Does anyone know why Zorin has been receiving a flood of updates for the last month or more? It's great if they are fixing known issues, but the issue we're experiencing is a significant increase in bugs and glitches since it began. It started on one machine suddenly requiring the password on boot or reboot, which the other two identical installations still do not. Also, apps are not responding, are disappearing (with all my work), or not even opening. Then there is the problem of the entire OS freezing with no way to recover except using the power button on the PC. We never had this before, only the occasional tiny glitch like Nautilus opening but not being accessible until I kill it and reopen.
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for the freezing depending of your hardware, I suggest you to downgrade to 6.14 kernel.
For nautilus the subject was talked here, and you need to uninstall folder-color and it will be fine
If I need to downgrade this OS I might as well install a different one. Also, that doesn't address any of the other bugs that appeared during these updates.
My Nautilus example was merely to illustrate how few issues we had with Zorin before the updates, not to seek a solution since I am already aware of the folder color.
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Do it. MX Linux 25 is solid as heck. I recommend XFCE. But KDE is an option.
EDIT: If you do switch, please consider donating. MX Linux 100% deserves it.
This is worrisome for any user. Time to switch. Just being honest.
If the bugs and stuff keeps up, this GIF is gonna apply big time. See below:
But then again ... this should've been happening a long time ago already. Yup.
On the subject of refunds, I asked ChatGPT about this. See below:
Zorin OS 18 Pro has been buggy. Would paying customers be right and justified in demanding their money back?
Yes — it’s absolutely reasonable for paying customers to expect a functioning product, and to request a refund if Zorin OS 18 Pro (or any paid software) isn’t working reliably for them.
Here’s a breakdown of why that expectation makes sense and how to approach it constructively:
Why a Refund Request Is Justified
1. You Paid for a Product That Should Work
When you buy software (especially a “Pro” version), the implicit agreement is:
- the product installs cleanly,
- functions as advertised,
- is reasonably stable,
- and any major bugs are addressed promptly.
If the release is not meeting those basic expectations, then dissatisfaction — including a refund request — is a fair consumer response.
2. Paid Licensing = Higher Expectations
Free software can be rough around the edges, and users may tolerate instability more easily.
But a paid tier generally promises:
- premium features,
- better support,
- greater polish,
- more testing,
- timely bug fixes.
If Zorin Pro feels unstable or “buggy,” it’s understandable that customers feel short-changed.
3. There Are Consumer Rights Involved
In many regions (EU, UK, US state laws, etc.) there are legal protections for digital purchases that:
require products to be fit for purpose
So, beyond fairness, there’s often a legal basis for asking for a refund.
What You Should Do Before Requesting a Refund
1. Document the Issues
Before contacting support, gather:
- exact steps to reproduce bugs
- screenshots/error messages
- system specs
- logs if possible
This increases the chance support will take you seriously and respond quicker.
2. Check Support & Update Channels
Sometimes issues are:
- already known and being fixed
- caused by specific hardware
- resolved via updates or workarounds
Look on:
- Zorin forums
- official support portal
- community threads
You may find:
3. Contact Official Support
Pro buyers should get priority responses from Zorin’s support team. In your message:
- be polite but firm
- describe exactly what’s not working
- ask for either a fix or refund if issues persist
I just don't understand how this hasn't happened much sooner. Get to it.
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In the words of Billy Mays (RIP), "But wait! There's more!" See below:
Tell me more about the applicable law. Zorin Group is based in Ireland.
Since Zorin Group is based in Ireland, EU and Irish consumer protection laws apply. These are actually quite strong when it comes to digital goods like Zorin OS Pro. Here's a detailed breakdown:
1. EU Consumer Rights Directive (Digital Goods)
Under the EU Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU, which Ireland implements in its national law:
Key points for digital products
- Digital content must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described.
- If it is defective, faulty, or not as advertised, consumers are entitled to remedies.
- Remedies can include:
- repair or replacement,
- price reduction,
- refund if the issue cannot be remedied.
