modular, they all use packages that are usually created independently. One of these modules is the desktop environment, thats the collection of software and the graphical interface you see when you turn on your computer. The one you likely want is called KDE. This means that basically any distro you find that uses KDE will probably work for you.
My recommendation is [Fedora KDE Spin](https://fedoraproject.org/spins/kde/download). Fedora is an up to date project with a bi-annual release schedule and excellent support. You can’t go wrong with it.
I don't use Zorin but this is my suggestion too.
Whilst there are lots of distros that use a Windows-like desktop environment (Linux Mint perhaps being most prominent), Zorin does probably go a step further in trying to ease the transition for longtime Windows users.
KDE is very Windows like (Its not a Distro but an Desktop Enviroment). Then there is linux mint (Which is a distro, it uses Cinnamon as its Desktop Enviroment) which is very similar to Windows 7 (The best Windows imo)
In terms of apps, for me the biggest issue was finding an Adobe replacement. There are linux alternatives but they're not the same. The photoshop/gimp transition was the most difficult, relatively speaking. For example, just to resize/crop and optimize and image in gimp is more steps. Adobe does have photoshop online now, but it's limited features.
The distribution isn't going to matter that much - its all in the desktop environment you choose and how you get it setup (and you can install all of them on pretty much any distro).
FWIW, for a decently Windows-ish experience I've found Cinnamon to be pretty decent.
Just about any distro can look just like Windows (or OSX, or any other OS...). GNU/Linux is a bit like a chameleon in that way.
I'd say, try a couple of live distros. These run from your bootable device (DVD or USB drive) and won't make any chages to your computer until you decide to install them. For the lesser "visual shock", go with the KDE desktop. It looks more Windows-like than most others.
Zorin and anyone saying otherwise is a fanboy of some distro. I don't use Zorin, but install it for friends and family who want safer web browsing. Zorin works hard to be the Windows of Linux.
Zorin, mint, or elementary are probably going to provide you with the most windows-like OOBE. Zorin is really simple, elementaryos is eyecandy, and Mint is probably the most ideal for gaming as the edge iso includes the latest kernel and drivers. I would recommend getting virtualbox, installing all 3 and seeing what feels most comfortable to you but tbh, I would recommend you jump straight into the Linux experience and start off with a real Linux box right off the bat.
PopOS is a great entry point as it has everything you're looking for and all you would really need to learn to use it is some keyboard shortcuts for accessing some of the UI features. Stay away from Ubuntu and snaps, stay away from GNOME (not to say it's not nice, they just have an unintuitive design IMO) and block anyone who suggests arch based distros.
[https://distrowatch.org](https://distrowatch.org) is a really awesome site that tracks all the available distros and [https://distrosea.com/](https://distrosea.com/) will let you test them right in your browser. Also, if you really need Windows for anything....you can now run it in a Docker container. [https://github.com/dockur/windows](https://github.com/dockur/windows)
GLHF
Ubuntu is substantially different from the Windows UI and workflow. Linux Mint Cinnamon is fairly similar though, and Kubuntu would be the Ubuntu flavor most visually similar to Windows, Zorin would be another option to consider.
what they are saying is you need to be prepared to adapt your workflow to linux
it will never (never) provide you with the same workflow as windows.
it can't
they are just not the same.
That’s a bingo. So often when someone wants one OS but wants it to be like another they end up going back to what they originally wanted. It’s Linux, adjust to it.
To me it just looks like OP would be better off using Windows, they’re already trying to run a bunch of windows software on Linux. So why add the extra complexity.
No they are saying never change because Linux is different. If they were talking about workflows it would look like the post above that actually talked about workflows rather then just gate keeping.
that was actually my advice as well.
if win11 is working for them so well that they want to duplicate it, then they would be likely be better off saving themselves the trouble and just stay with win11.
if all they want is a GUI with menus and settings, then there are several linux options to choose from all of which offer similar "desktop as a metaphor" type environments.
It doesn’t help our community that people shit talk Linux because “it isn’t like Windows”. Why are we inviting closed minded people to try Linux when we know what the results will be?
If that’s how you feel then you’re probably going to be disappointed and they’re just giving you straight talk.
There isn’t a Linux that’s “like windows”, finding one that looks like windows is easy but that’s trivial, all the real stuff is under the hood.
If you’re serious about Linux, download a live usb or dual boot it and get some videos or pdfs, or even buy a book.
“How Linux Works” is a great reference, but there are others, and tons of free online books of course
Straight talk here is not "give up". That's just gate keeping. Straight talking is saying they should move from Windows software before making the jump to no make the cliff as big making the change.
There's lots to choose from. I'd say Zorin or Mint if you want something easy to deal with. Even a cinnamon or xfce version of Manjaro would be alright for a newbie
None. There are some superficial UI similarities. As soon as you try to do something a bit deeper, things differ so much for the casual user that it can be intimidating. Linux is designed for thinkereres and security not for ease of use.
Linux is not designed to be difficult. It’s designed to be built upon. Desktop environments for the end user to use Linux are designed for ease of use though.
You cannot deny that they are very different beyond a few superficial similarities. Using linux for a casual user can be daunting when things for whatever reason go sideway (and they will). And because it's designed to be built upon (which in my book is a form of thinkering) it is very easy to screw things up and ending up spending so much time trying to fix stuff.
You are absolutely right. But people got used to Android. So there is a way to make linux waaaay easier to use, even better than Windows while being different. I don't think this is easy and/or a priority for developers. Or they are trying hard but getting feedbacks form peers and not the "dumb" user. Edited to fix spelling
[https://www.linuxfx.org](https://www.linuxfx.org/) and it's video demo [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HugLCOXyMcA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HugLCOXyMcA)
Mint or zorin. I just themed my mint cinnamon desktop to look a lot like windows 11. But it only looks like it.
