What’s a stable, beginner-friendly Linux distribution for my parents?

Kubuntu LTS is probably the most direct choice. It keeps the Ubuntu LTS base and support model, but uses KDE Plasma instead of GNOME. Plasma can feel familiar to people coming from Windows, and you can install unattended updates so routine maintenance is mostly invisible.

Linux Mint Cinnamon is usually the easiest transition for Windows users. The layout is familiar, the tools are beginner-friendly, and it has a reputation for being easy to maintain. Major-version upgrades can work, but they may occasionally be troublesome; some people prefer doing a clean installation when moving to a new major release. Point releases within a version are much simpler.

The desktop environment may be the more important decision than the distribution. Debian Stable with Xfce, Mint Xfce, or Fedora KDE can all be dependable choices. Pick something you are comfortable troubleshooting yourself, because you may eventually need to help with printers, scanners, updates, or remote support. Set up standard user accounts and automatic updates rather than giving them administrative access.

An immutable system such as Fedora Atomic, Bluefin, or another similar option can reduce the chance of users breaking the operating system, since updates are managed as complete system images and can often be rolled back. It is a good low-maintenance approach if their hardware supports it, though traditional Mint or Kubuntu may be more straightforward for a first Linux installation.

Zorin OS is another good option for beginners. It is Ubuntu-based, polished, and designed with a Windows-like interface. Mint, Zorin, and Kubuntu are all worth testing from a USB drive first, since the desktop layout may matter more to your parents than the underlying distribution. Hardware support, especially for certain graphics cards, should also be checked.