- The company must provide updates if necessary to keep the software functional, unless the contract explicitly excludes this.
Important: Even if the software was downloaded and the “cool-down” period for cancelling a digital contract (14 days) has passed, if the software is defective, consumers still have rights to redress under EU law.
2. Irish Consumer Protection Law
Ireland implements EU directives through laws such as:
- Consumer Protection Act 2007
- Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980 (as amended)
What this means for Zorin Pro
- The product must conform to the contract: it must do what Zorin promises.
- If it is not of merchantable quality or not fit for its purpose, you are entitled to remedies.
- Remedies are usually repair or replacement first, but if those fail, a full refund is justified.
- Companies cannot avoid these obligations just by putting disclaimers in the EULA.
3. Digital Content Specifics
EU law recognizes that digital content can have ongoing bugs or updates. In practical terms:
- If the bugs prevent reasonable use, this counts as a defect.
- If the company cannot fix the bugs within a reasonable timeframe, the consumer can demand a refund.
- Minor cosmetic bugs or personal preferences are not sufficient for a refund; the issue must affect usability.
4. Steps to Protect Your Rights
- Document the problem:
- Screenshots, error messages, installation logs, and system info.
- Contact Zorin support first:
- Ask for a fix or update.
- Make clear the problems prevent the software from performing as advertised.
- Reference your rights if they resist:
- Mention that under EU Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU and Irish law, you are entitled to a refund for defective digital content.
Bottom line:
If Zorin OS 18 Pro is genuinely buggy and unusable, Irish/EU law backs up your right to either a fix or a full refund. Zorin Group cannot legally deny a refund for software that fails to meet the basic standards promised to paying customers.
I have asked the Zorin Group repeatedly to do the right thing. Nothing.
It's up to people to do the right thing for themselves. Gonna leave it at that.
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Last one (I promise). See below:
This is what an user posted: Does anyone know why Zorin has been receiving a flood of updates for the last month or more? It's great if they are fixing known issues, but the issue we're experiencing is a significant increase in bugs and glitches since it began. It started on one machine suddenly requiring the password on boot or reboot, which the other two identical installations still do not. Also, apps are not responding, are disappearing (with all my work), or not even opening. Then there is the problem of the entire OS freezing with no way to recover except using the power button on the PC. We never had this before, only the occasional tiny glitch like Nautilus opening but not being accessible until I kill it and reopen.
Wow — that user’s experience is actually pretty serious, and it highlights why a refund or formal complaint could be entirely justified. Let’s break it down carefully:
1. Key Issues in Their Report
- Sudden password requirement on boot/reboot – indicates potential corruption or update-induced configuration issues.
- Applications not responding or disappearing – data loss risk, severe usability problem.
- OS freezing completely – system instability requiring forced shutdowns.
- Multiple machines affected differently – shows inconsistency and instability of updates.
These are not “minor bugs” — they are critical failures affecting core functionality, data integrity, and usability.
2. Implications under Irish/EU Consumer Law
Using the previous law breakdown:
- Not fit for purpose – the OS should allow users to boot, run apps, and save work reliably. It clearly isn’t in this case.
- Defective digital content – repeated updates are creating new problems rather than fixing them, which could strengthen a claim that the product is defective.
- Right to remedies – under EU/Ireland law, the user can demand:
- A fix (update or patch that resolves the issues)
- If that fails, a full refund, since the product is failing in its fundamental purpose.
3. Practical Considerations
- If only one machine is experiencing certain issues, support might try to claim “hardware-specific problem.” But with multiple serious bugs like app crashes and total freezes, the claim that the product is broadly functional is weak.
- Frequent updates causing more instability than stability may count legally as a failure to provide the product as promised.
- Data loss risk (apps disappearing, unsaved work) makes this a high-priority defect for a paying customer.
4. Recommended Approach
- Document everything:
- Screenshots of errors, timestamps of freezes, logs if possible.
- Note the update history and when issues started.
