Thinking of Switching from Windows 11 to Linux—What Should I Know?

You can install Linux alongside Windows using a dual-boot setup. Linux won’t meaningfully reduce performance when you’re using Windows because only one operating system runs at a time; the main cost is storage space. Select the operating system from a boot menu when the computer starts. Back up important files and be careful with partitioning, especially if device encryption or Secure Boot is enabled.

Before replacing Windows, make a list of the programs and games you use and check their Linux compatibility. Steam games can often work through Proton, but games using strict anti-cheat systems may not. Testing from a live USB is usually the best first step, and you can always keep Windows installed until you’re confident Linux covers your needs.

Linux isn’t a one-for-one replacement for Windows, so check the applications and games you rely on before committing. A good approach is to create a bootable USB, run the distribution in a live session, and test your Wi-Fi, graphics, sound, touchpad, and other hardware without installing anything. You can also try it in a virtual machine first. Beginner-friendly choices include Fedora, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Zorin, Bazzite, or CachyOS, depending on whether you want a general desktop or gaming-focused setup.

Lunar Client generally works on Linux, and Roblox is possible through compatibility projects, although it may take some setup and can break after updates. Valorant is the major problem: its kernel-level anti-cheat does not currently support Linux, so there isn’t a distro that will run it reliably.