this post was submitted on 22 Nov 2025
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Heyho, recently someone asked for the silliest reasons, but as someone who has suggested linux to many people, I often encounter people having valid reasons for staying with Windows or switching back.

The most boring but valid one is "I have to use Windows for work. It is a requirement (of some software I have to use)". But there are also other answers that fit. My sister for example tried Linux, but while installing software constantly encountered issues that I helped her solve and eventually switched back because she felt like she had less control than over windows. While I am aware that this is fundamentally wrong, it is valid that some amateur users do not want to invest enough time to get over the initial hurdles of relearning how to install software.

What are the best reasons people have given you for not wanting to try Linux?

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[–] Wombat@piefed.social 1 points 1 day ago

This is sort of a compilation of things I have heard:

Too many distros to choose from and I tried a couple of the ones that were supposed to be good for new users, but had issues that I found too annoying to ignore. And when I tried to get help online, I got rude responses from Linux users who just seemed to assume that I was a young guy that ought to learn how to code and fix my own problems (I am not young and I will never be a coder) or accused me of wanting to be "spoon fed" the answer (yes I do, and exactly what is wrong with that? When I ask a question in an Apple-related forum people there have no problem just giving me an answer if they have one!). So I turned to AI for answers so that I didn't get all that attitude, and AI is great when it gives you correct answers but very often it just made shit up, and it's hard to tell if it's giving you a correct answer or hallucinating. And even an AI doesn't know everything, not yet anyway.

I live in a rural area and there are no local sources of help that I'm aware of, and definitely no Linux user groups if those are even still a thing now, but even if there are, if they were using a different distribution than whatever I am trying to run they probably couldn't help much.

Oh, and I absolutely hate typing stuff at a command prompt, I may do it occasionally to fix some weird issue (assuming someone else tells me what to type) but all the normal stuff should be doable using a GUI app. My Macintosh hardly ever asks me to type anything at the command line and that is how I like it! I am a computer USER, not a programmer, not a coder, not someone who wants to spend a great deal of time "learning" a new operating system. I want to be able to turn the computer on, read my email, browse the web, watch YouTube videos, type and print the occasional letter, save and view/play my photos and music, etc and not have the operating system get in my way, or force me to try to learn how it works internally.

And the final reason is that only Linux users still seem to think that reading a bunch of documentation is a prerequisite to using a computer, I have yet to see one good video that explains to someone that has never used Linux before how to use it (an "explain like I'm 5 - or 10 - and this is my first ever experience with a desktop computer that happens to be running Linux" type video). It is wonderful that so much random documentation exist but hardly anyone is going to just start reading it as if it were an instruction manual on how to build a garden shed, and even if they tried, anyone that doesn't have a photographic memory will quickly forget everything they've read because so much of it makes no sense at all to anyone who is not already very experienced with Linux. Nor will they remember all the options associated with various Linux commands that are typically shown in such documentation.

Like I said, kind of a compilation of things I have read or heard, and I didn't even get into the gaming stuff because I'm not personally into that and therefore don't really understand the issues there.

[–] AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago

The same reason everybody gives when dealing with pretty much anything: "I don't want to learn something new".

[–] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 10 points 3 days ago

Something equivalent to..."I just want to drive the car, not learn about the intricacies of internal combustion".

[–] nfreak@lemmy.ml 15 points 3 days ago (13 children)

Adobe software, autoCAD, and anticheat are the top 3 reasons I usually hear. While there are alternatives for the first two, people who need these specific tools professionally don't really have the choice.

Anticheat for gaming is a big one too. Personally I didn't even consider switching until I finally quit Destiny 2 for good. If the main game someone plays just doesn't work, they're not gonna switch.

[–] AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Personally I didn’t even consider switching until I finally quit Destiny 2 for good. If the main game someone plays just doesn’t work, they’re not gonna switch.

I've been running Linux as my main system for about 30 yers. During that time I've had a Windows partition or disk, on and off purely to run steam. Having to wait an extra thirty seconds to run a game was never an issue. And I could still do my stuff in a comfortable environment (once you've gotten used to a Unix desktop, you'll suffer so much in Windows).

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[–] Pepuvend@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago

First my problem was fractional UI resizing making everything stutter and only supporting 60hz. I fixed that by going to KDE (Kubuntu).

Now my problem is that my battery doesn't last for a whole day of lectures - while it does with windows. Also, sleep is ass.

Will still probably fully switch in 2026.

[–] db2@lemmy.world 48 points 4 days ago (4 children)

They didn't want to constantly rely on me to fix every little thing they break instead of learning how to do it themselves.

No wait, that was my reason for not switching them. 😆

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[–] cujo@sh.itjust.works 26 points 4 days ago

"I really only use the PC for gaming. Mostly, I play Valorant."

There ya go, you're not getting that working under Linux even if you are a master tinker. 🤷‍♂️ He did eventually switch, but not until long after he stopped playing Valorant regularly.

Some reasons are silly, some are incredibly valid. Sometimes it's just "I don't want to" and that's OK too, lol.

[–] GaryGhost@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (5 children)

My school requires the installation of office apps like Microsoft access. I can't get Microsoft office apps to run with wine.

I also can't get games from Ubisoft connect to run with wine. I usually try lutris but the games always crash. So I have a virtual windows machine for school work and I have to play all of my games on steam.