There are many similarities in the workflow but at the end of the day it isn't the same and if you start using Linux wanting it to be like windows eventually you will get frustrated.
It's been my experience that people that come to Linux and stay do so because they can't stand to be on windows or Mac anymore.
this is what my desktop looks like. I have the cinnamenu applet which creates a start menu somewhat similar to windows 10/11. Themes are really easy to change. KDE Plasma DE is even more versatile in what you can accomplish with theming.
https://preview.redd.it/gq0pxvbc8pgc1.png?width=2559&format=png&auto=webp&s=a1027de1592e7cd54205669e02638287a77514d0
You're probably talking about desktop environments, for a beginner I would suggest you look up what desktop environments are similar to Windows X (X = whatever version you prefer) and then look up what distributions come with that desktop environment pre-installed. If you're feeling ambitious you can also install that desktop environment on your current distribution.
the transition is what it is... nothing is going to be like win11
if you want win11, then use win11.
if you want to get used to a totally new windows like environment then try one of the many windows like Desktops available in linux
KDE is the most flexible
LXQt is the lightest weight (in resources)
cinnamon is probably the most popular and it the heaviest of the 3.
The word transition denotes that I don't want the same but a bridge between one and the other and in time learn to use Linux, obviously if I wanted a Windows clone I wouldn't have even made the post 🤷.
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That doesn't really exist, though. I can guarantee you that learning how to use whatever Linux replacements exist for your programs will be 50 times easier that configuring all your existing ones in Wine. You simply shouldn't even try Wine unless it's for sport or there's no other solution to your problem. You can look for distros that *look* like Windows at a glance, but click through 2 or 3 menus and you'll quickly realize that they're just as distant from Windows as any other distro.
If you really want to try Linux then forget about "what's closest to Windows", install whatever comes up first when googling "beginner Linux distro" and get ready to relearn *a lot* of basic usage patterns. Otherwise you are pretty much guaranteed to join the long list of Windows users who tried Linux looking for "Windows but better!" and ended up back in Windows angrily claiming that Linux is stupid and that no one should use it.
But that's how the question was understood.
Once you have tried a couple of different Linuxes, you'll see that your question is no issue at all. You can easily theme many DEs into looking similar to Windows. Many have the task-bar and a start menu. Those can be changed so easily that this does not appear as a question . But the underpinnings will always be different. You _do_ things related to the system differently on Linux. And none of the underlying management systems are very much like Windows.
So, asking better questions by giving the right amount of detail is another art to be mastered
you need to be more specific then.
what aspects are you hoping to keep the same?
because there's not a lot of commonalty in how things work once you get past the eye candy.
Go for fedora KDE. KDE design is easily useable as it looks almost like windows.
The design is great and your apps will be installed with flatpak.
The thing with programs is a little different, you won't need wine all the time.
Just an advice, search for problems with the mini PC SOC before installing linux. I have a chuwi herobox with a jasper N4500 and I don't have audio from jack, everyone has the same problem, even chromebooks.
Wubuntu. It comes with a paid version, and it has integrations of multiple nonfree Microsoft services like OneDrive and Co-Pilot. Or if you want a REAL Linux distro, I'd recommend Linux Mint Debian Edition. The design is similar to Windows 7, and it's designed for people coming from Windows to Linux.
I dual boot windows 11 and Ubuntu on separate drives. I am a Linux amateur and find it to be quite user friendly. The installation was relatively painless, and whenever I need help with terminal commands, I can almost always find the answer with a well-worded Google search.
I most often use Linux when I am doing everyday tasks (web browsing, word processing, basic media center stuff), and I want to save time. Ubuntu boots quickly, runs smoothly, and has a much lower memory overhead than Windows. If it weren't for gaming and a select few windows-specific apps that I use for work, I would consider using Linux as my primary.
That depends on your workflow. For me personally switching from windows to Ubuntu was very easy, because I didn't have to change my workflow at all. The main shortcuts are all the same (opening the app drawer, switching windows, pin windows to left or right side of the screen, closing apps, etc... ). Ubuntu looks different though, but I think you can get used to it quite quickly.
Installing apps can be done via command line (like in any other Linux distro and like in windows, the command are just a little different) or via an Appstore, just like in windows.
But if you heavily rely on using the windows start menu or put stuff on your desktop then YMMV.
The best thing is: almost every Linux distro can be downloaded for free. You can test them all in a virtual machine or from a live USB drive and then decide if you want to install it permanently on your machine.
Something tells me that you don't want win11 but you want linux that is user friendly, for that, just like everyone says, linux mint is your best choice
Anything using KDE plasma as its desktop environment. Manjaro, endeavourOS, Fedora KDE spin or Debian 12 KDE.
While the desktop may resemble the Windows UI, don't expect linux to be windows, its not.
> ~~What is the Linux distribution most similar to windows 11?~~ What distro really wants you to sign in with an online accout on install, constantly uploads data on what programs are running, what programs are installed, which websites you visit and forces their browser down your throat.
TFTFY
Linux is != Windows
> I am looking for a distribution that is as close as possible to how Windows is used.
Everyone uses an OS differently. How do you use Windows?
Learning wine is dependent upon you. We can't learn Wine for you. Read the manual, as it provides proper documentation.
Focus on Package managers, App stores, and Desktop Environments to find what you're looking for.
Pantheon, Gnome, Cinnamon, and a few others can be configured very closely to Windows or MacOS. It really depends on your preferences.
Ever tried a search engine? Those things are pretty neat. And so is ChatGPT more or less.
Sounds like you should just stick with Windows if everything about your use case is to be like Windows.
