Thinking about switching from Windows 11 to Linux—what distro and apps should I use?

If gaming is your main priority, Bazzite is worth considering. It offers a gaming-focused setup while still providing a normal KDE Plasma desktop option. NVIDIA hardware can work on Linux and still receives driver updates, although NVIDIA setups may occasionally require more troubleshooting than AMD. Do not assume Linux will run every game, especially games using kernel-level anti-cheat.

The choice between KDE Plasma and GNOME mostly comes down to preference. KDE is more customizable and usually feels closer to Windows, while GNOME has a simpler, more polished workflow with fewer visible options. Since you use a desktop, either will work well; your monitor and input devices do not require a special desktop environment. Try them from a live USB before installing.

Before blaming Windows entirely, check the health of your SSD, since disappearing files or settings can be signs of a failing drive. Back up everything important first. You can move files using an external drive, a second internal drive, or a shared network folder. Windows programs cannot run natively just because they have an .exe extension, but Wine, Bottles, or Proton can run some of them. Compatibility is very inconsistent, so keep Windows available for Adobe, Roblox, Parsec, and random fan-made software that does not work properly.

For a beginner-friendly general-purpose system, Linux Mint is a solid choice because it has lots of documentation and a familiar desktop layout. Steam, Discord, Brave, Spotify, Telegram, VLC, 7-Zip, qBittorrent, Parsec, and Python are available on Linux. Heroic Games Launcher can help with Epic titles. Roblox is not officially supported, although alternatives such as Sober may work. Adobe software is the biggest problem; Photoshop and Premiere generally need Windows, a virtual machine, or replacement applications. You can also keep Windows installed alongside Linux if you have enough storage.