A Microsoft engineer made a Linux distro that's like a comfort blanket to ex-Windows users — I finally tried it, and I'm surprised how good it is

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AnduinOS is the brainchild of Anduin Xue, a software engineer at the company famous for not building Linux distros. It's not Windows, but it has that familiarity.

AnduinOS desktop environment running on a laptop.
AnduinOS isn't a straight-up visual clone of Windows 11, but it feels familiar. (Image credit: Windows Central)

There's been an increase in talk of Linux in recent times. Be that the expansion of SteamOS beyond the Steam Deck, or, more contentiously, in relation to the end of life (but not really, now) of Windows 10.

It reminded me of something that emerged a little while ago that I had yet to have a proper look at. So I'm rectifying that, today.

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AnduinOS isn't a carbon copy of Windows, but it has that familiarity

Aside from Edge in place of Firefox, this is the desktop greets you on first installation of AnduinOS. (Image credit: Windows Central)

The most obviously striking thing about AnduinOS is its similarity in appearance to Windows 11. Naturally, it's not an exact likeness, but it's familiar, right down to the weather widget in the lower left corner.

The 'Start Menu' is centralized, opens up into a box as it does on Windows 11, and the All Apps list is just that, a list. The widgets in the bottom right also have a Windows-esque feel to them.

This is, of course, by design. But putting myself in the shoes of someone who might be trying this having decided to try something that isn't Windows, it's reassuring.

It's like draping a comfort blanket around yourself. Not in the least bit overwhelming.

The inclusion of a stock weather widget on the taskbar, just like you get on Windows, is a nice touch. (Image credit: Windows Central)

The beauty of Linux is that if you have the knowhow, you can make it look and behave pretty much however you want it to. If you were driven to make it look even more like Windows 11, there's almost certainly a way.

What's nice about AnduinOS — and it doesn't just apply to this distro anymore — is that you could pick it up having been a Windows user and just get right to it. Things live in the same places, and for the most part, it feels similar to Windows to use.

When it originally released, it didn't have an app store, but now it does. With Flatpak built in as standard, and the stock software 'store' you can pretty much install what you need without touching the terminal. The same goes for updates.

That includes Microsoft Edge, which is the same browser you'd get on Windows 11.

Of course, it's Linux, so it does have a terminal. But if you're a beginner, you don't have to suddenly become a command line pro in order to use AnduinOS.

What makes AnduinOS tick underneath

You won't find all your Windows apps, but you can find some of them. (Image credit: Windows Central)

AnduinOS' mission statement reads as:

"AnduinOS is a custom Ubuntu-based Linux distribution that aims to facilitate developers transitioning from Windows to Linux by maintaining familiar operational habits and workflows."

It's doing this by using some of (though opinions always differ) the most beginner-friendly bits of Linux. Underneath it's Ubuntu, the place many new users start out, and the desktop environment is built using GNOME.

Ultimately it's easy to use, but also customizable, and should be stable. There are also two different versions, one an LTS with support until 2029, and one based on a more current rolling release.

The ISO for AnduinOS is also pretty darn small. Under 2GB small. It's not heavy on resources, either, so should be good on older and lower powered hardware. I've been trying it out in a modestly equipped VM, and it's been snappy and just an overall joy to use.

A great place to start with Linux

If you currently develop using VSCode on Windows, you can get straight on with it in AnduinOS, too. (Image credit: Windows Central)

I really do feel like being built by someone who works at Microsoft has given AnduinOS a little extra credibility as an alternative to Windows.

It's easy to use, will run well on a huge range of hardware, and if you so desire, can be tweaked and extended accordingly.

Despite being built by a solo developer, too, the documentation is extensive and simple to follow if you want to get a little more out of your setup. Including gaming.

If you've been thinking of trying Linux, you could do a lot worse than trying AnduinOS first.

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Richard Devine
Richard Devine
Managing Editor

Richard Devine is the Managing Editor at Windows Central with over a decade of experience. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found in the past on Android Central as well as Windows Central. Currently, you'll find him steering the site's coverage of all manner of PC hardware and reviews. Find him on Mastodon at mstdn.social/@richdevine

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All Comments

    1. Comment by Oogerbooger.

      I can't be the only one that read comfort blanket and thought windows 10 right?

      • Comment by Joni Sin.

        why windows, I would like Linux distro that look and work like NextStep.

        • Comment by Gary Camp.

          I would rather it looked/acted like Win10 as it is Win11 I dont want. Well, I also dont want all the ads, 365, rent/not buy, Cloud, BSOD, etc,etc.

