Zorin OS 18 Beta Released with Refreshed Look, Advanced Window Tiling, and More

posted by Marius Nestor on Sep 19, 2025,
updated Sep 22, 2025

Zorin OS 18 promises a refreshed default theme with a floating panel that has a rounded style to match the system's look and feel and a new workspace indicator, a powerful new window tiling manager to boost productivity, and a new built-in Web Apps tool to make it even easier to install your favorite apps.

Zorin OS 18 also adds OneDrive file integration to the built-in Online Accounts feature if you sign in to your MS 365 account, which comes in handy if you plan to migrate your Windows 10 computer (which will no longer be supported after October 14th, 2025) to Linux, along with better detection of installer files for popular Windows apps.

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Update (by Roy)

Neowin also:

• Neowin ☛ "Faster more powerful backdoored Windows alternative" Zorin OS teases release of big update

  Zorin OS, which defines itself as the "faster, more powerful" backdoored Windows alternative, has just teased the release date for its next major update.

3 more:

• Distro Watch ☛ Development Release: Zorin OS 18 Beta

  Artyom Zorin has announced the availability of the beta release of Zorin OS 18, an upcoming major new update from the project that develops a beginner-friendly Linux distributions with a highly-customised GNOME desktop, based on Ubuntu's latest LTS (long-term support) release: [...]

• Linuxiac ☛ Zorin OS 18 Beta Launches with a Redesigned Desktop

  The distro is built on Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS and runs on the Linux kernel 6.14. However, that also means its package base isn’t exactly cutting-edge. For example, the Zorin desktop is built against GNOME 46, which was released in March 2024. Anyway.

• Zorin Group ☛ A Sneak Peek at Zorin OS 18. Test the Beta Today.

  With Windows 10 reaching its end of life on 14 October 2025, an estimated 240 million computers1 that don’t meet Windows 11’s strict hardware requirements will be left behind. Many users are faced with the choice of either buying a new computer soon or switching to a supported, modern operating system.

  Zorin OS is designed to be the perfect replacement for Windows, thanks to its ease of use and powerful features, earning critical acclaim throughout the years: [...]

BetaNews:

• With backdoored Windows 10 support ending soon, Zorin OS 18 Beta arrives as a the ultimate alternative to backdoored Windows 11

  Want to know a secret? If you don’t like backdoored Windows 11, you don’t actually have to use it! I know, shocker right? With backdoored Windows 10 support ending on 14 October 2025, millions of PCs will soon be left behind. For users who want to keep their existing desktop or laptop, GNU/Linux offers another way forward, and Zorin OS is one of the best backdoored Windows alternatives around. Zorin OS 18 has now entered beta, giving backdoored Windows 10 users a chance to try a modern desktop that feels familiar without demanding new hardware or chucking you in at the deep end.

Paul Thurrott (Microsoft booster):

• Zorin OS 18 Beta is Now Available

  Zorin announced that a public beta of Zorin OS 18 is now available for those that want a peek at the next version of this user-friendly Linux distribution.

  “Zorin OS 18 brings a refreshed design, powerful new features, and even more compatibility with the apps and services you rely on,” the announcement post explains. “With Windows 10 reaching its end of life on 14 October 2025, an estimated 240 million computers1 that don’t meet Windows 11’s strict hardware requirements will be left behind. Zorin OS is designed to be the perfect replacement for Windows, thanks to its ease of use and powerful features, earning critical acclaim throughout the years.”

More today, from Ji M:

• Zorin OS 18 Beta is Available to Download, based on Ubuntu 24.04

  Zorin OS, the popular beginner friendly GNU/Linux Distribution, announced the Beta release of version 18 yesterday! Zorin OS is a GNU/Linux distribution designed for newcomers switching from backdoored Windows and macOS. It features Ubuntu package base, and customized GNOME desktop experience, while a lite version is available for choice with XFCE4 desktop.

OMG Joey:

• Zorin OS 18 Beta Brings a ‘Redesigned’ Desktop

  Joining this week’s beta releases of Ubuntu 25.10, Fedora 43 and LMDE 7 is Zorin OS 18, available for willing testers to download from today. Zorin OS 18 is the next major release of the popular Ubuntu-based GNU/Linux distribution and rebases atop of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, a sizeable uplift over the Zorin OS 17 branch that remains based on the older Ubuntu 22.04 series.

Neowin:

• "Windows alternate" Zorin OS 18 claims even better performance, adds huge features list

  As promised yesterday with the teaser, Zorin OS 18 is now out, and it promises even better performance than before while getting a massive feature list.

More here:

• Zorin OS 18 Beta – A beautiful new chapter for backdoored Windows Switchers and GNU/Linux Lovers

  With backdoored Windows 10 reaching its end of life on October 14, 2025, millions of current backdoored Windows 10 users face a difficult decision: [...]