5 Linux distros that work with Windows Secure Boot
Are you considering a dual boot setup but worried about Secure Boot compatibility? Worried that disabling Secure Boot will compromise your Windows installation? Here are five Linux distributions that work seamlessly with Windows Secure Boot: No BIOS changes required.
Secure Boot plays an important role in protecting your Windows system from rootkit attacks. Although traditionally this feature has prevented many Linux distributions from booting, this is not the case for all two. Some distributions support Secure Boot natively, allowing you to dual boot with Windows without disabling the security feature. Here are five of the most popular options and which one you should choose based on your needs and requirements.
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Ubuntu: the gateway distribution for maximum hardware compatibility
Ubuntu is ubiquitous along with Linux itself. As the most popular distribution and gateway for countless Linux newcomers, it naturally offers full compatibility with Windows Secure Boot. What makes Ubuntu particularly attractive for dual-boot systems is its excellent hardware and driver support. It’s compatible with the widest selection of hardware, whether you’re using a laptop or desktop.
The app ecosystem is equally impressive. Almost every proprietary application developed for Linux comes with an Ubuntu version, and if something isn’t available in the official repositories, you can usually grab it through PPAs (Personal Package Archives). Ubuntu also strikes a solid balance between simplicity and power. The default experience is clean, minimal, and accessible, but you can easily add more features by installing a few GNOME extensions.
The only reason you might not like Ubuntu is that GNOME, its default desktop environment, uses a virtual desktop-based workflow that may look very different from what you’re used to. That said, if you’re willing to experiment with something new (and it usually takes about a week to adjust), you may discover a surprisingly powerful way of working.
Fedora: the distribution for developers
Fedora looks like Ubuntu on the surface (both use GNOME by default), but it brings a completely different philosophy underneath. It is actively supported by Red Hat and is a preferred site for open source software. In fact, the distribution doesn’t come with any proprietary tools or codecs, which can make installation difficult if your hardware requires non-open source drivers — a common frustration with NVIDIA GPUs and some Wi-Fi or Bluetooth modules on some laptops and motherboards.
That said, if you want a distribution optimized for software development or learning to code, Fedora is a great choice. You have access to a wide range of industry-standard development tools via official repositories. Fedora also follows a peak release cycle, with new releases every six months containing the latest packages. This ensures that you are always working with up-to-date tools throughout your development workflow.
It’s also worth noting that you’re not limited to GNOME on Fedora. There are official and community versions that combine the Fedora base with a variety of popular and niche desktop environments.
Zorin OS: for newcomers coming from Windows
Zorin OS is based on Ubuntu but uses a heavily customized version of GNOME designed to look like Windows out of the box. What sets it apart is the Zorin Appearance app, which lets you switch between different desktop layouts based on your preferences. There’s even a paid version of Zorin OS Pro that unlocks professionally designed themes that mimic Windows 10, Windows 11, and even macOS.
Beyond aesthetics, Zorin OS comes with Wine and Bottles pre-configured, allowing you to run many Windows apps (you can check WineHQ for compatible apps) without any additional configuration. This makes the transition from Windows smoother, since you can continue to use some of your familiar software.
The distribution is aimed primarily at newcomers who want their Linux desktop to resemble Windows as much as possible, both visually and functionally. It minimizes the learning curve by recreating all your familiar workflows.
Linux Mint: minimal, neat and user-friendly
Linux Mint is another Windows-like distribution based on Ubuntu, but instead of using a custom version of GNOME, it relies on its own internal desktop environment called Cinnamon, which is significantly lighter than GNOME. As a result, Linux Mint tends to run smoother on older hardware than other distributions on this list.
Cinnamon also offers a more polished and refined desktop experience. It has a familiar Windows 7-style layout, with a Start menu, taskbar, and system tray, but looks modern and well-designed. The desktop is highly customizable, with support for widgets and themes that allow you to personalize your workspace.
It’s also worth mentioning that, despite being based on Ubuntu, Linux Mint eschews Snap packages in favor of Flatpak integration. This is important because Flatpaks are generally more open and don’t suffer from Snap’s oft-criticized slow startup times.
openSUSE Tumbleweed: A blend of cutting-edge software and professional-level stability
Finally, we have openSUSE Tumbleweed, the only rolling release distribution on this list. Unlike other stable distributions mentioned here, Tumbleweed receives new package updates as soon as they are made available by the developers. You don’t need to wait months or years for major version upgrades: they can arrive every few days, or even every week. This keeps your system constantly up to date with the latest software, making it a great choice for users who like to live on the cutting edge of technology.
You don’t have to update your system as soon as a new package is released. You can follow a weekly or bi-weekly update schedule.
That said, despite its constant stream of new packages, Tumbleweed is also surprisingly stable and reliable, even for professional use cases. It’s a favorite among system administrators thanks to its rock-solid stability and access to YaST, its iconic system management tool. YaST provides a powerful GUI for everything from disk partitioning and network configuration to package management, making advanced system administration accessible without touching the terminal.
Tumbleweed also supports almost all popular desktop environments, and app availability is strong thanks to its official repositories, as well as support for Flatpak and AppImage.
So yes, you can keep Windows Secure Boot enabled while continuing to run Linux: this problem is solved. What matters now is choosing the right distribution for your needs. Whether you’re looking for maximum compatibility, developer-focused tools, Windows-like familiarity, lightweight performance, or cutting-edge packages, there’s an option for everyone. Choose what best fits your workflow and enjoy dual booting without compromise.
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