Is IWantLinux safe to download and use?

Yes. IWantLinux is 100% open source under the GPL-3 license — every line of code is publicly readable on GitHub. Linux ISOs are downloaded directly from each distribution's official servers. No third-party mirrors, no modified files, no surprises.

Which Linux distro should I choose as a Windows user?

Linux Mint is the most Windows-like and is consistently recommended as the easiest starting point for Windows users. Ubuntu is the most popular Linux in the world with massive community support. Zorin OS is designed to look and feel familiar to Windows users and runs well on older hardware. Pop!_OS is modern and polished, especially great for gaming and creative work.

IWantLinux — Try Linux on Any Windows PC in Minutes. Free.

How it works

Four steps. That's it.
No expertise required.

IWantLinux handles the hard parts so you don't have to:
Here's how it works.

Choose your Linux

Pick from four beginner-friendly versions, each with a plain-English description. No idea which one to try? Linux Mint is a great starting point for Windows users.

We download it

IWantLinux fetches the latest official installer directly from that version's own servers — verified complete and genuine. No malware, no outdated files, no guesswork.

Plug in a USB

Grab any USB drive that's 8 GB or larger. IWantLinux detects it automatically and writes the Linux installer to it — with a real-time progress bar so you know what's happening.

Restart & explore

Leave the USB plugged in and restart. Linux boots up and runs entirely from the USB stick — your Windows files, programs, and settings are completely untouched.

Clean. Clear. Friendly.

Designed so you never feel lost

Every screen in IWantLinux was built with one goal: getting you to Linux without making you feel like you've made a mistake. Plain English everywhere. No jargon. No configuration.

Real-time download speed and progress bar — always know what's happening
Resumable downloads — no starting over if your internet hiccups
Auto-detects your USB drive — just plug it in and go
No installer needed — runs directly from the downloaded .exe

Why IWantLinux

Built for people,
not power users.

Other tools for creating bootable Linux USB drives were built for people who already know Linux. IWantLinux was built for people who are still deciding if they want to.

🐧

Curated for beginners

There are hundreds of different versions of Linux, commonly called "distributions", or "distros" for short. We hand-picked the four that are genuinely great starting points for Windows users — and wrote honest, jargon-free descriptions of each one so you can actually choose.

⚡

No tech knowledge needed

No puzzling over different Linux distributions. No wading through online tech wars by opinionated power users. No confusing jargon. No lengthy difficult commands to type. IWantLinux abstracts away every step that makes Linux feel intimidating, so the first thing you experience is Linux itself — not the setup process.

💸

Completely free, forever

IWantLinux costs nothing and always will. Linux is free. Your installer should be too. Licensed under GPL-3 — which means it's not just free today, it's legally required to stay free and open forever.

🛡️

Your Windows is never at risk

IWantLinux only writes to the USB drive you choose. It never reads, writes, or touches your Windows partition, files, or settings. Try Linux tonight; come back to Windows in the morning. No consequences.

💻

Works on old PCs too

Linux is famously lightweight. If your computer is struggling under Windows 10 or 11, Linux might actually make it feel new again. Zorin OS and Linux Mint in particular run well on hardware that Windows no longer supports well.

Your options

Four great ways in.
You can't go wrong.

Every version of Linux included in IWantLinux is a genuinely excellent place to start. Not sure which to pick? Read on — or just go with Linux Mint if you want the most Windows-familiar experience.

Best for new users

Linux Mint

The easiest, most familiar place to start.

If Windows is what you know, Linux Mint is what you'll love first. The desktop looks and behaves remarkably like Windows — taskbar at the bottom, app menu in the corner, file manager that makes sense. It's the most-recommended first Linux for a reason.

Best for beginners Windows-like layout Stable & reliable

Ubuntu

The most popular Linux in the world.

Ubuntu is Linux's flagship. If you've ever Googled "how to do X on Linux," the answer was probably written for Ubuntu. Its enormous community means help is always a search away. Modern, polished, and backed by Canonical, one of the largest open-source software companies in the world.

Largest community Most documentation Great software library

Best for Older PCs

Zorin OS

Give your PC a whole new life.

