Short answer: If your PC can’t run Windows 11, you have four realistic options. Stay on Windows 10 with ESU for security updates until October 12, 2027. Switch to Linux Mint 22.3, which needs 2 GB of RAM and is supported until 2029. Switch to Zorin OS 18.1, which looks the most like Windows and is supported until June 1, 2029. Or install ChromeOS Flex, Google’s free browser-first system, which needs 4 GB of RAM and erases the whole disk. All three alternatives are free to download from their official sites, all need a 64-bit Intel or AMD PC, and none runs Windows programs the way Windows does.
First, confirm your PC really can’t run Windows 11
Many PCs that fail PC Health Check are only a firmware setting away from passing. TPM 2.0 is often present but switched off, and Secure Boot often fails only because the PC boots in Legacy mode. Our guide to PC Health Check requirements shows which failures you can fix and which you can’t. A processor missing from Microsoft’s supported list is the usual hard stop.
If the hardware genuinely doesn’t qualify, read on.
Windows 11 alternatives for an old PC, side by side
| Windows 10 + ESU | Linux Mint 22.3 | Zorin OS 18.1 | ChromeOS Flex | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free with settings sync, 1,000 Rewards points, or $30 one-time (rules differ in the EEA) | Free | Core, Education and Lite free; Pro is a one-time purchase | Free |
| Supported until | October 12, 2027 | April 2029 | June 1, 2029 | Follows the ChromeOS release cycle |
| Minimum RAM | Your existing Windows 10 PC | 2 GB (4 GB recommended) | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| Minimum storage | n/a | 20 GB (100 GB recommended) | 15 GB Core, 35 GB Education, 45 GB Pro | 16 GB |
| Other minimums | Windows 10 version 22H2 | 1024×768 display | 1 GHz dual-core 64-bit Intel/AMD, 800×600 display | Intel or AMD x86-64, bootable from USB |
| Keeps your Windows apps | Yes | No | No; optional Wine-based support for some apps | No |
Every figure in this table comes from the official pages listed under Sources, checked on September 26, 2026.
Option 1: stay on Windows 10 with ESU
This is the least disruptive choice. Microsoft’s consumer Extended Security Updates program delivers “critical and important security updates” for Windows 10, version 22H2, until October 12, 2027. You keep every app and file. Outside the European Economic Area, enrollment is free if you sync your PC settings, costs 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or costs a one-time $30 plus tax. You need a Microsoft account to enroll.
What it doesn’t give you: new features, non-security fixes or technical support. ESU buys time; it does not change the end date. Our Windows 10 ESU guide covers the routes and regional rules. If the enrollment link doesn’t appear, see why Windows 10 ESU is not showing.
Option 2: Linux Mint 22.3 “Zena”
Linux Mint is a free Linux distribution with a traditional desktop layout. The current release is Linux Mint 22.3 “Zena,” announced on January 13, 2026. The release notes describe it as a long-term support release “supported until April 2029.”
Editions. Three desktops: Cinnamon (“sleek, modern, innovative”), Xfce (“light, simple, efficient”) and MATE (“classic, traditional”). On an older PC, Xfce and MATE are the lighter choices by the project’s own description.
Requirements, from the 22.3 release announcement:
- 2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended “for a comfortable usage”)
- 20 GB of disk space (100 GB recommended)
- 1024×768 resolution
The Cinnamon ISO is 2.9 GB. The download page adds that if the release does not boot on your computer, you can try an HWE ISO instead.
Official download: linuxmint.com/download.php. The page warns: “Anyone can produce fake ISO images, it is your responsibility to check you are downloading the official ones.” It publishes sha256sum.txt and a signed sha256sum.txt.gpg next to each ISO so you can verify the file.
Option 3: Zorin OS 18.1
Zorin OS is a Linux distribution built to feel familiar to people coming from Windows or macOS. The current version is Zorin OS 18.1, based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with Linux kernel 6.17. Zorin’s technical details page says it is supported until June 1, 2029.
Editions. Core, Education and Lite are free. Pro is a one-time payment and adds, in Zorin’s words, “all 12 desktop layouts,” a “professional creative suite” and installation support. The free Core edition includes four layouts.
Minimum requirements, from Zorin’s help center:
- CPU: 1 GHz dual core, Intel or AMD 64-bit
- RAM: 2 GB
- Storage: 15 GB (Core), 35 GB (Education) or 45 GB (Pro)
- Display: 800×600
Zorin runs only on 64-bit Intel or AMD processors. Its help center says Surface devices with Snapdragon or Microsoft SQ processors “are not currently compatible.”
