Switching to Linux in 2026: Why I Finally Left Windows for Good

I’m not opposed to AI, but I want to be able to choose when and where to use it. I don’t have a wish for it to be a part of my operating system.  This is why using Windows is a major downer right now and why many think of switching to Linux instead.

We get Copilot included in things that we really don’t need. The latest silly example is how Copilot was included in Notepad and Paint. Microsoft, on its own, has set out to make itself alienated from the user base.

They are creating things that could potentially be useful. But for whom? The average user does not need to have Copilot showed into every part of their system. 

Many users have probably noticed that if you use Edge, you will get Copilot included. This could be both a good and a bad thing. If you need it to search, sure, use it. I have used Copilot on my own as well. and it has its uses.

For many of us, Windows became the default OS just because it was already installed on the device you bought. Why would you then consider there being other options? Perhaps you haven’t, until now. 

Windows is becoming a suite of tools I didn’t ask for, in a system I can no longer tune out.

The Reality of Modern Windows: Ads, Tracking, and Becoming the Product

It’s not just Microsoft that steals your data with or without your consent. Other companies do this too. The latest being Google, which has stolen your information for years—or rather, you provided information to them for years.

They are the greatest search engine. And there is a reason why their AI models are getting so good. They have a vast amount of data that they’ve trained their models on. The problem is that it hasn’t really asked for consent. And this is the same thing that Microsoft is doing right now. 

Windows Recall – a privacy nightmare

One feature that I will avoid as the plague is the recall feature on paper. It could be good. It takes backups of things for you. So that is something positive. The problem is that it takes screenshots and saves data that it really shouldn’t keep.

And where’s the state of being sent? And what if someone intercepts your data in transit? Somewhere, getting a full view of your credit card numbers, your passwords, and other things that you may not want to share.

This is where privacy becomes a concern, and this is where leaving Windows isn’t such a bad thing after all. 

AI features shouldn’t come at the cost of basic system security. If a tool opens a back door for malware, it’s a liability, not an upgrade.

While Recall has been rebuilt and is now an optional setting, researchers have found that exploits can still bypass the protections put in place. One such way is by using TotalRecall, where cyber researcher Alexander Hagenah demonstrated that: 

When you use Recall normally, TotalRecall Reloaded silently holds the door open behind you and then extracts what Recall has ever captured. That is precisely the scenario Microsoft’s architecture is supposed to restrict.

Alexander Hagenah

The year of Linux?

You may have seen it all over the internet: this is the year of Linux. In some ways, this may be true; I think more and more users have been fed up with it. Microsoft is doing and how they are implementing things. This year, I finally had enough and joined the movement by switching to Linux.

Last year, I got fed up and installed a Linux dual-boot on my desktop home computer during the autumn, last week or so. I decided that this was the final Goodbye to Windows, at least at home.

In my profession, I work with Windows devices on a daily basis since I work in IT support. But I don’t need to have it at home.

⚠️ Warning: If you are dual-booting Linux alongside an existing Windows installation, be aware that major Windows feature updates have a notorious habit of overwriting the GRUB boot loader. Keep a live Linux USB handy so you can easily repair the boot menu if Windows locks you out of your Linux partition after an update.

The Hidden Cost of ‘Free’ Operating Systems and Apps

As many know, if you don’t know, the price or if something is free. And if you don’t see any ads, then you are the product. Google is the prime example of this. Many of their things are free. Gmail is free, using Google Docs is free, and so is using Google Sheets. The hidden cost? You share or have been sharing your data, whether you like it or not. 

While Google maintains that they don’t scan your private Docs or Gmail to serve you ads, the broader ecosystem tracks your search habits, location data, and public contributions to train its AI models. If a service is free, your aggregate digital footprint is always part of the transaction.

If the product is free, your habits, data, and privacy are the currency.

Alternative operating systems: Switching to Linux for privacy first

What about Linux? This is free, too, right? So switching to Linux is completely free? Yes and no. There are paid-for distributions or versions thereof, but the difference is massive: even on a completely free version of Linux, you get all the features from the start without sacrificing your data privacy.

Here is how the three most popular beginner choices stack up:

Linux Distribution	Visual Style	Best Suited For	Cost
Ubuntu	Modern, unique layout	General beginners & developers	100% Free
Zorin OS	Familiar Windows/macOS clone	Switchers who want zero UI friction	Free (Core) / Paid (Pro)
Linux Mint	Classic, traditional desktop	Users wanting lightweight stability	100% Free

• Ubuntu is completely free for desktop use and boasts massive community support. It is backed by Canonical, meaning there is an actual enterprise supporting and building the desktop. It’s a rock-solid, beginner-friendly distribution if you are completely new to the ecosystem.

• Zorin OS is another fantastic choice with a familiar look and feel if you’re coming from Windows or macOS. The Core version is free, but Zorin also offers a Pro version. The Pro tier includes premium desktop layouts, making it incredibly easy to clone a macOS or Windows 11 interface in just a few clicks.

• Linux Mint—the version I ultimately landed on—is brilliant for beginners. If you don’t want to spend too much time configuring things post-installation, this distribution is for you. While it isn’t quite as visually modern out of the box as Zorin OS, it offers a beautifully minimal, old-school desktop design that just works.

The Real Issue: Choice, Consent, and Ownership

As a consumer, I would always prefer an upfront price. I want to know exactly what I am paying for and exactly where my data is going.

You might think you have nothing to hide, but that completely misses the point. The core issue isn’t about secrecy—it’s about control. You should be the sole arbiter of what you share, when you share it, and with whom.

Privacy isn’t about hiding something wrong; it’s about having the right to decide what parts of your digital life are up for sale.

Everything you do online should belong to you, not to every corporation whose services you happen to touch. There is a reason your daily browsing is flooded with cookie banners. If you live or operate inside the EU, you are likely intimately familiar with the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) directive.

Many users view these pop-ups as a daily annoyance, but it helps to reframe their purpose:

• They enforce explicit consent: Companies can no longer quietly opt you into tracking by default.
• They mandate data transparency: You have a legal right to know what is being collected.
• They provide a shield: They are designed for your digital protection, not your inconvenience.

How GDPR Protects Consumer Data Privacy Against Big Tech

GDPR is something that many companies are struggling with, and they need to be compliant with this directive. If you want to use or operate inside the EU, what this really means is that companies need to be clear on what type of data they’re collecting when they’re collecting it. And for how long they will keep it, this mistake cannot keep records of your information indefinitely. 

GDPR isn’t just bureaucratic red tape—it’s a digital shield that shifts ownership of data back to the person who created it: you.

And this is a good thing for you. As a user, you can also decide when and if you want to withdraw your consent to your data being shared; this can be done on Google and Microsoft as well, but unless you’re a bit tech-savvy, it will not be done. And you will keep sharing your information.

By switching to Linux as your primary OS, you get privacy and safety as the default, not the option.

Taking Back Control of Your Desktop

If you, like me, have gotten completely fed up with your data being shared everywhere—or you are tired of seeing advertisements embedded inside an operating system you paid for—it is time to seriously look at the alternatives.

Let’s be realistic: switching to Linux does have a learning curve. I will not lie to you about that. But depending on the distribution you choose, that curve is not nearly as steep as it used to be. It all comes down to what you actually use your device for daily. For beginners, Ubuntu or Linux Mint are incredible, user-friendly options that respect your privacy from the moment you install them.

Switching your operating system can feel like a daunting task, but you do not have to figure it out alone.

What is holding you back from switching to Linux? Are you worried about specific app compatibility, or is the installation process itself intimidating? Let me know in the comments below, and let’s figure it out together.