First impressions with problems. Some broken, Some small

icecat55 · January 9, 2026, 6:20pm

Using ZorinOS for 2 days now and here's what I've noticed right off.

Software Manager icons and loading is broken in its UI and performs bad

Icons rarely load and its slow with freezers.

There's stutters and lag, It freezes frequently and becomes unresponsive. It looks like broken software, It feels like broken software, I can't use it. I think I'm going to go back to mint just because of the software manager but right now I'm using bazaar. Why isnt this the default? I uninstalled gnome software and it seems to have not removed the desktop even though the terminal said it would but idk if it broke anything. Still To clarify these photos are 30 seconds after launching the software store and I've had two freezes where the store wouldn't respond.

This is what bazaar looks like after opening it for the first time

What gaming section looks like instantly after clicking on it in bazaar

So please, get rid of snaps, ubuntu repos and just use flatpak and bazaar is my suggestion. Its quite embarrassing and a stain on the OS to have to remove broken software from a "complete" and "windows 10 competitor" OS.

Not many color options or accents that aren't pastel or that light color.

Wish I could use the dark theme with the blue icons and accents with the dark theming. As in the black dark theme with white text and blue highlights/folders.
There's no real "windows 10" color pallete and dark mode besides this theme in zorinOS and it forces you to use white.

Maybe add a secondary accent color option to let you chose the highlight and icon color and rename Accent color to "themes".

Ponce-De-Leon · January 10, 2026, 2:10pm

Welcome to the Forum!

For Gnome Software:
When You have this Behavior, open the System Monitor and on the ''Processes'' Tab look for gnome-software and end the Process. The Gnome Software Window will close; that is intended. Then open it again.

For the Theming:
You could use gnome-tweaks and set up the Theme and the Icons seperately. Then You can use the Zorin Blue Folder Icons Set. And if You want a more Windows Look, You could simply use a different Windows-like Theme from gnome-look.org

icecat55 · January 10, 2026, 3:45pm

I reinstalled it, killed gnome software in system monitor and restarted it, icons arent loading. Still after opening it again categories, the icons dont load and overall feels sluggish and stuttery when searching for apps. It takes 4-5 seconds to load the app page when you click on something.

I have a pretty good 500mbps internet connection, fiber internet and I updated zorin. Feels broken to use.

Compare it to bazaar after instantly opening a category
It just looks nicer, cleaner, works faster and loads instantly

IMO zorin on my first impressions feels to unpolished and buggy for me to use it. This is a major problem so unfortunately I'll have to go back to linux mint, Its just too rough if the software store is broken.

Also for some reason the file manager doesnt open instantly when I click it. It takes 800ms-1 second. But then after that I close it and open it again, it opens instantly. Pretty sure this is a gnome issue but its too annoying

Video of file manager speed

DotWayton · January 10, 2026, 11:43pm

This is not a Zorin Specific Issue, Gnome Software at least for Flatpaks has been beaten by Bazaar Drastically, the reason Bazaar is not used is because Gnome Software is configurable to include multiple file formats, allowing users the biggest pool of packages/programs.

Users have acess to Apt/.deb (system packages)
Snapd (Ubuntu's file format)
Flatpak (Universal Format)

I do believe at this stage the Zorin Team preffers having as big a selection as possible rather then limiting it solely to flatpak & I know the Bazaar team project is solely focused on Flatpak as they serve distros that aren't intended to modify system packages OR have Snapd.

In my opinion, Bazaar is far superior and is my preference, I have only used the other formats for easy installs of things that I want to install as system packages because they are complex software hindered by sandboxing OR it is not available as a Flatpak.

I would prefer Zorin using Bazaar, however that is up to them and the team at GNOME if they adopt it as the standard for their desktop (which does not seem likely at this time.)

icecat55 · January 11, 2026, 4:16pm

Soooooo..........do the devs just not care about their own OS? They dont care?

I mean have they even tested or used their own OS? How can this possibly be a replacement for windows 10 when its broken.

How are you going to say this is a windows 10 alternative with broken software out of the box that just doesnt work, freezes, is slow and laggy with stutters all over the place.

This is a major problem that makes the distro feel broken, buggy and unpolished. It doesn't work.

This was enough to make me leave permanently and never come back. Lost a user, sorry. Can't even use the freaking app store within the first day because it freezes, cant even load icons, takes 5+ seconds to load the page to click install.

This would be a 5 minute change to bazaar. It made me leave to kubuntu, was going to go mint but I'm liking kubuntu discover just loads instantly and works better.

If they really need an all encompassing GUI store, just fork mint install, It works flawlessly and its ubuntu based or use discover. Anything but gnome software.

Heres a video from youtube showing zorinOS, broken icons, slow loading wyhen he clicks on a page, takes literal seconds to load to get to where he can click install...Not a good look.