Windows apps. Zorin’s “Windows App Support” uses the Wine compatibility layer to run many .exe and .msi installers. Zorin itself says “not all Windows apps may be fully compatible” and recommends checking for a native Linux version or an alternative first.
Official download: zorin.com/os/download. Zorin’s help center has a guide to checking the integrity of your copy.
Option 4: ChromeOS Flex
ChromeOS Flex is Google’s version of ChromeOS for existing PCs and Macs. Google says it is “provided free of charge” and designed to support “the most common PCs and Macs over the last 10+ years,” though it is “only officially supported on certified models.” It suits a PC that is used mostly in a web browser.
Minimum device requirements, from Google’s installation guide:
- Architecture: Intel or AMD x86-64-bit compatible device
- RAM: 4 GB
- Internal storage: 16 GB
- Bootable from a USB drive
- Full administrator access to the BIOS
Google warns that devices with Intel or AMD processor or graphics components from 2012 and earlier, or Nvidia components from 2014 and earlier, “are not recommended or supported and are unlikely to work.” Check Google’s certified models list for your exact model before you start. You also need a USB drive of 8 GB or more for the installer.
Know these limits first. Google’s FAQ says installing ChromeOS Flex “completely erases all data,” dual booting is not supported, and Android apps from Google Play are not supported on ChromeOS Flex. Google’s comparison page adds that Parallels Desktop for running Windows is not supported, and that CD/DVD drives, fingerprint readers and Thunderbolt functionality are among the hardware features not supported. You can run ChromeOS Flex from the USB installer first, without installing, to see how your PC behaves.
What you give up, and which to pick
- Your Windows programs. None of these systems runs Windows software natively. Check that the apps you rely on have a web, Linux or ChromeOS version before you switch.
- Some hardware features. Google lists unsupported hardware for ChromeOS Flex; Linux support varies by device. Test from the live USB first.
- Your current setup. Installing any of these over Windows replaces it. Back up everything to an external drive or cloud storage first.
- Familiarity. Zorin’s Windows-like layouts help, but settings, updates and app installation all work differently from Windows.
How to try one without wiping your PC
- Download the ISO from the official site listed above. Verify it where the project provides a checksum.
- Write it to a USB drive. For Linux Mint and Zorin OS, a tool such as Rufus or Ventoy works; Ventoy can hold several ISOs on one drive so you can compare them. For ChromeOS Flex, follow Google’s installer instructions.
- Boot the PC from the USB drive and choose to try the system without installing.
- Test Wi-Fi, sound, the display, the webcam and any printer you use.
- Only install once everything you need works, and only after a full backup.
Download these systems only from the official sites above; lookalike download pages are a real risk.
Which one should you pick?
- You need your Windows apps and want more time: Windows 10 with ESU.
- You want a traditional desktop on modest hardware: Linux Mint, Xfce or MATE edition.
- You want the most Windows-like look: Zorin OS Core.
- You mostly use a browser and have 4 GB of RAM or more: ChromeOS Flex, after checking the certified models list.
Questions
Is Linux Mint free?
Yes. It is free to download from linuxmint.com, and the project accepts donations.
Is Zorin OS free?
Zorin OS Core, Education and Lite are free. Zorin OS Pro is a paid, one-time purchase with extra layouts and apps.
Can ChromeOS Flex run Android apps?
No. Google’s ChromeOS Flex FAQ says Android apps from Google Play are not supported.
Can I dual boot ChromeOS Flex with Windows?
No. Google says dual booting is not supported, and installation erases all data on the device.
Which uses the least RAM?
Linux Mint and Zorin OS both list 2 GB minimums. ChromeOS Flex needs 4 GB.
Will these work on an Arm-based laptop?
Zorin OS and ChromeOS Flex state that they support only Intel or AMD 64-bit processors. Linux Mint’s download page offers 64-bit images only.
How long will Windows 10 ESU last?
Until October 12, 2027. Microsoft describes that as the date the consumer program ends.
Can I go back to Windows later?
Only by reinstalling it. Keep your Windows license details and a full backup before you replace Windows.
Sources
- Linux Mint 22.3 “Zena” released, The Linux Mint Blog (January 13, 2026)
- Linux Mint 22.3 release notes and download page, Linux Mint
- Zorin OS technical details and download page, Zorin
- System Requirements and Windows App Support, Zorin Help
- ChromeOS Flex, Google
- Prepare for installation, ChromeOS Flex FAQ, Differences between ChromeOS Flex and ChromeOS and Certified models list, ChromeOS Flex Help
- Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU), Microsoft
