If you are a returning reader of this site, you will have noticed by now that one of my absolute favorite Linux distributions is Zorin OS. And for good reason. Zorin OS, based on my personal opinion and user experience with multiple Linux distributions, comes closest to the ultimate out-of-the-box Linux user experience, offering newcomers a smooth onboarding and allowing seasoned Linux users to focus on the creative and productive use of their operating system and not the technicalities of many other Linux distributions. Last week, the Zorin OS team contacted me to give me a heads-up on their new Zorin OS 17.3, available for everyone to download when you read this article. I hope you are as excited as I am, so let’s see what kind of improvements the new Zorin OS 17.3 will bring us.
Note: This article contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you choose to click through and make a purchase via the linked website. For more information see the Affiliate Disclaimer.
Content
- Introduction
- Newer applications
- Improved security and compatibility
- Expanded database to detect app alternatives
- New default web browser
- Further improvement of Zorin Connect
- Improvements for touchscreen devices
- How to get and install Zorin OS 17.3
- Final words
Introduction
Every time I feel very privileged that the people behind Zorin OS are informing me in advance about upcoming releases and allowing me to look in advance at the innovations to come. In previous years Zorin OS has always been on my list of most favorite Linux distributions, but currently, it is my number one distro. I published many articles on Zorin OS, I created an extensive course, and I wrote and published my book “Linux for the rest of us“, which is completely based on Zorin OS. So I hope this already indicates how much I value and support what the Zorin team is doing.
And now that 2025 is the year Windows 10 will reach its end of life and Microsoft pushes current Windows 10 users to Windows 11 and a lot of users also into buying more modern hardware (and the unnecessary disposal of perfectly good hardware to the electronic landfill), I think Zorin OS is in a great place as a simple but powerful replacement for current Windows 10 machines. Zorin OS offers an excellent experience to help current Windows users transition to a Linux-based solution for their current hardware and makes the purchase of a new computer unnecessary for many.
Here’s what the Zorin team is saying to all users about this release:
“We’re excited to announce the release of Zorin OS 17.3 today, which brings a host of improvements across the system. It introduces new features, strengthens your privacy, and enhances the entire user experience.”
So, let’s look at what is new in Zorin OS 17.3.
Newer applications
In Zorin OS you can use different application packaging formats, like Flatpak or Snap, which both support automatic updates to the latest versions. But in Zorin OS17.3 you also get newer .deb-based applications, which normally will not be automatically updated to a higher version.
Improved security and compatibility
Zorin OS 17.3 has the same foundation, being the Linux kernel and the graphics stack, as Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Long Term Support), so the complete foundation is more performing, more secure, and offers better compatibility with modern hardware. Think of better support for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5000 series graphics cards via the latest NVIDIA 570 drivers. Also, the most up-to-date security patches are included. With Zorin OS 17.3, your system will get support with software updates and security patches until June 2027.
Expanded database to detect Windows app alternatives
A unique feature that I don’t know of in other Linux distributions (if there are, please let me know), is the built-in functionality and underlying database that helps to advise on alternatives to Windows installer files. When you try to install a Windows application (which is also possible in many cases via built-in Windows support), this functionality will in many cases indicate whether a native version of this same app is available and can be installed for Linux, or if that is not available, whether there is a comparable Linux application available that can be a good replacement for the Windows app you are trying to install. This functionality is therefore extremely valuable for people who switch from Windows to Linux and as a beginner often do not yet have the knowledge of the applications available for Linux. In Zorin OS 17.3, more than 150 apps are now recognized.
New default web browser
In recent weeks, there has been a worldwide outcry and related discussion about Mozilla’s Firefox web browser. The changed Terms of Use have led to many Firefox users having serious doubts about the privacy of this application. In the initial Terms of Use that was so much discussed, it was stated, among other things, that Mozilla has the right to process your data necessary to operate Firefox. Due to the vague wording in the Terms of Use, it was very unclear how far these rights would go and to what extent Mozilla can use all your data, such as all your search queries, for their own purposes. This clashes strongly with the privacy protection that Mozilla has advocated in the past. The Terms of Use also stated that Mozilla can change the terms in the future without asking the user for permission again. These changes and some more have led to many Firefox users deciding to no longer use this browser. The team behind Zorin OS has also decided to no longer include Firefox as the default browser in Zorin OS.
“In light of Mozilla’s recent policy changes, we no longer feel assured that Firefox aligns with our commitment to protect your privacy. This prompted us to revisit the choice of default web browser in Zorin OS 17.3.“
Based on some requirements and related research, the team behind Zorin OS has decided to switch to the Brave browser in Zorin OS 17.3. Brave is, like Firefox, completely open source. But Brave is based on Chromium with the Blink engine and not on the Gecko engine that Firefox is based on. There are Linux users who have a problem with browsers based on Blink, because it is synonymous with Google, so browsers based on Blink are in theory helping increase the power of Google. We will have to see if this proves to be the right choice for Zorin OS 17.3.
The Zorin team has managed to implement some custom adjustments in Brave to further improve the user experience, such as “hiding Brave Wallet, Brave Rewards/Basic Attention Token, Leo AI, Brave Talk, Brave News, and sponsored background images from the new tab page & toolbar”. I think this is a good decision to offer a more basic browsing experience.
