They promised Linux Mint could replace Windows—here’s 3 ways it falls short
They promised Linux Mint could replace Windows—here’s 3 ways it falls short
https://www.howtogeek.com/i-tried-using-linux-mint-like-a-windows-user/
Publish Date: 2026-07-13 07:30:00
Source Domain: www.howtogeek.com
Linux Mint is probably the most recommended Linux distribution for people switching from Windows, and for good reason. It’s beginner-friendly, the layout feels familiar if you’re coming from Windows 7 or Windows 10, and it ships with enough graphical apps that you rarely need to touch the terminal. I’ve used it myself, recommended it to plenty of people, and some of them actually made the switch. That said, there were also others who kept telling me that Mint was no Windows.
My first instinct was that they simply weren’t giving it a fair shot. So I sat down with one of my friends who had struggled with it, watched how they actually used the system, and came to a conclusion—they were right. Linux Mint really isn’t a Windows substitute. And here are the three biggest problems I noticed that get in the way when you try to use Linux Mint as if it were Windows.
Installing apps isn’t always straightforward
Granted, it largely depends on which apps you’re installing
On Windows, installing an app is a well-worn ritual: you find the app you want, visit its website, download the EXE file, run it, click through the installation wizard, and that’s it—the app is installed on your computer. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a “better” way to install software, but it’s the workflow millions of people have internalized. Unfortunately, Linux Mint—or any Linux distribution, for that matter—takes a completely different approach.
On Linux, your distribution ships with its own official software repository. You can install apps from it through the Software Manager—similar to the app store on your phone—or from the terminal. That’s the first…
