May 14, 2025. A new Linux distribution called AnduinOS is making unexpected waves across the open source community. At first glance, it seems like just another Ubuntu remix—but its surprising resemblance to Windows 11, paired with an origin story involving a Microsoft engineer from China, has sparked both enthusiasm and suspicion. Its creator, Anduin Xue, insists it’s nothing more than a personal side project that “got out of hand.” Yet its impact suggests otherwise.
What is AnduinOS?
AnduinOS is, essentially, Ubuntu with a Windows look and feel. It doesn’t reinvent Linux packaging, nor does it introduce a new kernel or package manager. It’s based on Ubuntu 25.04 and retains full compatibility with .deb packages, Snap, and—starting from version 1.3—now includes native Flatpak support, which Ubuntu itself omits by default.
What makes it stand out is the carefully crafted user interface. Panels, menus, icons, and animations mimic Windows 11 to the point that a casual user might not even notice they’re running Linux.
“I didn’t want to build a new distro or compete with anyone,” says Xue. “I just got tired of manually configuring my Ubuntu install every time.”
That personal need became public when Xue shared the ISO, which was soon flooded with downloads after appearing on Distrowatch, even crashing his private server temporarily.
Cosmetic tweak or useful tool?
AnduinOS has drawn predictable criticism from Linux purists: “It’s just Ubuntu with a theme,” “Anyone can do this with GNOME Tweaks,” and “Yet another attempt to turn Linux into Windows.” And to a large extent, they’re right.
But that’s also the point. AnduinOS doesn’t aim to impress advanced users—it’s for people who feel lost when switching from Windows to Linux. It lowers the entry barrier without compromising the base system.
What’s more, it includes a custom ISO builder, allowing users to tweak branding, backgrounds, and settings and build their own spin-off with zero technical knowledge. That alone makes it valuable to educators, hobbyists, and institutions looking for a familiar Linux experience.
The shadow of suspicion: “Microsoft employee in China? Spyware?”
As the distro gained popularity, some voices online began raising alarms: the creator works for Microsoft, lives in China, and releases a Windows-themed distro? Cue the conspiracy theories.
Xue addressed them directly:
“Everything is open source. Anyone can inspect the code or build the image themselves. There’s no telemetry, no data collection, no commercial goal. The idea of hiding spyware in something this transparent is just absurd.”
Indeed, no analysis so far has revealed any red flags, and the distro doesn’t include proprietary software beyond what’s already found in standard Ubuntu builds.
What’s Microsoft’s role?
None. Despite his employer, Xue works in a completely unrelated division of Microsoft, and the project is entirely independent. It uses no Microsoft resources, funding, or infrastructure.
Ironically, Microsoft today embraces Linux more than ever, from WSL to Azure. In that context, a Microsoft engineer crafting a personal Linux remix isn’t scandalous—it’s almost expected.
So… is AnduinOS worth trying?
That depends. If you’re an experienced Linux user running Arch, Fedora, or a finely-tuned Ubuntu, AnduinOS probably offers nothing new. But if you’re a newcomer to Linux or migrating from Windows and want a system that feels familiar out of the box, AnduinOS could be the perfect starting point.
Conclusion: Not a revolution, but a welcome mat
AnduinOS doesn’t try to reinvent Linux—it just makes it easier to approach. That might seem small, but for many curious users on the edge of adoption, it can mean the difference between embracing Linux or giving up.
Now at version 1.3, AnduinOS is available from its official site. It remains free, open source, and non-commercial—just a practical solution that happened to resonate with thousands. Whether it’s a fleeting trend or the start of a broader movement remains to be seen. But for now, it’s Linux with training wheels—and that’s exactly what some users need.
