The clones of Windows: 6 Linux distros that tried to copy Microsoft’s style

Published Aug 21, 2026, 12:30 PM EDT A technology enthusiast, Bobby studied Computer Science at the University of Southampton before working in a number of roles across industries, from the private sector to the charitable one, at multinationals and startups. He’s helped maintain backend Java servers, designed databases and front-end interfaces, and created a bespoke content management system. Bobby also enjoys video gaming, and has written for several outlets, including a stint as Editor-in-Chief at Switch Player Magazine and contributions to online magazine, SUPERJUMP. Bobby uses a Mac for day-to-day work and an Android phone for distractions. Whether you admire it or despise it, Windows’ style is often imitated by competitors, including some Linux distributions. A familiar look and feel can help new users adapt to a new system, and this is especially important when changing such a fundamental part of the experience as an OS. These distros go all-in, unashamedly mimicking Microsoft’s style one way or another. From task bars to start buttons and “My Computer,” you’ll find it all here. Linux Mint A unique desktop environment that makes Windows users feel at home One of the most popular distros of modern times, Linux Mint uses its own Cinnamon desktop environment by default. Derived from GNOME, it has diverged from it significantly, and it’s probably the best graphical shell for newcomers due to its Windows-like familiarity. When you first boot up Mint, you’ll see a taskbar along the bottom, an imitation of the classic Start button, and a system tray on the bottom right. These elements are common fixtures across many different desktops, but Mint positions them exactly where seasoned Windows users would expect. Meanwhile, that start menu includes a search bar, an alphabetical app list, and pinned favorites. In fact, the only thing it’s missing is something you probably don’t want in the first place: ads and promotions! Kubuntu A friendly graphical shell meets a stable and popular distro Kubuntu is a variant of Ubuntu that replaces the default GNOME Shell desktop with its main competitor, KDE Plasma. Like Cinnamon, Plasma keeps you firmly in your comfort zone if you’re used to Windows, with a taskbar, app launcher, and system tray running along the bottom of your screen. Kubuntu is less popular than stock Ubuntu, although it beats out other flavors—like Lubuntu and Xubuntu—in DistroWatch’s rankings. Plasma’s graphical customization features are easy to work with, while its core apps and online support may just convince you to ditch Windows for good. Linuxfx / Wubuntu / Winux A dubious option that’s best avoided Credit: Winux Operating System Time to throw a curveball into the mix: Winux. Actually, maybe that should be Wubuntu. Or Linuxfx. This distro is so quirky that even its name is a bit unclear; it also calls itself Winux 11, on occasion, in a pretty blatant bid to associate itself with Windows. Winux is so similar to Windows that, on first look, you’d be forgiven for confusing the two. While Mint and Kubuntu apply a broad approach to their imitation, Winux makes no bones about it: it’s practically a carbon copy, even down to the near-identical wallpaper. Winux also pre-configures Wine so that it can run Windows software out of the box, maintaining the illusion. Sadly, underneath this convincing veneer is a distro that’s little more than Ubuntu with custom icon and desktop themes. The name changes imply chaos behind the scenes, quite possibly linked to trademark concerns, and the attempts to upsell proprietary add-ons aren’t very encouraging. In all honesty, this is one that’s best left alone. AnduinOS Featuring GNOME forced to look like Windows 11 Can anyone be better qualified to create an homage to Windows than an ex-Microsoft employee? If your answer to that is “no,” then you might want to check out AnduinOS from Anduin Xue. Unlike the distros we’ve seen so far, AnduinOS uses GNOME as its desktop environment, but it styles it to look very much like Windows 11 with extensions and custom themes. This approach ensures familiar elements are present: a centered taskbar, start menu, and taskbar widgets. AnduinOS 2 ships with its own app store, which provides a curated, one-click installation process for a friendly experience. Zorin OS A lifeline for users of older hardware or anyone disillusioned with Windows According to its developers, nearly one million Windows users sought refuge in Zorin OS within a month of its release, which coincided with Windows 10’s end of life. Linux’s excellent support for legacy hardware means that, when commercial enterprise abandons older tech, the open-source platform can pick up the slack. Zorin OS offers a smooth, polished experience with fancy graphics and responsive animations that make for a cohesive desktop experience. With convenient shortcuts, advanced window tiling, and powerful tray icons, it has all the little touches you’d expect to make up a professional desktop experience. For Windows users, Zorin’s standout feature may be its database of Windows app installer files. Open one of these on Zorin OS, and you’ll get useful directions on how to install it: by downloading a native Linux version, for example, or using a recommended Linux alternative. Coupled with excellent office software—LibreOffice is getting better and better—this is an excellent option for a polished, feature-complete, user-friendly distro. Q4OS For retro fans who want to relive the XP glory days And if you’re looking for a distro that’s even more capable when it comes to aging hardware, go no further than Q4OS. This distro originates with the fallout from Windows XP’s end of support, way back in 2014. Taking a look at this distro, it’s obvious what Q4OS is going for: an incredibly faithful reproduction of Windows XP. Underneath the hood, of course, it’s still Linux, but its Trinity desktop promises support for machines with as little as 512MB of RAM and 6GB of storage space, on top of support for 32-bit i386 processors as slow as 500MHz. Q4OS is clearly aimed at a niche market of enthusiasts or those who are genuinely restricted by low-powered hardware. But its commitment to the cause is to be applauded and, across all versions of Windows, it’s probably the most accurate impersonation you can get. Homesick for Windows? Linux has you covered With plenty of options alongside those presented here, there’s every opportunity to stick with the Windows look if that’s what you’re after. But there are plenty of beautiful Linux distros to choose from, and endless tweaking potential, from desktop environments to window managers.