Ponce-De-Leon · January 11, 2026, 7:15pm

But Bazaar is only for Flatpaks. It isn't made for using as a Software Store like Gnome Software. Don't understand me wwrong: Your Critic is fine. But with Bazaar alonge this wouldn't work.

Aravisian · January 11, 2026, 8:23pm

Since I first started using Zorin OS years ago, I have essentially ignored the Gnome Software Store.
My advice to other users has been the same. To replace it with what they like better.

I have compared it to a stepping stone: A means of initially allowing the user to have a simple graphical means of managing software installs and removals. Not necessarily their permanent go-to.

And this has been because the Gnome Software application has always been problematic. Buggy, bloated, or missing features. It is one app that has been a constant toothache for users over the years.

The general answer from the GnuLinux community over time has been that it is from Gnome, so the users need to just deal with it. Not in those words, but the gist is that it is defended while indefensible.
I find it odd. I mean, we are supposed to be the group of users that declare "we matter" and when Gnome does something to show that we don't, our response is, "that's ok. I Guess we don't have to matter."

Bazaar is no replacement, since it is far too exclusive.
The reason it is faster and more responsive is because it does not deal with the backend that Gnome Software does.
It handles a much smaller portion of it, Metadata and Flatpak connections, only. Whereas Gnome Software manages:
PackageKit, Flatpak, Firmware updates (fwupd), Metadata aggregation, PolicyKit integration, Distribution-specific plugins and backends. Thhe updater alone takes up a large chunk of this.
And distro's would struggle to replace it and manage that backend, too.

Plus Gnome resists replacement by tightly integrating the Software Store into the Desktop, wrapping it up in their UI and UX policies that are already Microsoft-like in their scope...

So, most agree that the Software Store is bad, but not bad enough to undertake the massive scope of replacing it.
KDE offers its own (Discover) because it is an entirely different Desktop base.
Mint Software avoids firmware, updates and PackageKit, narrowing its package managers duties heavily, making it seem faster.
I think it could work similarly well on Zorin OS.
But that is debatable.

DotWayton · January 12, 2026, 2:38am

Personally I use Bazaar, I pin that to my dock and since it come out it has been all I've used, I thoroughly enjoy the rest of Zorin besides Gnome Software so i avoid it by not pinning it and not using it unless I really have to, ie. Snap or System Package, that I'd need.

Its your PC though so if that alone made you swap, you do you

icecat55 · January 30, 2026, 4:32am

Came back to this post just to add my thoughts after thinking for a while.

Not saying the devs are wrong for wanting to provide more packages for powerusers and admins with snap/apt through a central software store BUT if the user experience is poor why even have it in the first place?

User experience and just works functionality should be the first and most important tenent of developing an OS, If it is broken or buggy why keep it in. It does more harm than good to new people trying linux.

ZorinOS is designed and marketed for desktop windows users who want to do everything they do on windows but on linux so they can switch.

I doubt many windows users would actually want to install docker or say nginx for normal use, and you can always leave it to the terminal with apt or have something like legacy installer such as synaptic for that since its in the ubuntu repos.

Flatpak is the future and is why linux has even gotten stable recently in the past 5-8 years, because before major name brand software couldn't even be packaged correctly without dependency breakage on numerous distros because every one is slightly different or the devs developing it introduce breakages.

(see LTT linux popOS where linus deletes the desktop over breakage in dependency while trying to install steam)

There are other linux OS that offer flatpak only experiences such as bazzite, SteamOS 3, KDE Linux (In development) and are successful.

For most GUI apps that a windows user needs, flatpak has everything.

Though I wouldnt say zorinOS just needs to improve on the software store and usability, Stuff like creating folders on the desktop is delayed where as on KDE its instant. I also had problems with the lock screen bugging out.

On my journey of linux if I have more than 2 problems that are major lack of function meaning I have to spend more than 25 minutes on it or it would be a major problem to a new users, I switch.

ZorinOS 18 is "usable" as in it can be used if you tried but I would not categorize it as new user friendly, bug free or even slightly below windows 10, IT has a long way to go. I'd say its maybe 60% of the way to windows functionality and usability.

The choice to base on gnome is also an interesting one as well given it was not designed to be a traditional desktop windows like the KDE environment with folders on the home screen or have a taskbar. It runs on extensions which break frequently and have notable problems.

Maybe something like a more polished XFCE would've been the right choice for zorin 18. I still think zorin lite was a better desktop experience with some additional tweaking like more smart pinning of apps like MX linux does.

Aravisian · January 30, 2026, 4:56am

Yes, it is great until it doesn't work.

