The best Linux for an old laptop

Why Linux on an old laptop

A lot of laptops from 2012 to 2017 still have plenty of life in them but can't run Windows 11, and Windows 10's free security updates end on October 12, 2027. That's where Linux for old laptops comes in. It's free, gets security updates, and runs comfortably on hardware that struggles with Windows. For web browsing, email, documents, video calls, and streaming, it does everything most people need.

It's not the only option. ChromeOS Flex is simpler if you only use a web browser. But Linux runs on more hardware and does more.

Check the laptop first

• 64-bit processor. Almost anything from about 2008 on is 64-bit, though many 2008 and 2009 netbooks aren't. Most Linux versions no longer support 32-bit. If yours is 32-bit only, here are the 32-bit options that are left.
• Memory. 4 GB is workable with a lighter desktop. 8 GB is comfortable for anything below. How to check yours.
• The drive. If it's a spinning hard drive, an SSD makes a bigger difference than which Linux you choose. Here's how to swap a hard drive for an SSD.
• Back up your files. Installing Linux over Windows erases everything. My backup guide covers it.

Which Linux to choose

Linux comes in versions called distributions, or distros. There are hundreds. For an old laptop, only a handful matter:

I've run all of these, plus more specialized ones like CasaOS and ZimaOS for home servers and SteamOS for gaming. For an everyday laptop, though, it comes back to Mint or Ubuntu. They have the most users, which means the most answers when you search for help.

If you're choosing between the two: Mint is easier for someone used to Windows. Ubuntu is a good fit if you want the latest version and the laptop has the memory for it.

Linux Mint on a laptop with 4 GB of RAM

Linux Mint's own requirements are 2 GB of memory at minimum and 4 GB for comfortable use, so a 4 GB laptop is inside the lines. It just needs a little care, mostly around the web browser, which is the biggest memory user on any system. What I'd do:

• Pick the Xfce edition. It's listed next to Cinnamon on Mint's download page. It looks a little plainer and leaves more memory free for your programs.
• Put in an SSD first. When memory runs short, Linux moves things to the drive. On an SSD that's a short pause. On a hard drive it's a long stall.
• Turn on zram. It compresses memory that isn't being used right now, which squeezes more out of 4 GB. Run sudo apt install zram-config and restart.
• Trim what starts up. Open Startup Applications from the menu and switch off anything you don't need running all the time.
• Go easy on browser tabs. A handful of tabs is fine. Thirty is not, on any operating system with 4 GB.
• Keep an eye on it. System Monitor shows memory use. If it's pinned near full and the laptop stalls, the laptop needs more memory, not a different setting.

If the laptop has a free memory slot, or two slots with small sticks, 8 GB of older DDR3 or DDR4 is cheap used and makes a bigger difference than anything above. Here's how to check what it has. Laptops with memory soldered to the board are stuck at 4 GB, and Mint Xfce is one of the best things you can run on them.

Linux Mint vs. Lubuntu on an old laptop

These are the two names that come up most for really old or low-memory laptops. Both are free, both are based on Ubuntu, and both get security updates until 2029. The difference is how much they give you out of the box versus how little they ask of the hardware.

For most old laptops with 4 GB of memory, I'd start with Linux Mint Xfce. It's easier for someone coming from Windows, and its Timeshift snapshots let you roll back if an update goes wrong. Try Lubuntu if the laptop has 2 to 4 GB and an older, slower processor, and Mint Xfce still feels sluggish from the USB stick. Both run from USB first, so it's easy to try each for an evening.

Try it without installing

Every distro above can run from a USB stick without touching your hard drive. It's slower than an installed system, but it shows you whether Wi-Fi, sound, and the touchpad work.

1. Download the ISO file from the distro's website (linuxmint.com or ubuntu.com).
2. Write it to a USB stick of 8 GB or more with the free balenaEtcher or Rufus. Anything on the stick gets erased.
3. Restart the laptop and tap the boot menu key: usually F12 on Lenovo and Dell, F9 on HP, or Esc. Pick the USB stick.
4. Choose the option to try it without installing. Connect to Wi-Fi, open the browser, play a video, and try the webcam.

If it won't boot from the USB stick, turn off Secure Boot in the BIOS and try again. Mint and Ubuntu usually work with Secure Boot on.

Installing it

If everything worked in the trial, double-click the Install icon on the desktop. The installer asks a few questions:

• Erase disk and install replaces Windows completely. This is the simplest choice for an old laptop.
• Install alongside Windows keeps both and lets you pick at startup. It works, but it splits an already small drive, and on an old laptop it's rarely worth it.
• Pick a username and password, and the installer does the rest. It takes 10 to 30 minutes.

After you install

1. Install updates. In Mint, open Update Manager. In Ubuntu, open Software Updater.
2. Check for drivers. Mint's Driver Manager and Ubuntu's Additional Drivers find things like Broadcom Wi-Fi or Nvidia graphics that need an extra driver.
3. Set up snapshots. Mint includes Timeshift, which saves a copy of the system so you can undo a bad update. Turn on daily snapshots.
4. Get your apps. Firefox and LibreOffice come installed. Chrome, Zoom, Spotify, and many others are in the Software Manager or on their makers' websites.

What won't work

Be realistic about this before you erase Windows:

• Microsoft Office desktop apps. Use Office on the web, or LibreOffice, which opens Word and Excel files.
• Adobe software, most tax software, and some specialized programs only run on Windows or Mac. Check whether there's a web version.
• Some games, especially ones with anti-cheat. Steam runs many Windows games on Linux, but not all. Got an old gaming PC? It can become a living-room console with Bazzite.
• Some printers and scanners, mostly older or unusual ones. Most common printers work, often without installing anything.

If one of those is a deal-breaker, stay on Windows 10 with free ESU updates for now, or look at a refurbished PC that runs Windows 11. If the laptop's only job will be web browsing, ChromeOS Flex may be simpler still.