Zorin OS was specifically designed to ease the transition from Windows to Linux. It's fast on older hardware, includes Windows app compatibility tools, and has a layout switcher that can make it look like Windows 11, Windows 7, or macOS.

Runs on older hardware Windows-app compatible Polished UI

Gaming & Creative

Pop!_OS

Modern, powerful, and seriously beautiful.

Created by System76, an American computer manufacturer, Pop!_OS is one of the most polished Linux experiences available. NVIDIA GPU support is built in, gaming via Steam and Proton works out of the box, and the tiling window manager is great for productivity.

Great for gaming NVIDIA GPU support Modern & beautiful

FAQ

Questions Windows users
always ask first.

Every concern is valid. Here are the honest answers.

Will trying Linux delete my Windows files?

Absolutely not. IWantLinux only writes to the USB drive you select. Your Windows installation, hard drive, files, and settings are never touched. Linux runs entirely from the USB stick — like a self-contained operating system on a thumb drive. Your computer's internal storage is read-only during this process.

Can I go back to Windows after trying Linux?

Yes — that's exactly the point. Linux runs from the USB stick. Unplug it, restart your computer, and Windows boots exactly as you left it. Nothing was changed. You can go back and forth as many times as you like.

What if I like Linux and want to permanently switch?

You can do that too. When you feel you're ready to leave Windows for good, each distro has an install icon right on its desktop. Just double-click, follow the steps, and on your next reboot you'll have a brand new Linux system ready to go.

Do I need to know Linux commands or use a terminal?

Not at all. IWantLinux does all the technical work — downloading, verifying, and writing the ISO — through a simple graphical interface. No terminal. No commands. No "dd if=... of=...". If you can click, you can use IWantLinux.

What size USB drive do I need?

You need a USB drive that's 8 GB or larger. Any brand works. The drive will be erased during the process, so make sure it doesn't have files you need. A basic USB stick from any shop in that size range works perfectly.

Is IWantLinux safe to download?

Yes. IWantLinux is fully open source under the GPL-3 license, hosted on GitHub, where every line of code is publicly readable. Linux installers are downloaded directly from official servers and verified using SHA-256 checksums. You don't have to take our word for it — go read the code.

Which version of Linux should I choose?

Linux Mint is the most Windows-like and consistently recommended for users switching from Windows — the layout, the taskbar, and the file manager will feel immediately familiar. Ubuntu is the most popular with the most community support. Zorin OS excels on older hardware. Pop!_OS is best for gaming and creative work. You can try them all — just make a new USB.

Is Linux really free? What's the catch?

Linux is genuinely, completely free — no trial, no subscription, no hidden cost. It's developed by communities and companies who release it under open source licenses as a matter of principle. The only thing you need to try it is a USB drive. IWantLinux is also free and always will be.

My computer is old — will Linux work on it?

Probably yes — and it may run better than Windows does on your machine. Linux is famously efficient on older hardware. Zorin OS and Linux Mint are specifically optimized for PCs that struggle with Windows 10 or 11. Booting from the USB lets you test performance before committing to anything.

Curious about Linux?
Try it risk-free.

Four steps. That's it.
No expertise required.

Choose your Linux

We download it

Plug in a USB

Restart & explore

Designed so you never feel lost

Built for people,
not power users.

Four great ways in.
You can't go wrong.

Linux Mint

Ubuntu

Zorin OS

Pop!_OS

Questions Windows users
always ask first.

Linux is easier than you think.
Let us prove it.

Curious about Linux?Try it risk-free.

Four steps. That's it.No expertise required.

Choose your Linux

We download it

Plug in a USB

Restart & explore

Designed so you never feel lost

Built for people,not power users.

Four great ways in.You can't go wrong.

Linux Mint

Ubuntu

Zorin OS

Pop!_OS

Questions Windows usersalways ask first.

Linux is easier than you think.Let us prove it.

Curious about Linux?
Try it risk-free.

Four steps. That's it.
No expertise required.

Built for people,
not power users.

Four great ways in.
You can't go wrong.

Questions Windows users
always ask first.

Linux is easier than you think.
Let us prove it.