Zorin OS 18 Beta has been released with a new redesign, web apps & Windows migration tools

Zorin OS 18 Beta introduces a redesigned desktop with a rounded visual style, lighter colors, tinted sidebars, and a floating panel with a reactive workspace indicator. Several apps have also been redesigned, including Files with an updated sidebar, a new Camera app, and a modernized Evolution mail client. The release also targets Windows 10 users ahead of its October 2025 end of life, offering a migration path for devices that don’t meet Windows 11 requirements.

The update adds a Web Apps tool to turn sites like Microsoft 365, Google Docs, Microsoft Teams and Adobe Photoshop into desktop apps, along with an advanced window tiling manager for layouts, auto tiling, and custom setups. Microsoft OneDrive integration is built in, while performance optimizations, updated drivers, and default PipeWire support improve speed, responsiveness, and audio quality across more hardware.

Zorin OS 18 can detect over 170 Windows installer files and recommend alternatives to ease migration. The Beta, however, is not production-ready and currently lacks the full wallpaper set and updated welcome Tour. Zorin OS 18 Core Beta is available to download now, with support guaranteed until April 2029 and upgrades from version 17 coming after the stable release.