Sounds like I don't know how to use wine or wine hates me

I mostly run Linux though.

[–] AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Microsoft access

I wasn't aware that thing still existed.

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[–] SlartyBartFast@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

"The file system layout is dumb. What the fuck is /etc? Also I hate using terminal"

[–] JaddedFauceet@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago (3 children)

But.. what actually is etc, opt, var, dev, bin, usr, local?

especially coming from windows...

there is no "Getting started" guide from the OS, you got to read a book or something to learn this..

during my early day i thought:

  • etc = etcetra? I put random my own stuff here?
  • opt = options? Do i put my configuration here?
  • dev = develop? Is this where debugging symbol or devtool live?
  • local = this must be where my local profile is located?
  • usr = user? Or is this where my local profile is located?
  • var = huh?
  • lib = library? huh why?
  • media = my media folder where i put my images and video?

lol

[–] silfer@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Counterpoint

Does your average windows user know what any of Windows top level folders mean?

[–] AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

Some might think they do. But then very few programs respect the Windows standards, so...

The people who gave me their reasons for not using Linux do indeed know, and since this is a thread about best reasons not to use Linux, there isn't much need to argue the point of "no, it's the users that are wrong"

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)
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[–] dallo@pouet.chapril.org 10 points 3 days ago

@VoxAliorum accessibility is not as good as others OS. This is really the most legitimate reason I was given.

#a11y #linux #foss #accessibility

[–] Tattorack@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago (1 children)

"It's not compatible with all games"

"VR on Linux is trash"

"I can't play XYZ game because Linux isn't compatible with anticheat"

"Program XYZ doesn't have a Linux version, I don't want to learn a new program"

"Windows bloat never bothered me, I just ignore the AI/advertisements"

"I'm forced to use Windows because of my job"

"Linux is to complicated/troublesome. I just want something that works"

[–] SchwertImStein@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

last one is not a good reason

[–] Demdaru@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Is it? For most users, windows takes care of absolutely everything and if something lacks, just google, download and done, especially because most software is written for windows. With Defender they even removed need of antivirus for a normal user.

If something lacks on Linux, half the time you need to say hello to console. You also need to learn about software alternatives, because there's high probability that the default, well known option won't work.

To both of which most people will say no to from the very start.

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[–] LeFantome@programming.dev 21 points 4 days ago (3 children)

I am very pro Linux but “I like Windows” is valid enough for me. I might ask why but I am not going to act like that reason is invalid.

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[–] Core_of_Arden@lemmy.ml 14 points 4 days ago

They are not ready. They took several years to master Windows to just a minimum of use. They don't have the money to pay for help if problems occur. They don't have someone in their network that can help them. They need a specific app to work flawlessly for either job or hobby. There's a lot of good reasons. But there are getting less of them, while Linux is evolving.

[–] Kiloee@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I can give you my own reason: I don’t have enough energy left besides work and general life to clean up my mess of hoarded data and make the switch. I am reasonably sure that all my hardware would work, about all games I play should work (nothing with crazy anticheats, next to all steam) too. I have two Linux nerds I could contact if needed and I have some prior experience, even though it is about half a life ago.

Edit: Oh and having something that does what I want and not some guessed approximation at home would make me even more intolerant of the shitshow we have at work.

[–] chunes@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

They rely on AutoHotkey.

It's true, Linux doesn't have anything close to AHK.

[–] myfunnyaccountname@lemmy.zip 9 points 3 days ago

They use nothing but an iPhone. Not even a tablet. Just the phone.

[–] Cris_Color@lemmy.world 28 points 4 days ago

For one of my friends its just cause she has a shitload going on and enough problems to deal with without trying to figure out a new way for her computer to work and whatnot

Plus I think art stuff she uses doesn't support linux and she found krita unsuitable for how she likes to work

[–] hayk@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I can give you reasons I have for not installing Linux on one of my laptops:

  • Intel graphics support, or the absence of it;

  • decent touchscreen support (Windows Ink);

  • WSL which I use with NixOS, and it does simplify most of my dev needs;

  • unfortunately, Adobe apps which I still heavily rely on (I'd wish I had an alternative),

  • PowerPoint (again, I'd wish I had an alternative).

If you want to comment: "oh but have you tried Affinity, Pixie, Only Office, Libre Impress, reveal.js, {enter your fav presentation/photo editing tool} -- yes I have, and no, unfortunately, it's not even close. Also, to be clear, I've never paid, and never will for the Windows/Adobe products.

[–] tooLikeTheNope@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

(e) PowerPoint (again, I'd wish I had an alternative).

Oh for ducks' sakes... just make pdf slides, do you really need animation and/or transitions? They are going to be a proufoudly horrible and disconcertingly awkward mind searing experience anyway

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[–] Object@sh.itjust.works 18 points 4 days ago (2 children)

He's a Windows security researcher. I felt dumb.

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[–] fushuan@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 3 days ago

TFT and office, mostly. Libreoffice isn't valid, mostly because Microsoft intentionally breaks their own formats, but yeah.

"I can't install it on my phone. I only got a phone.

Hey, uh, you got any crystal?"

[–] cy_narrator@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 3 days ago

The best reason is the simplest one. People have job where they rely on a piece of software. If you took years to master something like Adobe Photoshop and later switched to linux only for all that to go away and you being forced to use something different like Gimp, you would 100% be pissed off

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