A Microsoft engineer has done what many open-source enthusiasts have attempted: create a Linux distribution that faithfully recreates the Windows 11 desktop experience. Dubbed AnduinOS, the Ubuntu-based operating system is the brainchild of Anduin Xue, who set out to build a home not just for Linux diehards but for the millions of Windows 10 users staring down the barrel of an October 2025 end-of-support deadline.

At first glance, AnduinOS looks like Windows 11. The taskbar icons, system tray, notification center, and even the rounded corners of application windows mirror Microsoft’s desktop down to the smallest detail. But underneath the familiar skin lies Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, one of the most battle‑tested Linux foundations available. The result is a drop‑in replacement that feels instantly recognizable while giving users full access to the Linux ecosystem.

What is AnduinOS?

AnduinOS is best described as a two‑layer cake. The base layer is standard Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, complete with the GNOME desktop environment, Linux kernel 6.8, and the APT package manager. On top of that sits a carefully curated collection of GNOME extensions, themes, and configuration tweaks that transform the default GNOME session into a Windows 11 lookalike.

The transformation covers virtually every surface of the desktop. The start menu—built with the ArcMenu extension—presents a two‑column layout with pinned apps on the left and a searchable all‑apps list on the right, just like Windows 11. The taskbar, enhanced by Dash to Panel, shows open applications with live thumbnail previews, a system tray filled with status icons, and a clock that opens a calendar and notification panel when clicked. Even the file manager, Nautilus, has been restyled to echo File Explorer’s ribbon‑free interface.

This is not merely a cosmetic skin, however. Xue has invested significant effort into replicating the Windows workflow. Keyboard shortcuts follow Windows conventions (Super key opens the start menu, Alt+Tab cycles through windows, Win+Tab triggers a task‑view‑like overview), and right‑click context menus mimic the Windows 11 design language with frosted‑glass transparency and rounded corners. The goal, Xue writes in the project’s documentation, was to remove the “muscle‑memory mismatch” that prevents many Windows users from making the switch.

Flatpak‑First Philosophy

One departure from a pure‑Windows experience is AnduinOS’s application delivery model. The distribution espouses a Flatpak‑first approach. Out of the box, the only graphical package manager is GNOME Software configured to pull applications from Flathub, the central Flatpak repository. Traditional Debian‑style .deb packages are still available via the command line, but the graphical interface steers users toward containerized, sandboxed applications.

The rationale is twofold. First, Flatpak apps run in isolated environments, reducing the risk of system‑wide conflicts and improving security. Second, Flathub offers a consistently up‑to‑date catalog that spans dozens of categories without relying on distribution‑specific repositories. For a newcomer coming from Windows, where downloading a .exe from a website is the norm, the Flatpak model feels like a familiar “app store” experience—albeit one that is entirely free and open source.

Popular applications such as Firefox, LibreOffice, GIMP, VLC, and Spotify are available as Flatpaks, often with first‑party support. Even Microsoft’s own Edge browser and Teams client are on Flathub, making the transition less jarring. The trade‑off is increased disk space usage (each Flatpak bundles its own dependencies), but for most modern systems the extra overhead is negligible.

Installation and First‑Run Experience

Installing AnduinOS follows the same procedure as installing Ubuntu. The ISO image—available as a direct download or via torrent—can be written to a USB stick with tools like Balena Etcher or Rufus. The Calamares installer (a departure from Ubuntu’s Ubiquity) guides users through partitioning, locale selection, and account creation with clean, wizard‑style screens that mirror the general aesthetic.

After the first boot, a welcome application launches automatically. It offers one‑click installation of proprietary media codecs, Nvidia drivers (where applicable), and a curated set of additional Flatpak apps. Users can also choose to enable the “Windows‑like layout” toggle—though this is on by default—and adjust privacy settings reminiscent of the Windows 11 OOBE.

System requirements are modest. Xue recommends a dual‑core processor, 4 GB of RAM, and 25 GB of disk space. In practice, the distribution runs comfortably on hardware up to a decade old, making it an attractive option for users whose PCs are barred from Windows 11 by the TPM 2.0 mandate or CPU compatibility list.

Windows 10 Refugees: Why the Shift Matters

Windows 10’s end of support on October 14, 2025, is the existential deadline compelling many users to explore alternatives. Microsoft’s offer of Extended Security Updates adds cost, while the hardware requirements for Windows 11 have disqualified an estimated 240 million PCs from upgrading, according to Canalys. For these stranded users, AnduinOS presents a viable escape hatch—one that doesn’t demand they learn an entirely new interface overnight.

The appeal extends beyond hardware compatibility. Privacy‑conscious users weary of telemetry and advertising in Windows may find the open‑source nature of Linux reassuring. AnduinOS ships with no data collection beyond what Ubuntu’s base system requests (which can be declined). The absence of a Microsoft account requirement for setup is another plus; users create a local account during installation and are free to connect online services later if they wish.

Customization is another draw. While Windows 11 has locked down the taskbar and start menu, AnduinOS exposes every lever. Users can move the taskbar to any screen edge, resize icons, tweak theme colors with a color picker, or even replace the Windows‑like layout entirely if they later decide to explore a more Linux‑native desktop such as vanilla GNOME or KDE Plasma.

Performance and Compatibility

Benchmarks conducted by early adopters show that AnduinOS boots to desktop in roughly 10 seconds on a NVMe SSD and consumes about 1.2 GB of RAM at idle—comparable to Windows 10 and significantly lighter than a fully‑loaded Windows 11 installation. CPU‑bound tasks such as video encoding and compilation perform within 5% of a native Ubuntu install, indicating that the theming layer introduces minimal overhead.

