Zorin OS 18 Beta Drops: Advanced Tiling and Floating Taskbar Transform Linux for Windows Migrants
Zorin OS has released the beta version of its new distribution — Zorin OS 18. At present, only the Core edition, built on GNOME, is available, without the proprietary application library. According to Artyom Zorin, the lightweight Lite edition based on Xfce will follow later, after the stable release.
The system is based on Ubuntu 24.04 Noble Numbat, which debuted nearly a year and a half ago. The developers, however, adhere to the principle of “it’s ready when it’s ready”, rather than rushing to meet a calendar date. The previous version, 17.3, remains stable and reliable, although some users were forced to roll back from Noble to Jammy due to issues with Nvidia graphics cards.
The interface of Zorin OS 18 is built on GNOME 46, but has been extensively redesigned through extensions, including Dash-to-Panel, a project sponsored by the company itself. The taskbar now features rounded edges and a “floating” layout at the bottom of the screen, reminiscent of KDE Plasma 5.25. For window management, Zorin has implemented the Tiling Shell extension, akin to Snap Assist in Windows 11: when dragging a window, a helper appears with predefined layout schemes and live thumbnails of adjacent windows.
Developers have also relocated the new Activities Indicator to the taskbar, simplifying the use of virtual desktops. The Zorin Appearance tool has been updated, enabling users to switch between various interface styles — from legacy versions of Windows and macOS to classic GNOME. The Pro edition introduces additional layouts, including imitations of Linux Mint Cinnamon and Elementary OS, along with a new “compact” mode.
Among other enhancements are improved performance via updated drivers, full-text search in the file manager, better touchscreen and remote desktop support, reduced audio latency through PipeWire, and proper menu behavior on multi-monitor setups.
Zorin OS 18 further expands support for web applications, building on the approach of Linux Mint 20.1 and earlier Progressive Web Apps. These now appear as standalone apps without address bars or browser buttons. Compatibility is not limited to Brave or Chrome — Firefox 143 now supports them as well.
For newcomers from Windows, the system automatically suggests alternatives when attempting to install .exe files. Beyond native applications, Zorin may also propose web-based services, such as free online versions of Microsoft Office.
Many of the enhancements in Zorin OS 18 stem from Ubuntu 24.04, yet a substantial portion of the interface refinements and user tools were crafted directly by the Zorin team.
Zorin OS 18 is expected soon. While its changes may not be revolutionary, they embody the maturity of Linux: the evolution is now directed toward usability and refinement of the user experience rather than radical innovation.
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