Why I Switched from Windows to Linux and How I Made the Transition

Like many users, I spent years using Windows, believing it was more than enough. Even when some of my peers switched to Linux, everything worked well, so I had no reason to leave. That changed in late 2025 and early 2026. Increasing background bloat, forced Copilot AI features, and built-in desktop ads pushed my 16 GB laptop to use 9–10 GB of RAM before I had even opened a program. Combined with major updates that routinely broke drivers and caused stability problems, Windows stopped feeling like a tool I owned and started to feel like a tool that was working against me. Switching to Linux gave me back control and left nearly all of my RAM available, so my machine stays fast, quiet, and focused on my actual work.

I spent two to three weeks learning about the Linux file system, researching Linux distributions, and practicing file and package management. I used a virtual machine running Linux Mint to practice, get used to its Cinnamon desktop, and become familiar with performing tasks in the terminal. I had to choose between Ubuntu and Linux Mint and eventually settled on Linux Mint because of its privacy features and lower RAM usage. Linux Mint is essentially a fork of Ubuntu: it is based on Ubuntu and uses Ubuntu’s repositories, so most software that works on Ubuntu also works on Linux Mint.

Of course, I couldn’t simply plug in a bootable USB drive and complete the Linux Mint installation. I also had to migrate several things, including my browser bookmarks and passwords, personal files and folders, IDE settings, and extensions. I first backed up my important files and folders to a USB drive. I used my browser’s built-in export and import features to transfer my bookmarks and saved passwords, then signed back into my account to restore my extensions and settings. For my IDE, I used its settings export or synchronization feature to preserve my configuration, extensions, shortcuts, and other preferences instead of setting everything up from scratch. After installing Linux Mint, I copied my files back, imported my browser data, restored my IDE settings and extensions, and manually reinstalled the applications and development tools I needed. Although the operating system was completely different, I was able to bring most of my familiar working environment and personal data with me.

Overall, Linux Mint performs as well as its name suggests: it feels fresh and efficient. I have plenty of free RAM even when using IDEs and coding agents, and the lower RAM usage is one of the first benefits I noticed. I also enjoy greater privacy and a more secure environment with less exposure to common malware.

Using Linux as a daily driver is like driving a manual car: you have to handle many things yourself that GUI-based operating systems such as Windows and macOS take care of automatically. However, Linux Mint offers a good balance. If I cannot figure out the right command, I can always fall back on the Cinnamon desktop and complete the task through the graphical interface.