          • Reply by Karl Hendrikse.

            Yep, I'd be interested in this but if "be like Windows 11" is the goal then that entirely defeats the purpose of dropping Windows in the first place.

          • Reply by Philip.

            Probably focused on the user who wants 11 but locked out due to hardware restriction

        • Comment by Bradley Schwartz.

          > The 'Start Menu' is centralized, opens up into a box as it does on Windows 11, and the All Apps list is just that, a list.

          I'm already uninterested.

          • Comment by wheelbarrel.

            Love this! As a lifetime Windows user, I made the full switch to Linux about a year ago. For years, I was dual-booting different Linux distros alongside Windows, but I finally made the permanent switch and will never look back, lol.

            I'm currently using Bazzite OS because I'm a hardcore gamer, and it's a fantastic gaming distro. Bazzite is an immutable OS, but you can easily install software with Flatpak. Plus, it comes with NVIDIA drivers pre-installed, and updates for NVIDIA come with system updates. I use Lutris to install and play non-Linux games. Most installations do take a little configuration, but I've yet to run into a game that wouldn't install, and the games run as smooth as silk. The configuration is quite simple for most games, and between the pros on Linux forums and AI to help guide you, it's only a matter of time before you become fluent in Linux! Bazzite OS is well maintained, and just absolutely a gorgeous OS.

            AnduinOS is Ubuntu-based, so it would be easier than most for installing and playing games not natively compatible with Linux. There's a ton of support out there for those looking to make the switch and enter the world of Linux gaming. I may dool boot this OS just to give it a go, and see if it gives me windows PTSD lol

            • Comment by Naott.

              Great, but honestly I don't see myself using Linux primarily as a main OS no matter how much you make it look like Windows.

              Before you say it, I tried Linux (openSUSE, something easy but different than the typical Mint) and even though it was cool, it just didn't feel like it for me. I'm staying on Windows 10.

              • Comment by musicmatchyes.

                Please, No copilot, No win 11 as it is a waste of time! No placing junk on my screen saver or log in screen! Stop windows from disabling drivers, we use our printer and USB drives. Also, stop forcing cloud. Don't want it and don't need it! No cortona wasting my time and equipment.

                I own my equipment. I have switched 3 of my computers to Linux Mint and will be removing windows 11 from our brand new laptop. Spent 1.5 hours saying no to usless Installation questions to only be greeted to your junk anyway.

                • Comment by Paul.

                  Still prefer to stick with linux mint debian édition, works first time every time. Looks a lot like windows 7 so easy move for new users. Just a few colour changes.

                  • Comment by Chris.

                    We already have Ubuntu (Windows clone Linux). I remember when you could easily install or uninstall it with Wubi (security blanket).

                    • Reply by Joom.

                      I take it you don't actually use Linux, because Ubuntu is one of the furthest from being a Windows clone. You might be thinking of Zorin, which is an Ubuntu fork designed to look like Windows, but absolutely nothing about Ubuntu itself functions or even looks like Windows. Also, WUBI was failure tech that constantly broke the BCD. This is why it was gutted. It did more harm than good.

                    • Reply by Mayo.

                      Totally agree. Ubuntu is what I recommend to Apple users.

                  • Comment by Ryan Waldron.

                    Problem is it will have no support and will be dead in a year. If you want to use Linux, stop using fly by night nobody distros and use a mainstream distro with a community that will support it like Fedora, Mint or Ubuntu. If you can't handle the switch to one of those, go use windows and stop trying to make Linux like it!

                    • Reply by Joom.

                      Why do you care? The beauty of Linux is that you can do whatever you want with it. The entire philosophy behind it is making your computer comfortable to use. Why should people ditch their comfort for you? Also, people said the same thing about Mint when it first came onto the scene. That it's just a gimmick distro, and that it'll never pick up in popularity when people could just use Canonical backed Ubuntu. Pop!_OS is another perfect example of this, and now the company behind it has introduced the third desktop stack (COSMIC) to ever exist for Linux. You know what prevents a distro from falling into obscurity? When people don't listen to others like you, and build a community around the OS they chose to install.

                    • Reply by Richard Devine.

                      M

                      Not necessarily. Proton GE and Nobara started as the brainchild of one person. Not trying to be too serious here, a Microsoft engineer has done something cool, finally got round to taking a look at it. I'll be sticking with Fedora myself, doesn't make interesting topics any less interesting.