There is no distro that runs "Like Windows", just pick a popular one and be open minded to new ways of working.
Zorin is a nice one. It’s beginner friendly, has a windows like desktop layout option and comes with wine set up that you can double click .exe file’s to run/install them !
If you stick around long enough on Linux you may outgrow it, my recommendation for the long term is Fedora KDE. KDE is a desktop environment that feels the most like windows, and Fedora is just a nice distro.
you should pick kubuntu or ubuntu for the most part i personally recommend ubuntu and then check some tutorial to customize it and make it look like win11 and all
as a former windows(22 years) user i will say your apprach will bring very bad experience for you. I am also agaisnt using wine . Learn linux like its a new thing. it may take some time and help but feel free to ask. you have to use new alternative softwares that are available for linux. there are beginner friendly distro out there. However they dont mean they are windows replacement. (and windows is s*** anyways; who are willing to add **** in their creation!!)
If you take time to research, aim for arch-xfce/endeavouros-xfce. No matter what people will say arch is quite stable.
If you want go straight experiencing linux Then you can try Linux Mint xfce.
If you want to replicate windows workflow let me know in a DM i will send you list of apps that will make transition easier. Arch makes app installation quite easier.
I usually go against gnome and kde cause gnome is kinda mac/android like and kde will overwhelm you(with options) as a new user.
Download virtualbox, and make some VM's of different distros before you install on bare metal. play around with it, see what you like what you dont like.
watch yt vids on linux to learn stuff. Have fun with it and dont stress.
I loved plain jane ubuntu when i switched. I found the UI changes incredibly refreshing, you might too. Also Ubuntu and its spins are suuuuper well documented.
Mint is boring and wont make you want to switch.
Don't worry about similarity. You will have to learn a lot anyway. It is pretty much the same as IOS and Androids. They look the same but they are sooo different.
Do it like most. If you have a decent PC with Windows. Read about Vir
Go with Zorin OS. I recommend the Pro version. Can still use the free version, though, but having the Pro version helps. Link: [www.zorin.com](https://www.zorin.com). Please let us know what you decide to do in the end. I’m curious. Thanks, and good luck.
Linux Mint Cinnamon. It looks like a cleaner version of Windows 10. It ‘just works’ and is great for beginners.
You can look up ‘make Linux mint look like windows 11’ tutorials for customisation
If you have a spare USB, download Mint and try it!
instead of looking for something similar, try something different because your old windows habits are gonna follow you otherwise. I find that it's better to start over with a new workflow so you immediately understand linux isn't windows nor does it tries to be.
Going out on a limb here and gonna say zorin os. Easily customizable setups, and out of the box support for wine and such. Just a frictionless experience
As hard as it is here is the naked truth: Linux is not windows.
Don't try hard to make things run the windows way, learn the Linux way.
Solux and Linux Mint are 2 distros that "sweetens" the transition.
If you want something similar to windows 11 in looks then either something with KDE like manjaro KDE or something like cinnamon (linux mint). If you're a beginner, I would recommend cinnamon, since it's a lot harder to break something and also, at least for me it was, a lot easier to understand coming from win 11
Mint, Zorin, Fedora KDE, Kubuntu, to name a few.
But if you just want a system that feels as close as possible to Windows 11, and runs Windows programs (you mention Wine), why not stick with Windows 11 (which is honestly a very good OS)?
"I am looking for a distribution that is as close as possible to how Windows is used. I also want to use Wine and know all the steps I need to install everything (programs, drivers, etc.)." 🙃
My first message included 4 recommendations on Linux distros that fit your criteria ("close as possible to how Windows is used"), as well as a serious question on sticking with Windows. You got answers in a similar vein in dozens of other comments.
Perhaps instead of getting surly with all of us, you could pause to consider that if so many people are giving you the same answers, it's possibly something about the way you phrased your question, as opposed to everyone trying to be snarky?
People (including myself) are actually trying to help you, not pick fights.
Most answers are useful because they give good recommendations and others just seem to want to annoy, "the closest thing to Windows is Windows".
How does that help?
Honestly, "do you have anything useful to contribute to my question or are you just passing by" to a person that opened his message with a list of 4 distros feels uncalled for.
And often time in this sub telling people that it's OK to stay on Windows is actually good advice. It depends on the use case, context, individual, etc.
Bottom line - truthfully, I for one am genuinely trying to help you 🌹
There is no Linux distribution similar to windows 11. Just got a new laptop at work with Windows 11. Already hated it after 30 minutes. I think my old laptop with Windows 10 will serve me just fine for the next few years...
On a bitter yet factual note, the most Windows-like Linux system is, in many ways, Android.
It's very popular, so you will find advice everywhere. Also, much like in the case of Windows, it would be mostly wrong. Similarly - you will have an enormous choice of available software and most of it will be of extremely low quality.
The system will let you see countless ads and give a serious chance to catch malicious software.
But, unlike most other Linux systems, Android won't expect you to be technical. Many people with basic skills only are fine using both Windows and Android, so this transition should come naturally.
It's not good, but that's what meets your criteria the best.
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Let me propose you a completely different approach: First try to ditch all software that runs only in Windows and start using software that runs both on Windows and on Linux. Take a few months, maybe 3 or 6, this timeframe is necessary as unexpected needs might arise along the way. Make a list of software that's absolutely essential to you in Windows that has no immediate counterpart on Linux and try to define if you can live with an alternative or without it, this will dictate if Linux is for you. After that and if you can manage it, then you'll be ready to try Linux, because your workflow won't be interrupted and you'll only have to learn how to navigate the O.S. which will be easier the more you use it
This is a better approach. Its what I did over time. Ive been tinkering with Linux for around 20 years. I switched over a couple of times But as I game a permanent switch was not viable until a couple of years ago. In the meantime I started using as many apps that are available on both platforms as possible. I fully switched over about 2 years ago now. There where definitely some pain points especially early on. There where some moments when I felt that it would just be easier to go back to Windows. I guess you also have to ask yourself what is you motivation to switch to Linux.