- Contact Zorin Pro support:
- Explain the critical nature of the issues (boot problems, app crashes, system freezes).
- Ask whether they can fix them promptly.
- Set expectations:
- If no timely solution, clearly request a refund under your rights as an EU/Irish consumer.
- You can mention the Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU and Irish law explicitly.
- Optional: Post on forums or Reddit to alert others — sometimes this increases pressure on developers to respond.
Bottom line:
This is beyond normal “minor glitches.” A paying customer in Ireland (or anywhere in the EU) experiencing these problems is fully justified in requesting a refund if Zorin cannot provide a stable, functional OS promptly.
If you want, I can draft a professional refund request referencing this user’s types of issues and the relevant Irish/EU law — something you could send directly to Zorin Pro support. This makes it much harder for them to ignore or deny. Do you want me to do that?
What about in the USA? What if this person was in the USA or outside of Europe?
If the user were in the USA (or outside the EU), the situation changes a bit because consumer protections for digital content are less uniform and generally weaker than in the EU. Here’s a careful breakdown:
1. United States
a. Key Legal Protections
In the U.S., the main avenues are:
- State “Implied Warranty” Laws
- Most states have laws based on the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC).
- Products (including software) must be fit for ordinary purpose and as described.
- If a product is defective and unusable, consumers may have a claim under these implied warranties.
- Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (federal law)
- Applies if there is a written warranty.
- Requires manufacturers to honor their promises; if a product is defective and not repairable, a refund may be requested.
- Terms of Sale / Refund Policy
- Many software vendors in the U.S. limit or specify refunds in their EULA.
- Courts generally uphold reasonable limitations, but they cannot override basic implied warranties in many states.
b. Practical Implications
- U.S. consumers can request a refund, but enforcement is trickier than in the EU.
- If Zorin Pro cannot fix critical issues (freezes, data loss, apps not launching), many U.S. consumers successfully get refunds through customer service.
- For software sold via platforms (like PayPal, credit cards, or Steam), payment disputes are an extra option if the vendor refuses.
2. Outside Europe (Other Countries)
Consumer protection varies widely:
Region Notes on Digital Goods Canada Similar to U.S.: products must be fit for purpose; provincial laws vary. Australia Strong digital consumer protections under the Australian Consumer Law: guarantees of acceptable quality, fit for purpose, and remedies including refunds. Asia (varies) Protections are generally weaker, often limited to refund if software is unusable or misrepresented. Latin America Laws vary by country; some protect consumers against defective software, but enforcement is inconsistent. Key idea: Even outside the EU, a paid OS that crashes, freezes, and loses data is a strong case for a refund, especially if the vendor cannot fix it promptly.
3. Practical Tips for Non-EU Users
- Check the vendor’s refund policy first. Zorin Pro explicitly lists their policies for non-EU customers.
- Document the problems — freezes, app crashes, lost work, error messages.
- Contact support politely but firmly, emphasizing that the OS is not functioning as advertised.
- Escalate via payment provider if the vendor refuses (credit card dispute, PayPal claim, etc.).
Bottom line:
- EU/Ireland: very strong consumer protections → refund is legally supported.
- USA: protections exist but are more dependent on state law, implied warranties, and vendor policies → refund is reasonable, but might require more persistence.
- Other countries: varies; strongest cases are for defective software causing data loss or unusable systems.
And (this is important):
Does it matter if it's Linux?
Not really — the fact that it’s Linux doesn’t change your consumer rights. Whether it’s Linux, Windows, or macOS, the same basic principles apply when you pay for software. Here’s why:
1. Linux vs. Proprietary Software
- Many people think Linux is “free” or “open source,” but Zorin OS 18 Pro is a paid edition, which makes it a commercial product.
- Paying for any software, open source or proprietary, creates a contract: you pay for the product to work as advertised.
- The license type (GPL, MIT, proprietary) doesn’t exempt the vendor from providing a usable product for paid editions.
