Windows to Linux
Ready to switch between Windows and Linux? Discover easy ways to master both operating systems and make your transition smooth!
Here’s a comparison table that highlights how to accomplish certain tasks in Windows vs. Linux:
Common Tasks
Install software
- Execute
.exe
or.msi
installers - Stores: Microsoft Store
- Package managers like
apt
,dnf
,yum
, or install via.deb
/.rpm
packages - Stores: Snap Store, Flathub, Discover (GNOME Software), KDE Discover
File Management
File Explorer
File managers like Nautilus, Dolphin, Thunar, or Caja, or terminal commands (e.g., ls
, cp
, mv
)
View system information
- Sytem Information app
- Settings > System > About
uname -a
,top
,htop
,lscpu
,free
,df
- HardInfo, Lshw-gtk
Update system
Windows Update
in Settings
- Debian/Ubuntu-based:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
- Arch-based (e.g., Arch Linux, Manjaro):
sudo pacman -Syu
- Fedora:
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
- CentOS/RHEL (8+ using dnf):
sudo dnf upgrade
- CentOS/RHEL (7 and below, using yum):
sudo yum update
- openSUSE:
sudo zypper refresh && sudo zypper update
- Alpine Linux:
sudo apk update && sudo apk upgrade
- Gentoo:
sudo emerge --sync && sudo emerge --update --deep @world
Task management
Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc)
top
,htop
- System Monitor (GNOME, KDE), glances, Netdata, Mission Control
Change file permissions
Right-click file > Properties > Security
chmod
and chown
commands
Create a new file
Right-click on Desktop > New > File
-
touch filename
- Text editor (
nano
,vim
,gedit
)
View hidden files
Enable “Hidden items” in File Explorer
Press Ctrl+H
in file manager or use terminal with ls -a
Install drivers
Use manufacturer’s driver installers
- Often built-in kernel drivers
- Install manually with package managers (e.g.,
sudo apt install
)
Edit system configuration
Edit files like system.ini
, use GUI tools
Edit config files in /etc/
(e.g., /etc/fstab
, /etc/hosts
) using text editors in terminal
Compress/Uncompress files
Right-click file > Send to > Compressed folder
tar
,gzip
,zip
,unzip
- Graphical archivers like Archive Manager
Change network settings
Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center
- Use network management tools (e.g., nmcli, ifconfig)
- GUI tools like NetworkManager
Disk management
Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc)
fdisk
, parted
, gparted
Run a program as administrator
Right-click > Run as administrator
- Use
sudo
before a command in terminal - Right-click > Open as Root
Find a file
- Use Windows Search
- File Explorer search
- Execute
find
command - GUI search tools
Check disk space
This PC > Properties
- Use
df -h
in terminal - Disk Usage Analyzer (GUI)
Remote desktop
Remote Desktop Connection
ssh
,VNC
- Remmina
Create a new user
Control Panel > User Accounts
adduser
or useradd
in terminal
Network status
Run ipconfig
in cmd
ifconfig or ip addr commands
Schedule a task
Task Scheduler
crontab
Take screenshot
Press Win Key + PrtSc
keys then paste to Paint app or Win Key + Shift + S
to open Snipping Tool then draw the region to save as a screenshot
Press PrtSc key
Batch rename files
Select files > Right-click > Rename > Enter name (names will auto-increment)
rename 's/oldname/newname/' *
mv oldname newname
in a loop
- Linux Terms Glossary
- Understanding Ubuntu Backports
- What is Rice in Linux?
- “Invalid Magic Number” and “You need to load the kernel first” Errors During Linux Installation
- Windows Update Error 0x800f0805
- Check Apache Server Status and Uptime in Linux
- Fixing Screen Flickering on Windows
- What is the .GamingRoot File in Windows?
- How to Disable Fast Startup in Windows
- List of Linux Error Codes
Software Alternatives
Category | Windows Software | Linux Alternatives |
---|---|---|
Command-line Interface | Command Prompt, PowerShell | Bash shell (bash , zsh , fish ), Terminal app |
Office & Productivity | Microsoft Office | Google Docs, FreeOffice, LibreOffice, OpenOffice, OnlyOffice |
Outlook | Thunderbird, Evolution | |
OneNote | Joplin, Obsidian | |
QuickBooks | Wave | |
Graphics & Design | Adobe Photoshop | GIMP |
Adobe Illustrator | Inkscape | |
Adobe Premiere | Kdenlive, DaVinci Resolve | |
Adobe After Effects | Blender | |
Maya, 3DS Max | Blender | |
Paint.NET | Pinta, Krita | |
AutoCAD | FreeCAD, LibreCAD | |
Development | Notepad++ | Kate, Gedit, VSCodium |
Visual Studio | Eclipse, Code::Blocks | |
WinSCP | FileZilla | |
PuTTY | Terminal (built-in) | |
Media | Windows Media Player | VLC, SMPlayer |
Winamp | Audacious | |
iTunes | Rhythmbox, Clementine | |
System Tools | Recuva | TestDisk |
Task Manager | htop, System Monitor | |
WinZip/WinRAR | 7-Zip, File Roller | |
Common Terms
Windows Term | Linux Term | Description |
---|---|---|
Folder | Directory | A container for files and other directories. |
File | File | A single unit of data storage, same in both OS. |
Drive (C:, D:) | Root directory / | Linux uses a single root directory, no drive letters. |
Explorer | File Manager (varies, e.g., Nautilus, Dolphin) | The graphical tool to navigate files and directories. |
Command Prompt | Terminal / Shell | Interface for command-line input (Bash, Zsh, etc.). |
DIR command | ls command | Lists files and directories within a directory. |
Path separator () | Path separator (/) | Character used between directories in a path. |
Programs | Packages | Applications are managed as packages in Linux. |
Task Manager | System Monitor (varies, e.g., htop, GNOME System Monitor) | Monitors processes and system performance. |
Registry | Configuration Files (e.g., /etc ) | Linux uses config files instead of a registry database. |
Shortcut (.lnk) | Symbolic Link / symlink | Link pointing to another file or directory. |
Control Panel | Settings / Config Files | Linux system settings are managed via various config files or GUIs. |
Recycle Bin | Trash | Temporary storage for deleted files before permanent deletion. |
User Account Control (UAC) | Sudo | Provides privilege escalation for administrative tasks. |
System Drive (C:) | Root Partition (/ ) | The primary storage location for system files. |
Network Drive Mapping | Mounting | Linux mounts drives and network shares to directories. |