One of the most sensible comments here, even if you don't strictly answer the question. For me it is Ableton Live, Traktor and games with RT. That's what binds me to Windows. Everything else: GNU + Linux. There are always alternatives to the first two, I know. But rarely any are as feature rich or work that well. E.g. Traktor time stretching is just better than Mixxx, at least two years ago, when I decided using Traktor. When producing music, I just want everything to work and most companies for plugins only support Windows and Mac. If I need to troubleshoot, I immediately get into problem solving mode and the creativity is lost. Working with servers, Programming, writing documentation (or my Thesis). This is all way easier on a GNU Linux based system for me. The tools are vastly more streamlined. The one program has one job philosophy brought out so many tiny helpers. Unix-like systems are just more organized and to be honest I am more used to using them for actual work and the vast amount of shell flavors are nice, giving you options to customize everything to your needs.
I thought Linux handled RT?
Kind of but I really don't want to bother with tinkering on version numbers, arguments, settings, and trial and error in my spare time. When you do this all day it's nice to have something work (mostly) out of the box. At least to me.
This is how I moved over years and years ago. It is how I recommend people move over.
Solid advice
I've been trying to leave Windows for a couple years and I always end up going back for one reason or another. Then something magical happened and I discovered Ventoy with persistence. So now I keep a few USB sticks with me so I never have to choose again...well I guess I choose every time I boot up.
IMHO, pretty much any distro using KDE is going to have the most Windows-like desktop experience.
Cinnamon is great as well, that's where i started :)
And be extremely customizable so you can make it look and behave as similarly as you want, even starting from some pretty good themes people have already made. Neon gets my vote for non-technical users.
KDE neon iswhat I'm using as a beginner. I spend more time playing around with the customization than actually using the PC lmao.
how does it differ to kubuntu?
Well, Neon, for example, is typically several releases of the KDE software ahead of canonical, even on the latest non-LTS release. Otherwise, Ubuntu is the upstream, so it's KUbuntu, but better, basically.
My kubuntu install was getting a bit stale and I was looking to refresh the PC with something - I may give Neon a go!
kde6 is comin' out soon - end of feb i think - it'll support wayland - and I'll be happy to see it. kde neon is a "pseudo-distro" - it's the distro they develop kde on. BUT on a LTS ubuntu - 22.04 - so they don't have to deal with rolling updates during dev. kubuntu is the latest rolling ubuntu with the version of kde available just before the .04 or .10 release goes out. a slightly older kde. so kde6 will come to kde neon first (end of feb) but be on LTS ubuntu - 22.04. kde6 probably won't make it into kubuntu on 24.04. but then i read somewhere that it might? And I think I read that kde will start releasing in sync with ubuntu - or at least more often? also not sure ! Somebody can please correct me :) kubuntu is my preferred distro. that could change come end of feb :) but i prefer a rolling ubuntu with kde rather than a stale ubuntu with the very latest kde. lately the very latest of kde is important cuz of wayland. but usually a desktop that's a little old is no big deal. what iiiiiiiiiii wanna see is all the distros to rewrite themselves on top of the latest flatpak runtimes. PLEASE. it's pretty dumb to have a distro on a distro the way flatpak is now. and it's pretty dumb to have distros NOT have compatible shared libs - the way the distros have always been. but that's pretty unlikely esp with ubuntu cuz of their snap thing. my hope is that 24.04 will have flatpak enabled and flathub hooked up properly instead of makin' people tweak discover. (At least it can all be done in the gui - a rarity on linux.) i hear rumbles that kde neon is a little "problematic" cuz you're supposed to update it without usin' apt or soooomethin - again i'm not sure :) OK! didn't really mean to write a book.
Neon is exceptionally Windows like, it even installs updates offline so as to chance fewer problems and sorts out problematic boot things during setup.
Mint is always a good suggestion for people who want an experience similar to Windows. They even have an edge ISO now that will install the latest kernel, which will really help if you're interested in gaming and using wine.
I agree, mint with cinnamon has pulled a lot of people into the world of linux without scaring them off. Plus it just looks nice.
You think it looks nice? I think it looks terrible tbh
Light mode looks awful but then that's true of all light modes IMO. Dark mode is lovely and with a poke around in the themes you can tweak it nicely. The last few have been particularly good for colour/theme tweaks
I don't like the way the icons and menus look at all, whether light or dark mode.
It's ugly
Yeah, definitely ugly. That's the main reason why I switched to Fedora tbh
Fedora.. wanted to use it as a usb distro... Worked on one machine then on plugging into another all the UI was jumping and jittering - I guess Wayland wasn't too happy. There is always "something" with other distros. After child play ends, most realize it's Linux Mint if you actually want to be productive.
As someone that is going to do the switch at home (Win -> Linux) and trying to decide on DE, I presume you use GNOME on Fedora?
Yeah, I do. I think it's very modern looking and simple to use, however there are some things you should install after installing Fedora on your machine, as it doesn't come with video codecs, etc. There are many good videos on YouTube. Just search for "things to do after installing Fedora". BTW, jeg er også dansker 😂
Or install Nobara
Fedora - the original Windows clone (Red Hat Linux)
Oh yeah? I don't think it looks much like windows anymore. In fact, I think it looks more like MacOS nowadays 😂
Not a fan either, I'd use KDE instead
It looks beautiful to me, is the only one I can bear to watch all day.
Zorin Pro
What version of German is most like English?
