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Upgrade directly and keep your existing files, apps and settings. Available for testing today.
We are delighted to announce that Zorin OS 18 has been collected 1 million downloads in just over a month since its release, breaking all previous records.
The response from users, technology reviewers and creators around the world has been incredible:
“Zorin OS 18 is indeed very polished and an excellent choice for those looking to migrate from Windows…”
– Explain computers
“All in all, the ZorinOS team has taken a great Linux desktop operating system and made it even better.”
– ZDNET
“I really, really like Zorin Appearance… I thought it was a great feature for people coming from Windows.”
– XDA Developers
“Zorin OS is an outstanding choice for ex-Windows users… It’s one of the best free Linux variants that actually feels like Windows”
– PC World
Learn more about what’s new in Zorin OS 18 ›
What is even more encouraging is that over 78% of these downloads came from Windows. This influx of new users reflects our mission to provide a better alternative to the established desktop operating systems of Big Tech.
We’d like to take this moment to say a big thank you to everyone who downloaded, shared and supported our biggest release ever. Your enthusiasm is what drives us to make Zorin OS even better!
Upgrades from Zorin OS 17 to 18
We are also excited to announce that we are officially launching upgrades from Zorin OS 17 to 18 today.
This upgrade path is in early testing and is currently only available to users of the Zorin OS 17 Core, Education, and Pro expenditure. By upgrading now, we will gather feedback and fix bugs to improve the user experience before its full stable launch in the coming weeks.
This upgrade path is designed to allow existing Zorin OS 17 users to upgrade their computers directly to Zorin OS 18, without reinstalling the operating system. This means you’ll be able to keep your files, apps, and settings, all while taking advantage of the new features and improvements in Zorin OS 18.
How to upgrade from Zorin OS 17 to 18 (in testing)
Warning: This upgrade path is not yet recommended for production machines. Upgrading during the trial period may cause stability issues or crashes on your system.
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Please back up the important files on your computer to an external drive or cloud storage service to prevent data loss. See how to back up your files ›
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Install the latest software updates by opening the Zorin menu → System Tools → Software Update and following the on-screen instructions.
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Open the Zorin menu → Utilities → Terminal and enter this command:
gsettings set com.zorin.desktop.upgrader show-test-upgrades true -
Follow the instructions in phase 3 of this guide to complete the upgrade process.
After the testing period is completed in the coming weeks, this upgrade option will be available to all Zorin OS 17 users through the Zorin OS upgrade app. Stay tuned to our newsletter to be the first to know when upgrades are enabled for everyone.