Flatpak and Snaps also isolate themselves in a short sighted bit of planning.
They are touted as being all encompassing, yet cannot even communicate with the critical system components it needs to in order for the application to work.
And you can hardly credit Flatpak with stabilizing GnuLinux. There is no evidence to support that claim, at all.
Trends in growth and adoption started and retained steady long before Flatpak was even tinkered with and did not spike when distros began offering it.

A lot of Flatpak packages do work as intended. But when they don't, it is due to the fundamantal way they are packaged - it can't work.
And for some, using Flatseal can work around that, but not all. When it does - it kind of defeats a portion of the purpose of why Flatpak is being shoved down our throats.

Flatpak confuses most new users on this forum. They arrive here, baffled as to why the app they installed cannot communicate with the printer.
Cannot see their storage drive.
So on and so on.

And the worst thing a developer could ever do is assume that "The average user does not need access to tools."
That is heavily errant,a s the "average" user is a very diverse crowd of many talents, many interests and many workflows. No one has any idea what tools the average user needs.
No, there is no claim on exclusivity to be made. We don't get to exclude a crowd saying they do not need their tools. Not ever.

Now, after my criticality, I will cover points I agree with you on, which are actually more than where I disagree.
I do think Gnome is a poor choice for the desktop. It is too fast paced and therefor buggy. It is not stable, it has long standing issues with lock screen and sleep that frustrate many users.

Zorin OS is quite usable and user friendly, but not bug free. Very little in computing is bug free and as a well experienced Windows User, personally and professionally, Windows OS is nowhere near bug free. I mean, look at the latest patches that Microsoft is advising users to Undo that are killing computers.
No one can plead a case for Windows OS now that has hit the news...

Ponce-De-Leon · January 30, 2026, 11:26am

That was because of a Bug.

These are immutable Distros.

icecat55 · February 3, 2026, 10:53am

But you'll include broken software in the OS anyways.

Never had a flatpak give me any problem

You can package system apps like printer manager, blueman as non flatpaks.

Blueman is in the debian repo, system-config-printer is in the debian repos.

Just endless excuse upon excuse why the desktop can't be fixed.

No one expects everything to be packaged with flatpak, but most things like steam, chrome, firefox work just fine which is what 99% of people use.

The future of linux is flatpak.
APT packages for legacy/system utils
Flatpak for GUI very popular name brand programs what 99% of people download

Also for how much talk in this thread about updates updates updates "We need a centralized app to do everything to keep things updated so we can't use Bazaar!".... Bazaar has a built in all in one flatpak updater and just works. Its currently the best software manager on linux.

And doesn't zorin already have a software updater tool to update ubuntu base which is not reliant on using gnome software? Again why is gnome software needed.

Whats bizzare is the devs decision to leave in software thats broken while also taking that stance instead of just fixing the problem in 5 minutes, lol so much for the end user.

You will never be a real competitor to windows 10 if the user experience out of the box is broken.

Let me give you a reality check, Zorin OS 18 currently as of February 3rd is broken out of the box. If your software manager cannot even load app categories or icons instantly, It's broken.

It literally takes 1-2 minutes to even load a couple icons in gnome software and if you go to an app page and back out the icons are blank again. It also routinely crashes, freezes, stutters. This is with fiber internet on a gaming PC.

Because the devs of popOS did not use flatpak. They used a native package that was broken because of their bad decisions and poor planning using apt which broke just like it broke over the last 15 years of linux with problems. Dependency hell, Missing dependency, Broken repos, etc etc which is why linux hasn't even been popular until now.

This package failure caused one of the biggest content creators on youtube to showcase their failure.

That are the future like steamOS

So you guys will ship a OS that doesn't have a functional software manager just because you dont want to use a flatpak only app store.

Me I'd rather have something that works. Sounds like excuses to me and yikes I dont want to use a distro that has that mentality.

Aravisian · February 3, 2026, 11:18am

Your post reads like a car swerving all over the road.
You admit that only some common apps work with flatpak, but neglect their common issues. I mean, I get you are a fan of flatpak and that is totally fine.
But part of the time we spend on this forum, for years, includes observations of what goes wrong. For example, Steam Flatpak being unable to see or access a storage SSD holding games.
It doesn't "just work." And for new migrants from Windows OS, it is very confusing.
They install it, and it cannot see their SSD... They might join the forum and ask, then get the long speech about Flatpak isolation, having to install more software (Flatseal) then individually go in and peck out permissions. They are not sure which ones... They find it needless and 100% avoidable.
You mention Bazaar having great and fast updates, which is great for Flatpak packages, but also is exclusive only to Flatpaks, right after you admit that the system packages should be and must be APT supplied.

The Zorin OS bashing is primarily just a series of Logical Fallacies I am not going to waste my time on it.

Are you suggesting that Flatpak packages are BugFree? There is no logic to this.
There was a bug in the packaging and there is no logical correlation that the solution was Flatpak. Flatpak packages have bugs and regressions all the time.