Gaming, a perennial concern for Linux migrants, receives particular attention. The distribution includes the latest Mesa graphics drivers and configures Vulkan support out of the box. Steam is a one‑click Flatpak install, and Proton—Valve’s Windows compatibility layer—runs many AAA titles without issue. Lutris, Heroic Games Launcher, and Bottles are also available for managing non‑Steam games. Anti‑cheat compatibility remains a sore spot for some multiplayer titles, but the situation is no worse than on any other Linux distribution.

Peripheral support tells a similar story. Printers, webcams, and Bluetooth devices that function under Linux kernel 6.8 are detected automatically. Nvidia GPU owners can install the proprietary driver during the welcome setup to enable full 3D acceleration and CUDA support. For hardware that lacks open‑source drivers—certain Wi‑Fi chipsets, for example—the Ubuntu repositories provide an escape hatch via DKMS modules.

Landscape of Windows‑Like Linux Distros

AnduinOS does not exist in a vacuum. Zorin OS has long offered Windows‑style layouts with its premium “Zorin Appearance” tool. Linux Mint’s Cinnamon desktop ships a classic Windows 7‑era taskbar and start menu. Windowsfx (formerly Linuxfx) goes so far as to clone Windows 11’s visual style down to the system icons and even bundles Wine, a Windows compatibility layer, to run .exe files directly.

What sets AnduinOS apart is its singular focus on faithfully replicating Windows 11, specifically, and pairing that with a Flatpak‑first software strategy. Zorin OS’s Windows 11‑like layout is one of several options and requires the paid “Pro” version for the most polished variant. Linux Mint’s Cinnamon feels closer to Windows 7 or 10 than to Windows 11. Windowsfx has faced criticism for relying on proprietary theming engines and including questionable telemetry. AnduinOS, by contrast, is built entirely from open‑source components and maintained by a single developer whose day job at Microsoft gives him unique insight into the Windows design language.

The project’s transparent build process is another differentiator. Xue publishes all configuration files and extension settings on GitHub, allowing technically inclined users to audit—or replicate—the Windows‑like environment on vanilla Ubuntu. This openness has already spawned community‑driven derivatives tailored for other Ubuntu flavors and even Arch Linux.

Potential Drawbacks

No operating system transition is without friction. The most obvious limitation is software compatibility. Specialized Windows‑only applications—particularly those from Adobe, Intuit, or niche vertical markets—will not run natively. Workarounds involving Wine, a Windows virtual machine, or cloud‑based streaming can narrow the gap, but they add complexity that some users may find off‑putting.

Peripheral lock‑in can also rear its head. While core hardware works well, less‑common devices like fingerprint readers, RGB lighting controllers, or proprietary docking stations may lack Linux drivers. AnduinOS inherits Ubuntu’s hardware compatibility list, which is broad but not exhaustive.

The Flatpak‑first model, while user‑friendly, has its critics. Some applications distributed as Flatpaks behave slightly differently than their native counterparts—them integrations, file‑picker behavior, and access to system resources can vary. Additionally, the larger disk footprint may be a concern for systems with limited storage.

Finally, the project’s long‑term viability rests heavily on a single maintainer. While Xue has indicated plans to update AnduinOS in sync with Ubuntu LTS point releases and to maintain the GitHub repository for the foreseeable future, the risk of bus‑factor fatigue is real. Users considering a permanent migration should weigh the robustness of the underlying Ubuntu base against the potential for the Windows‑like layer to fall behind.

Early Community Reception

Although the distribution is new, early feedback from forums and social media has been largely positive. Windows 10 refugees in particular praise the familiar aesthetics and the ability to keep their existing hardware in service. “My parents didn’t even notice I swapped out Windows,” one Reddit user reported. Another wrote, “It’s the first Linux I’ve tried where I didn’t immediately go hunting for the command line.”

Linux veterans are more divided. Some applaud the pragmatic approach to onboarding Windows users, while others dismiss the project as a “theme pack” that teaches bad habits and obscures the underlying operating system. Xue has acknowledged this tension in community posts, stating that his goal is not to convert everyone to a Linux power‑user mentality, but to give people a choice they didn’t have before.

Reviews in the technology press have been measured but intrigued. Publications highlight the professionalism of the theming and the thoughtful attention to Windows‑specific interactions, though they caution readers that the distribution remains a one‑man show.

The Road Ahead

Looking forward, Xue’s roadmap includes tighter integration with Microsoft’s own Linux offerings (such as Edge, Teams, and PowerShell), improved multi‑monitor handling to match Windows 11’s window‑snapping features, and a “dark mode” toggle that synchronizes across Flatpak and native applications. He is also exploring a “S mode” variant that would further lock down the system to Flatpak‑only installations, mimicking the restricted environment of Windows 10 in S mode for education and enterprise use.

Whether AnduinOS can sustain momentum beyond the 2025 Windows 10 sunset remains an open question. The distribution enters a crowded field where even established alternatives like Ubuntu and Fedora are marginal in desktop market share. But the combination of a Windows 11‑authentic interface, the strength of the Ubuntu LTS base, and a low‑friction application delivery model may be just the formula that persuades millions of PC users to give Linux a serious try.

For the Windows 10 refugee who just wants their computer to keep working the way they expect it to, AnduinOS makes a compelling case that the future can look a lot like the past—only freer.