Linux has always been a favorite of tech enthusiasts and people who like control over their OS and privacy. But recently I’ve noticed Linux on the Rise. Usage is growing in all areas that are measured. Lunduke has a video that explains this in detail. Could this be partly due to Microsoft draconian push of Online accounts and AI in Windows 11? Or maybe Valve’s amazing job with gaming support on Linux? Here are my thoughts.
Microsoft Forcing People to Buy New Computers
Microsoft is aggressively pushing Windows 11 and TPM 2.0 requirements. If you don’t have a computer that meets the requirements you have to buy a new computer or pick a new OS. Lets be real. Computers are not cheap. I think most people don’t want to spend a lot of money on an artificial requirement when it has been proven Windows 11 can run without the TPM 2.0.
Also I thought Microsoft cared for the environment? Why are they forcing all these perfectly working computers to the landfill?
Everyone in my family that was on Windows 10 is moving to Linux Mint as the Windows 10 October 2025 end of life comes near. I’d imagine other people are doing the same thing. So maybe this is part of the reason why Linux is on the rise?
Microsoft Privacy Concerns pushing people to Linux
Another push might be the privacy concerns over Microsoft’s Recall feature, which tracks user activity. Combined that with their forced online accounts I think users are growing wary. I myself am tried of all these companies wanting me to have online accounts and tracking everything I do. A Linux PC with a old fashion local account seems like a safe haven now days.
Valve’s Contribution to Linux
Valve and Gabe Newell are some of the biggest contributors in my opinion. I’m a gamer so for years I was stuck having a Windows install somewhere if I wanted to enjoy my hobby. But Valve has done so much work in this area with Proton and even SteamOS that now Windows is no longer the only option for gaming. Games even seem to run faster on Linux.
Recently I wrote about PewDiePie switching to Linux. I know for sure a lot of these new Linux users are a result of the work Valve has put into Linux. If I could ever meet Gabe in person I’d love to thank him.
The Maker Community
Another thought that comes to mind is the maker community. Things like Raspberry Pi has introduced a lot of new people to Linux over the past decade. That makes Linux less scary and I’d bet some people first experienced Linux that way then later switched to it as their main OS.
The Perfect Storm: Linux on the Rise
So I don’t think its any one thing but a lot of things working together that’s starting to push people away from Windows. I also don’t think Linux will over take Windows anytime soon. But even if Linux only has a 5% market share. 5% of hundreds of millions of computers is still a big number! That’s 1 out of every 20 desktops and laptops.
