How to make Zorin OS look like Windows 11 – for free

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• If you fancy a Windows 11 layout, but want to use Linux, you’re in luck.
• Zorin OS can be tweaked to look very much like Windows 11.
• You can do this with the free or Pro version.

I’ve been a fan of Zorin OS for a long time. It’s based on Ubuntu, so it enjoys a level of user-friendliness from the bottom up. On top of that, Zorin OS takes the GNOME desktop and gives it quite the makeover. Even better, you get to call the shots on how the desktop looks.

Out of the box, the free version of Zorin OS includes four layouts, none of which are quite Windows 11-like. However, if you pay for the Pro version, you get a Windows 11 layout that does a great job of keeping things familiar.

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The disadvantage of the Pro version is that you have to purchase a license with each major upgrade. In other words, the Pro license for Zorin OS 18 will not transfer to version 19 (when it’s released). That’s fine if you plan on sticking with one release for its full support cycle (five years). But if you like to install the latest and greatest, you could be purchasing a new Pro license ($47.99) with every major release.

That said, you can tweak a layout in the free version to look and feel close enough to Windows 11. 

Let me show you how it’s done.

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I’ll be using Zorin OS 18.1 Pro version, but I’ll demonstrate how to customize one of the free layouts.

What you’ll need: First and foremost, you must download a Zorin OS ISO, create a live USB drive, boot from it, and install Zorin OS. Once you’ve done that, boot the OS and log in. If the Zorin Appearance app doesn’t appear, open it from the desktop menu.

In the Zorin Appearance app, select the top-right layout, which gives you a bottom panel (taskbar) and a desktop menu on the right side.

Close Zorin Appearance, right-click on the bottom panel, and click Taskbar Settings.

In the Style tab, move the “Border radius” slider all the way to the left to square the corners of the taskbar.

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In the Position tab, make sure “Panel length” is set to 100%, then scroll down and select Monitor Center from the drop-down for the following:

• Left box
• Show Applications button
• Taskbar
• Center box
• Desktop button

GNOME Extensions

If you like having the weather app on the panel, you can install the Weather Panel GNOME extension. For that, you’ll need to install the Extensions app, which can be done from GNOME Software.

Once you’ve installed GNOME Extensions, open the app, click on the search button (top left corner), search for WeatherPanel, and install it. 

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After installing WeatherPanel, it’ll appear on the panel. Right-click the icon, then configure Units, Wind Speed, and Pressure, set a location, and move the icon to the far left. Unfortunately, you can’t get the panel icon to live in the far left of the panel, but on the far left side of the Zorin menu.

Finally, locate a Windows 11-like wallpaper, save it, and set it (right-click the desktop, select “Change background…”, click Add Picture, and locate the image you downloaded.

At this point, Zorin OS should look similar to Windows 11.

Of course, the easiest way to do that is to purchase a Pro license and select the Windows 11 layout, but my free method works pretty well.