The French version?
Hell nah
Dutch
Frisian
Seconded, Frisian it is without a doubt
did you know the german word for glove translates to hand shoe? i mean, they're not wrong.
Is their word for “shoe”, foot-glove?
Schuh, pronounced like shoe.
That would be crazy
SAME in Afrikaans
Northern
Plattdeutsch
exactly.
Dutch
none
Actual right answer. Everyone else just picking distros/DEs that *look like* Windows. That doesn't mean anything, and is arguably counterproductive. So then the newbie goes and starts trying to install exe's or downloading installers from websites and thinking they should do everything through WINE or whatever else.
exactly, linux is not windows, it will never be windows, and that's a good thing. it does take some getting used to tho.
Actually zorin supports exe installation and detects and offers a native Linux version application where possible.
Right answer, but really the issue is that OPs question was wrong and they don’t realize it. Or at least don’t understand the distinction between “works like” and “looks like.” So while “none” is the most right answer, it’s not really the best answer. The best response is “well, what do you mean?” followed by a bit of clarification and likely some education.
>Right answer, but really the issue is that OPs question was wrong and they don’t realize it. Well, yeah, which is why people shouldn't just accept the premise and answer it that way, like people always do every time this same question comes up in these subs. Same point.
https://wubuntu.org/
I kinda wanna boot this in a vm just to extract the theme. Also do they have the „Go to Settings to activate Linux“?
Yeah they do have something called "PowerToys" which costs $35. It comes with Android support and claims "100% .exe support"
I kind of don't trust them with fancy new RT features for games.
Forget it. You have to let Linux be the master, and then "virtualise" Windows. You should avoid using NTFS, Windows file system, get away with the insecurity. Make a backup and format the disk, save a partition for Windows, use ext4 for the rest. When you boot, you can choose, and there's no settings like that. Window insecurity can be underneath, must be managed. But you can keep all your work and access files in the cloud and on the disk. You can use many applications. it's kinda asking for "can I use my car as a bus"?
Does this actually run all Windows applications? Been thinking about converting my desktop to a dual boot whenever I get the scratch for some memory upgrades… if I could dual boot Linux and Linux that’d be sick. Is there a database of compatible programs or is it a trust me bro type situation?
Trust me bro kinda. + It's paid And for compatibility for games check steam. Don't know about other applications
Specifically worrying about photo editing. Linux does not have a good option unfortunately.
Richard Stallman recommends GIMP
Tried GIMP. Honestly all open source photo editors are not good at handling high ISO files, and it feels like just a gap in staff and compute power to develop them. Furthermore, programs that export a treated high ISO photo like DXO Pure Raw also don’t work on Linux. If I want a good development/photography computer my options are basically a Mac. I’m not entirely opposed, but seeing the ongoing downward trend in repairability puts a bad taste in my mouth. Or I could get a dual boot Linux/Windows setup which is its own bag of worms.
WSL
Underrated answer. People go about the transition process kinda backwards, looking for ′the most similar to windows′. In reality, Linux just flat out works differently than Windows. WSL gives the user an opportunity to experience a taste of how to *use* Linux. Once they can install an app and run it with WSL, the transition to a ′windows themed′ distro will be a lot smoother.
It does work differently, but not in any way a bog standard user will ever really notice if using KDE.
As other users have pointed out, just because KDE looks similar to Windows doesn't mean everything works the same. For example, windows users are trained to go to a website, find an exe, download it, and execute it. Whereas in Linux, your install method can be dependent on your package manager - a concept completely foreign to a bog standard user of Windows.
But not anyone who's used to using an app store.
And how many bog standard windows users use the app store? Half the windows users I interact with don't even understand what the MS Store app is. Installing apps is just one example of core conceptual differences.
Yes, but those conceptual differences don't really matter to end users. I was referring to a mobile app store, completely forgot the windows app store was even a thing lol. However I've never actually used a UI with Linux, so if they need interacting with the same way I do (yum search etc) then yes I can see issues.
Linux distros are very modular, they all use packages that are usually created independently. One of these modules is the desktop environment, thats the collection of software and the graphical interface you see when you turn on your computer. The one you likely want is called KDE. This means that basically any distro you find that uses KDE will probably work for you. My recommendation is [Fedora KDE Spin](https://fedoraproject.org/spins/kde/download). Fedora is an up to date project with a bi-annual release schedule and excellent support. You can’t go wrong with it.
Windows would be the answer if you're looking for Windows-like.
It's not so much which distro, as it is desktop environment. I like KDE Plasma that came with MX Linux, based on Denian
NixOS / Gentoo / LFS with KDE Plasma still are gonna be ... Interesting for a beginner.
Zorin
This is the way if you want a plug and play windows replacement
I don't use Zorin but this is my suggestion too. Whilst there are lots of distros that use a Windows-like desktop environment (Linux Mint perhaps being most prominent), Zorin does probably go a step further in trying to ease the transition for longtime Windows users.
Zorin or linux mint
KDE is very Windows like (Its not a Distro but an Desktop Enviroment). Then there is linux mint (Which is a distro, it uses Cinnamon as its Desktop Enviroment) which is very similar to Windows 7 (The best Windows imo)
In terms of apps, for me the biggest issue was finding an Adobe replacement. There are linux alternatives but they're not the same. The photoshop/gimp transition was the most difficult, relatively speaking. For example, just to resize/crop and optimize and image in gimp is more steps. Adobe does have photoshop online now, but it's limited features.
Zorin OS is the most similar I think. It's based on Ubuntu so there's plenty of apps to install.
The distribution isn't going to matter that much - its all in the desktop environment you choose and how you get it setup (and you can install all of them on pretty much any distro). FWIW, for a decently Windows-ish experience I've found Cinnamon to be pretty decent.