I have no experience with the Brave browser myself, so I can’t say much about whether this is a good choice. But it is very popular. My personal browser of choice is Vivaldi (which is also Blink-based and only partly open source), but I understand that Vivaldi will not appeal to everyone due to its focus on “power users” due to the enormous amount of functionality and customization. Whether Brave is a good choice for you is up to you to decide. Fortunately, everyone is free to install their preferred browser in Zorin OS.
Further improvement of Zorin Connect
Zorin Connect creates a unified experience across your devices, allowing your computer and phone to function together seamlessly. Integrated into the Zorin OS desktop, it connects your computer with Android devices, enabling you to:
- Sync notifications across devices
- Transfer files and photos between your phone and computer
- Send commands to your computer directly from your phone
- View incoming calls and respond to text messages from your computer
- Use your phone as a remote for slideshows and presentations
- Manage music and video playback on all your devices
With the release of Zorin OS 17.3, there are also some significant updates in the Zorin Connect mobile app, introducing a host of enhancements. The app now features a revamped interface that aligns with your Android device’s theme.
The “Remote input” feature allows you to control your computer’s keyboard and mouse using your phone. New additions include middle-click functionality, the ability to compose and send text, and a gyroscope mouse option.
The updated Zorin Connect also includes the following improvements:
- Accessibility enhancements
- Bug fixes and performance upgrades
- Share web links to computers that are currently offline, which will open once they reconnect
- Customize home screen widgets for different computers
- Send album art for media playback from your phone to your computer
- Search for app names in the notification plugin settings
- Direct Share options in Android share dialogs
- Filter notifications from a Work Profile
- More detailed notification channels
- Option to cancel a pairing request after it has been sent
Improvements for touchscreen devices
Nowadays, there are many laptops available with a touchscreen, and these devices are perfectly supported by Linux. Zorin OS 17.3 has implemented both fixes and further improvements for the use of touch-enabled screens. For example, it is now possible to activate the screen keyboard via a dedicated icon on the panel when you need it. Previously, the onscreen keyboard was only activated when a text field was selected.
How to get and install Zorin OS 17.3
When this article is published, the new Zorin OS 17.3 is directly available for all of you to enjoy. If you are currently using Zorin OS 17, Zorin OS 17.1, or Zorin OS 17.2, you can do a simple upgrade to Zorin OS 17.3 via the built-in Software Updater functionality. If you have currently installed Zorin OS 16 on your machine, you can also directly upgrade to Zorin OS 17.3 without the need to erase your files and data.
When doing an upgrade from Zorin OS 16 or 17 to Zorin OS 17.3 I always advise you to perform a backup of your important data first, although I had never issues with upgrading Zorin OS. You can read more about backups in my following articles:
- How to setup and use backups in Zorin OS
- How to easily create backups in Linux with Pika Backup
- luckyBackup is a powerful backup solution for Linux
- How to setup and use Cronopete backup software for Linux
Also, in all cases, your Zorin OS-based system should be up-to-date before starting your upgrade process. You can update your system by opening the Zorin Menu, going to System Tools, then select Software Updater, and then following the on-screen instructions.
Via the button below you can find the official Zorin OS upgrade page:
If you are not a Zorin OS user yet or if you just want to do a completely fresh install, you can download Zorin OS 17.3 from the Zorin OS website. There you can find all available editions, like Core, Pro, and Education.
Zorin OS 17.3 Pro
If you are interested in buying the Zorin OS Pro edition, please consider using the below Affiliate button. At no additional cost to you, this website will earn a small commission if you choose to click through and make a purchase via the linked website. For more information see the Affiliate Disclaimer.
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If you’ve already purchased Zorin OS 17 Pro before, you can download a new copy of Zorin OS 17.3 Pro from the download link in your original purchase email. If you lost access to this email, you can resend it here.
Why pay for Zorin OS Pro?
Next to the free Zorin OS Core and Education editions, there is also a paid Pro version. Zorin OS Pro brings together even more features, like 6 additional premium desktop layouts which can be simply activated via the Zorin Appearance Layout menu, pre-installed advanced apps like a video editor, Photoshop-compatible image editor, illustration software, audio workstation, animation software, 3D graphics & effects software used by Hollywood studios,and divers productivity tools. And Zorin OS Pro users are entitled to technical support by email directly from the Zorin team. But probably most important, your purchase helps to support the Zorin project and the small team that makes it all possible.
Zorin OS 17.3 Core and Education
If you are interested in downloading the free Zorin OS Core or Education editions, you can use the below link:
Final words
For this kind of point releases, like Zorin OS 17.3, I always say, these are not about revolution, but about evolution. And in my opinion, that is a good thing. I don’t want my system to get a complete overhaul, every time a new release or point release of an Operating System is introduced. In the first place, I prefer stability and reliability, and of course, some nice improvements to enhance an already perfect user experience, like those in 17.3, are always a nice bonus. And that is what Zorin OS 17.3 is bringing us. As always, enjoy your wonderful Linux journey with Zorin OS!
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