You can easily make Zorin OS look and feel like Windows, MacOS, or Linux – here’s how
You can easily make Zorin OS look and feel like Windows, MacOS, or Linux – here’s how
https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-customize-zorin-os-linux-macos-windows/
Publish Date: 2026-05-26 07:55:00
Source Domain: www.zdnet.com
The Zorin OS desktop cube in action.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
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ZDNET key takeaways
- Zorin OS is a flexible desktop OS.
- You can make the desktop anything you want.
- Pay for the Pro version for even more options.
Since the demise of Windows 10, Zorin OS has been one hot property. Within six months of its release, Zorin OS 18.1 has been downloaded over 3.3 million times. I even proclaimed Zorin OS 18.1 to be one of the best operating systems on the market. The OS is gorgeous, user-friendly, fast, and customizable to the point where you can make it look and feel however you want.
Do you prefer a Windows-like UI? Zorin OS has you covered. MacOS? Yep. Linux? Of course. Zorin OS gives you so many options to make the desktop look the way you like it.
Also: Linux Mint vs. Zorin OS: I’ve tried both Windows alternatives, and here’s my winner
So, how do you customize everything? The answer starts with Zorin Appearance.
Customizing Zorin OS
Zorin Appearance is a tool that allows you to quickly switch between layouts, change themes, enable/disable animations, change the desktop switcher, enable/disable desktop icons, customize window placement and advanced tiling, switch the titlebar buttons (from right to left), set mouse button actions and window focus, set various interface options, and change the fonts.
The Layout option is what you want to focus on. In this section of the tool, you have four layouts to choose from: two different Windows-like layouts, a GNOME/panel layout, and a GNOME layout with a top bar.
You get four default layouts with the free version of Zorin OS.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
If you opt to pay for the Pro version ($47.99), you get four more layouts, including those that resemble MacOS, Windows 11, Ubuntu, and KDE Plasma.
Even if you don’t opt to pay for the Pro version, you can further customize the desktop. For example, if you go with a layout that offers only a top bar, you can customize it…