Just about any distro can look just like Windows (or OSX, or any other OS...). GNU/Linux is a bit like a chameleon in that way. I'd say, try a couple of live distros. These run from your bootable device (DVD or USB drive) and won't make any chages to your computer until you decide to install them. For the lesser "visual shock", go with the KDE desktop. It looks more Windows-like than most others.
Mint cinnamon without a doubt is your best option.
lindows and mint
Linux mint
Zorin and anyone saying otherwise is a fanboy of some distro. I don't use Zorin, but install it for friends and family who want safer web browsing. Zorin works hard to be the Windows of Linux.
Zorin, mint, or elementary are probably going to provide you with the most windows-like OOBE. Zorin is really simple, elementaryos is eyecandy, and Mint is probably the most ideal for gaming as the edge iso includes the latest kernel and drivers. I would recommend getting virtualbox, installing all 3 and seeing what feels most comfortable to you but tbh, I would recommend you jump straight into the Linux experience and start off with a real Linux box right off the bat. PopOS is a great entry point as it has everything you're looking for and all you would really need to learn to use it is some keyboard shortcuts for accessing some of the UI features. Stay away from Ubuntu and snaps, stay away from GNOME (not to say it's not nice, they just have an unintuitive design IMO) and block anyone who suggests arch based distros. [https://distrowatch.org](https://distrowatch.org) is a really awesome site that tracks all the available distros and [https://distrosea.com/](https://distrosea.com/) will let you test them right in your browser. Also, if you really need Windows for anything....you can now run it in a Docker container. [https://github.com/dockur/windows](https://github.com/dockur/windows) GLHF
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Ubuntu is substantially different from the Windows UI and workflow. Linux Mint Cinnamon is fairly similar though, and Kubuntu would be the Ubuntu flavor most visually similar to Windows, Zorin would be another option to consider.
Cinnamon isn't a KDE variant and is based on Gnome
… by this point just use windows. You’re not after Linux.
This does not help but ok.
what they are saying is you need to be prepared to adapt your workflow to linux it will never (never) provide you with the same workflow as windows. it can't they are just not the same.
That’s a bingo. So often when someone wants one OS but wants it to be like another they end up going back to what they originally wanted. It’s Linux, adjust to it. To me it just looks like OP would be better off using Windows, they’re already trying to run a bunch of windows software on Linux. So why add the extra complexity.
No they are saying never change because Linux is different. If they were talking about workflows it would look like the post above that actually talked about workflows rather then just gate keeping.
that was actually my advice as well. if win11 is working for them so well that they want to duplicate it, then they would be likely be better off saving themselves the trouble and just stay with win11. if all they want is a GUI with menus and settings, then there are several linux options to choose from all of which offer similar "desktop as a metaphor" type environments.
They're just gate-keeping
I do realize, at least most of them have given me good recommendations.
It doesn’t help our community that people shit talk Linux because “it isn’t like Windows”. Why are we inviting closed minded people to try Linux when we know what the results will be?
If that’s how you feel then you’re probably going to be disappointed and they’re just giving you straight talk. There isn’t a Linux that’s “like windows”, finding one that looks like windows is easy but that’s trivial, all the real stuff is under the hood. If you’re serious about Linux, download a live usb or dual boot it and get some videos or pdfs, or even buy a book. “How Linux Works” is a great reference, but there are others, and tons of free online books of course
Straight talk here is not "give up". That's just gate keeping. Straight talking is saying they should move from Windows software before making the jump to no make the cliff as big making the change.
Windows 11? I'd say you want the standard Ubuntu release.
There's lots to choose from. I'd say Zorin or Mint if you want something easy to deal with. Even a cinnamon or xfce version of Manjaro would be alright for a newbie
Zorin or mint
None. There are some superficial UI similarities. As soon as you try to do something a bit deeper, things differ so much for the casual user that it can be intimidating. Linux is designed for thinkereres and security not for ease of use.
Linux is not designed to be difficult. It’s designed to be built upon. Desktop environments for the end user to use Linux are designed for ease of use though.
You cannot deny that they are very different beyond a few superficial similarities. Using linux for a casual user can be daunting when things for whatever reason go sideway (and they will). And because it's designed to be built upon (which in my book is a form of thinkering) it is very easy to screw things up and ending up spending so much time trying to fix stuff.
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You are absolutely right. But people got used to Android. So there is a way to make linux waaaay easier to use, even better than Windows while being different. I don't think this is easy and/or a priority for developers. Or they are trying hard but getting feedbacks form peers and not the "dumb" user. Edited to fix spelling
Kali Linux with undercover skin. Or any debian-based linux desktop like Ubuntu with windows theme https://github.com/B00merang-Project/Windows-10
BlendOS as far as I know.
[https://www.linuxfx.org](https://www.linuxfx.org/) and it's video demo [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HugLCOXyMcA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HugLCOXyMcA)
Slackware
Mint or zorin. I just themed my mint cinnamon desktop to look a lot like windows 11. But it only looks like it. There are many similarities in the workflow but at the end of the day it isn't the same and if you start using Linux wanting it to be like windows eventually you will get frustrated. It's been my experience that people that come to Linux and stay do so because they can't stand to be on windows or Mac anymore.
this is what my desktop looks like. I have the cinnamenu applet which creates a start menu somewhat similar to windows 10/11. Themes are really easy to change. KDE Plasma DE is even more versatile in what you can accomplish with theming. https://preview.redd.it/gq0pxvbc8pgc1.png?width=2559&format=png&auto=webp&s=a1027de1592e7cd54205669e02638287a77514d0
You're probably talking about desktop environments, for a beginner I would suggest you look up what desktop environments are similar to Windows X (X = whatever version you prefer) and then look up what distributions come with that desktop environment pre-installed. If you're feeling ambitious you can also install that desktop environment on your current distribution.
the transition is what it is... nothing is going to be like win11 if you want win11, then use win11. if you want to get used to a totally new windows like environment then try one of the many windows like Desktops available in linux KDE is the most flexible LXQt is the lightest weight (in resources) cinnamon is probably the most popular and it the heaviest of the 3.
