Will My Files Transfer to Linux Mint When I Switch from Windows?

Check out some migration resources! There’s a great wiki page on it which gives tips for switching. Just remember, you should use root access only when necessary and always verify the software you're downloading to avoid issues.

If you're thinking about dual-booting (which lets you have both Windows and Linux), you'll still be able to access your Windows files from Linux. Just keep in mind that Windows apps won’t run on Linux natively! However, if you decide to fully switch to Linux, the installation will wipe everything from your disk. It's always a smart idea to back up your files, just in case something goes sideways during the installation.

Your files will remain where they are unless you delete their partition or set up a new one. So, no files get automatically moved; they’ll just be accessible unless you remove them.

It really depends on how you set up your partitions. If you're wiping your drive to fully convert to Mint, you'll need to back everything up to an external hard drive first. Otherwise, your files will be safe unless you erase the partitions.

Make sure your storage is formatted in NTFS before switching. That way, Linux can easily access the files when you're dual booting. Also, if you opt for Btrfs for Linux, there's a driver for Windows that lets you access files on that filesystem. Just a thought!