It is a cost to benefit ratio. Flatpak and Apt have costs and they have benefits. Many end users can decide for themselves where they land on this. But pretending that there are all benefits and no costs in Flatpak is demonstrably wrong.
So, here is where it gets interesting:

Can Flatpaks have bugs? It is actually a larger problem.
With APT packages, you are getting a bug only in the package that contains it.
But with Snap and Flatpak, you are getting a bundled package. Being bundled, a bug in any of the included dependencies now will affect your system. The more bundled packages, the higher the risk.
A regression in the app's code or its embedded libraries won't auto-fix via distro updates. You must wait for the Flathub maintainer to rebuild. This includes occasional upstream neglect where Flatpak builds lag native fixes.

Ponce-De-Leon · February 3, 2026, 11:47am

No, it was simply a Bug. And Bugs, You can have in every Software, independently from the Package Formta. And to be fair: When he installed it in the Terminal, he could read what the Terminal warned him. It isn't only a User's Fault, sure. It is a Bug.

Gnome Software has a built in Flatpak Updater, too. I use Flatpaks and the Updates come over Gnome Software and it works without Issues. The Comparision between Bazaar and Gnome Software is a bit difficult in my Opinion because Bazaar is specific made for mangaing flatpaks and no other Package Formta's. Gnome Software handles APt, Snap and Flatpak. Don't understand me wrong: Has it it Problems? Yes, no doubt. but it has to do more than Bazaar. So the Possibility of Issues increases.

Microsoft is a multi-billion Dollar Company with an Army of Employee's. That is not a good Comparison at all. Sure, Zorin can't compete with this Possibilities of Money and Man-Power.

Well, maybe for SteamOS but not in general. That is one System - gaming-focused. that might be have an Impact because User's who are primary play Games will use it. And for them it might be a good choice. But not all People are Gamers. So, it might be a Part of the Future but not the whole Future.

Aravisian · February 3, 2026, 11:52am

And it still comes out with bugs...

Nourpon · February 3, 2026, 12:00pm

Windows is THE bug...

swarfendor437 · February 3, 2026, 12:08pm

I have stated elsewhere that I can't stand Software (gnome-software) and replace it with Synaptic Package Manager. I for one won't use flatpak or snap period. If you want a snappy (no pun intended) software manager then use Apper for software install and software updates and use Synaptic for for system updates.

Let's face it Windows 10 has always had an atrocious Software channel and was one of the first things Chris Titus removed from his Win 10 install.
Plasma gives a bit more colour variation than Gnome.

icecat55 · February 3, 2026, 10:52pm

Because I already said what flatpaks are for.

APT is for legacy packages and utilities/desktop environments
Flatpak is for GUI modern programs which is the future of linux.

Before this paradigm software developers could not realistically package software for linux without it breaking because there was 100+ linux distros with their own problems. Dependency problems, bugs like missing 32 bit libraries (see LTT video).

The only reason linux is even taking off is because companies with their programs like discord and steam, the two biggest computer programs that most PC users download are flatpak one click install

The steam native package on linux has had a long and buggy history for the last 8 years you can check ask ubuntu forums or any other forum about broken drivers, missing libraries etc etc.

Flatpak centralizes and makes packages behave the same with the same runtimes and dependencies sandboxed. Flatpak is the future because the alternative is failure for the past 20 years. Linux has failed for the last 20 years because of this problem.

Anyways why try to deflect and ignore the problem with the software store.

Why cant I use zorin OS? Because its broken.

The software store is broken and cannot load icons within even a minute or even navigate properly without stuttering or breaking
The desktop since its built on gnome cant lock screen properly without bugging out on wayland on my all AMD gaming PC. Wayland is broken
The folder creation/file manager is slower than windows 10, not by a lot but enough to make me not want to use zorin
X11 on zorin lite never had any of these problems and was way faster.
The devs outright lie saying the gnome desktop is faster

Aravisian · February 3, 2026, 11:12pm

You are repeating yourself and the vast majority of your post reads like propaganda with its extreme over exaggerations and dubious claims.

What this causes is debate drift. Rather than make merit based arguments, parties try to outdo each other by moving to further extremes.

I actually agree with you about Gnome and Wayland creating more headaches than they solve, but Flatpak fits in with them, rather than solving them.

Omnimaxus · February 6, 2026, 5:28pm

I have to say, you are not wrong. This was one of my thoughts when I bought Zorin OS 17 Pro and started to find out this and that. Same thing. But I adapted. Used Zorin OS 17 Pro after I fixed everything (and in the process, learned a lot about Linux as a newcomer). When Zorin OS 18 had the same problems, I was done. I moved on elsewhere. You have the same choice available to you. Good luck.