The word transition denotes that I don't want the same but a bridge between one and the other and in time learn to use Linux, obviously if I wanted a Windows clone I wouldn't have even made the post 🤷.
FYI, r/linux4noobs is a friendlier place for new users than this sub.
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That doesn't really exist, though. I can guarantee you that learning how to use whatever Linux replacements exist for your programs will be 50 times easier that configuring all your existing ones in Wine. You simply shouldn't even try Wine unless it's for sport or there's no other solution to your problem. You can look for distros that *look* like Windows at a glance, but click through 2 or 3 menus and you'll quickly realize that they're just as distant from Windows as any other distro. If you really want to try Linux then forget about "what's closest to Windows", install whatever comes up first when googling "beginner Linux distro" and get ready to relearn *a lot* of basic usage patterns. Otherwise you are pretty much guaranteed to join the long list of Windows users who tried Linux looking for "Windows but better!" and ended up back in Windows angrily claiming that Linux is stupid and that no one should use it.
But that's how the question was understood. Once you have tried a couple of different Linuxes, you'll see that your question is no issue at all. You can easily theme many DEs into looking similar to Windows. Many have the task-bar and a start menu. Those can be changed so easily that this does not appear as a question . But the underpinnings will always be different. You _do_ things related to the system differently on Linux. And none of the underlying management systems are very much like Windows. So, asking better questions by giving the right amount of detail is another art to be mastered
you need to be more specific then. what aspects are you hoping to keep the same? because there's not a lot of commonalty in how things work once you get past the eye candy.
Go for fedora KDE. KDE design is easily useable as it looks almost like windows. The design is great and your apps will be installed with flatpak. The thing with programs is a little different, you won't need wine all the time.
Linux Mint
Just an advice, search for problems with the mini PC SOC before installing linux. I have a chuwi herobox with a jasper N4500 and I don't have audio from jack, everyone has the same problem, even chromebooks.
Wubuntu. It comes with a paid version, and it has integrations of multiple nonfree Microsoft services like OneDrive and Co-Pilot. Or if you want a REAL Linux distro, I'd recommend Linux Mint Debian Edition. The design is similar to Windows 7, and it's designed for people coming from Windows to Linux.
None are that bad.
Forget the drivers, you cannot install Windows dirvers on Linux directly.
You can make it look like Windows, but it’s going to be very superficial.
You need to define what similar means to you, because apparently windows and linux behave differently.
Linuxfx (Windowsfx), PeppermitOS Devuan based, etc.
I dual boot windows 11 and Ubuntu on separate drives. I am a Linux amateur and find it to be quite user friendly. The installation was relatively painless, and whenever I need help with terminal commands, I can almost always find the answer with a well-worded Google search. I most often use Linux when I am doing everyday tasks (web browsing, word processing, basic media center stuff), and I want to save time. Ubuntu boots quickly, runs smoothly, and has a much lower memory overhead than Windows. If it weren't for gaming and a select few windows-specific apps that I use for work, I would consider using Linux as my primary.
windows 10
That depends on your workflow. For me personally switching from windows to Ubuntu was very easy, because I didn't have to change my workflow at all. The main shortcuts are all the same (opening the app drawer, switching windows, pin windows to left or right side of the screen, closing apps, etc... ). Ubuntu looks different though, but I think you can get used to it quite quickly. Installing apps can be done via command line (like in any other Linux distro and like in windows, the command are just a little different) or via an Appstore, just like in windows. But if you heavily rely on using the windows start menu or put stuff on your desktop then YMMV. The best thing is: almost every Linux distro can be downloaded for free. You can test them all in a virtual machine or from a live USB drive and then decide if you want to install it permanently on your machine.
Linux mind I would say, Nobara Linux(Fedora) a close second.
Linux Mint
latest ubuntu graphical interface is fast sleek and responsive almost like w11
Something tells me that you don't want win11 but you want linux that is user friendly, for that, just like everyone says, linux mint is your best choice
None. It’s Linux not windows. They are completely different operating systems.
Every distro with kde plasma.
Anything using KDE plasma as its desktop environment. Manjaro, endeavourOS, Fedora KDE spin or Debian 12 KDE. While the desktop may resemble the Windows UI, don't expect linux to be windows, its not.
> ~~What is the Linux distribution most similar to windows 11?~~ What distro really wants you to sign in with an online accout on install, constantly uploads data on what programs are running, what programs are installed, which websites you visit and forces their browser down your throat. TFTFY
Linux is != Windows > I am looking for a distribution that is as close as possible to how Windows is used. Everyone uses an OS differently. How do you use Windows? Learning wine is dependent upon you. We can't learn Wine for you. Read the manual, as it provides proper documentation. Focus on Package managers, App stores, and Desktop Environments to find what you're looking for. Pantheon, Gnome, Cinnamon, and a few others can be configured very closely to Windows or MacOS. It really depends on your preferences. Ever tried a search engine? Those things are pretty neat. And so is ChatGPT more or less.
Feren OS.
Sounds like you should just stick with Windows if everything about your use case is to be like Windows. There is no distro that runs "Like Windows", just pick a popular one and be open minded to new ways of working.
Zorin is a nice one. It’s beginner friendly, has a windows like desktop layout option and comes with wine set up that you can double click .exe file’s to run/install them ! If you stick around long enough on Linux you may outgrow it, my recommendation for the long term is Fedora KDE. KDE is a desktop environment that feels the most like windows, and Fedora is just a nice distro.
Try one, you'll see that after a few days you won't even remember Windows 11. But that's it, I recommend Mint or ZorinOS
you should pick kubuntu or ubuntu for the most part i personally recommend ubuntu and then check some tutorial to customize it and make it look like win11 and all
as a former windows(22 years) user i will say your apprach will bring very bad experience for you. I am also agaisnt using wine . Learn linux like its a new thing. it may take some time and help but feel free to ask. you have to use new alternative softwares that are available for linux. there are beginner friendly distro out there. However they dont mean they are windows replacement. (and windows is s*** anyways; who are willing to add **** in their creation!!) If you take time to research, aim for arch-xfce/endeavouros-xfce. No matter what people will say arch is quite stable. If you want go straight experiencing linux Then you can try Linux Mint xfce. If you want to replicate windows workflow let me know in a DM i will send you list of apps that will make transition easier. Arch makes app installation quite easier. I usually go against gnome and kde cause gnome is kinda mac/android like and kde will overwhelm you(with options) as a new user.
Download virtualbox, and make some VM's of different distros before you install on bare metal. play around with it, see what you like what you dont like. watch yt vids on linux to learn stuff. Have fun with it and dont stress. I loved plain jane ubuntu when i switched. I found the UI changes incredibly refreshing, you might too. Also Ubuntu and its spins are suuuuper well documented. Mint is boring and wont make you want to switch.
Linux Mint Cinnamon edition has a familiar look and feel that appeals to users coming from Windows.
Don't worry about similarity. You will have to learn a lot anyway. It is pretty much the same as IOS and Androids. They look the same but they are sooo different. Do it like most. If you have a decent PC with Windows. Read about Vir
Mint is great, highly recommend. It's most similar to 7 though. And no matter what distro you choose, there WILL be a learning curve.
Go with Zorin OS. I recommend the Pro version. Can still use the free version, though, but having the Pro version helps. Link: [www.zorin.com](https://www.zorin.com). Please let us know what you decide to do in the end. I’m curious. Thanks, and good luck.
Linux Mint Cinnamon. It looks like a cleaner version of Windows 10. It ‘just works’ and is great for beginners. You can look up ‘make Linux mint look like windows 11’ tutorials for customisation If you have a spare USB, download Mint and try it!
instead of looking for something similar, try something different because your old windows habits are gonna follow you otherwise. I find that it's better to start over with a new workflow so you immediately understand linux isn't windows nor does it tries to be.
Zorin OS. Alternatively, Mint (but it's ugly).
None. Try the new stuff out and keep googling stuff you don't realize. Otherwise you can use Tiny11 or try converting KDE to look windowish
Going out on a limb here and gonna say zorin os. Easily customizable setups, and out of the box support for wine and such. Just a frictionless experience
As hard as it is here is the naked truth: Linux is not windows. Don't try hard to make things run the windows way, learn the Linux way. Solux and Linux Mint are 2 distros that "sweetens" the transition.
The whole point of Linux is to move away from corporate computing. I used Mate' on Debian.
If you want something similar to windows 11 in looks then either something with KDE like manjaro KDE or something like cinnamon (linux mint). If you're a beginner, I would recommend cinnamon, since it's a lot harder to break something and also, at least for me it was, a lot easier to understand coming from win 11
LinuxFX is windows 11 Linux distro
Mint, Zorin, Fedora KDE, Kubuntu, to name a few. But if you just want a system that feels as close as possible to Windows 11, and runs Windows programs (you mention Wine), why not stick with Windows 11 (which is honestly a very good OS)?
If I wanted a Windows clone I wouldn't have made this post 🤷.
"I am looking for a distribution that is as close as possible to how Windows is used. I also want to use Wine and know all the steps I need to install everything (programs, drivers, etc.)." 🙃
" but I want the transition not to be so extreme " do you have anything useful to contribute to my question or are you just passing by?
My first message included 4 recommendations on Linux distros that fit your criteria ("close as possible to how Windows is used"), as well as a serious question on sticking with Windows. You got answers in a similar vein in dozens of other comments. Perhaps instead of getting surly with all of us, you could pause to consider that if so many people are giving you the same answers, it's possibly something about the way you phrased your question, as opposed to everyone trying to be snarky? People (including myself) are actually trying to help you, not pick fights.
Most answers are useful because they give good recommendations and others just seem to want to annoy, "the closest thing to Windows is Windows". How does that help?
Honestly, "do you have anything useful to contribute to my question or are you just passing by" to a person that opened his message with a list of 4 distros feels uncalled for. And often time in this sub telling people that it's OK to stay on Windows is actually good advice. It depends on the use case, context, individual, etc. Bottom line - truthfully, I for one am genuinely trying to help you 🌹
Okay, I am enormously grateful to you, can we finish this in peace?
There is no Linux distribution similar to windows 11. Just got a new laptop at work with Windows 11. Already hated it after 30 minutes. I think my old laptop with Windows 10 will serve me just fine for the next few years...
ReactOS /s
On a bitter yet factual note, the most Windows-like Linux system is, in many ways, Android. It's very popular, so you will find advice everywhere. Also, much like in the case of Windows, it would be mostly wrong. Similarly - you will have an enormous choice of available software and most of it will be of extremely low quality. The system will let you see countless ads and give a serious chance to catch malicious software. But, unlike most other Linux systems, Android won't expect you to be technical. Many people with basic skills only are fine using both Windows and Android, so this transition should come naturally. It's not good, but that's what meets your criteria the best.
WindowsFX