2. What “Linux” Means Legally
- Linux itself is open-source and free, but Zorin Pro bundles Linux with extra software, proprietary tools, themes, and support.
- That bundle is what you’re paying for, and the company is responsible for its functionality and stability.
- Courts and consumer agencies treat paid Linux distributions the same way as paid Windows or macOS software.
3. Practical Implications
- If Zorin Pro freezes, loses data, or apps disappear, that’s a defect in the paid product, regardless of the underlying Linux kernel.
- Zorin cannot argue “it’s Linux, bugs happen” as a reason to deny refunds — especially for critical usability issues.
- Open-source disclaimers often apply to free software, not paid Pro editions with official support.
Bottom line:
- Being Linux-based does not reduce your right to a refund.
- Paying customers are justified in requesting a fix or a full refund if Zorin OS Pro is unstable, buggy, or unusable, just like any paid commercial software.
At this point, it would be extremely advisable for the Zorin Group to start engaging in regular communications in the form of formal, official blog posts acknowledging the problems many folks (myself included) have reported with respect and dignity. These posts should clearly state their plans to fix bugs with a clear timeline.
Otherwise, they leave themselves exposed to multiple refund requests by dissatisfied customers (or worse; more specifically from a legal perspective). If there has been any "right" time for the Zorin Group to start listening to users who care and want to use Zorin OS as their permanent OS replacement, it is now.
Good luck to everyone (and yes, that includes the Zorin Group). 
Reverting to a previous linux kernel i.e. 6.14 instead of 6.17, when the older kernel better supports your hardware, does not represent a OS downgrade in my book.
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It's not just the kernel. It's many other things, like apps not launching, etc.
I'm going to keep looking at other distros until I find one I like and has some familiarity.
Good idea. If you haven't yet, go look at www.distrowatch.com. Good luck.
This could be related to the Ubuntu 24.04.4 Point Release. Because Zorin 18 is based it it, it gets these Updates, too.
@Omnimaxus, you created seven new posts in a row, which I combined the shorter ones together.
It reads as though... If this were a conversation someone was having, like you jumped into it and dominated it without letting the original speaker get a word in edgewise.
This is not an effort to pick on you; given your enthusiasm for discussing ZorinGroup decisions and areas of improvement.
No content has been removed.
Nor is it disagreement. I mean, I have been using Zorin OS 18 because I need to see what it has and what is in the repos and I desperately feel ready to remove it and use either my own or Zorin OS 17.3 to evade the changes and even issues it brought, too.
But you are as jumpy as a frog with fleas.
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Sorry. You were right to combine them. Thank you, @Aravisian.
No worries. I get it completely. All I can hope for is Artyom and Kyrill get around to seeing it my (and others') way eventually. I don't know anymore, though. Oh, well.
Wow; you went ahead and installed Zorin OS 18? Kudos to you. But yeah, I mean, it makes sense for you (as the lead moderator here) to install it and give it a shot, at least. Sorry to know you're also ready to remove it, too.
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One thing about Zorin OS, for me, has been its trouble-free experience. I know that many users run into issues like network cards, printers - notorious sound and speaker issues...
I never had any trouble.
So it took no courage to install Zorin OS 18.
Until...
I have had a slew of issues. Software not working, software needing polkit rules that they never needed before, software dependency problems... Not to mention the UI issues caused by LibAdwaita.
I will be pacing along, minding my workflow when I get hit with one. It's an experience and one I can do without.
Mind you, this is with me avoiding a lot of the problem areas of Snap/Flatpak, Gnome and Wayland.
I am aware that a large portion of these are not due to ZorinGroup changes - they are inherited from Ubuntu and from Gnome.
And other derivatives like Mint have experienced the same.
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I'm honestly surprised you mentioned Mint. I haven't heard anything bad. But perhaps what we've all been seeing is what Clem and Co. had in mind when they developed LMDE (as an off-ramp from Ubuntu). And maybe the Zorin Group should consider switching to not just Debian, but also another DE, like XFCE, but make it uniquely Zorin. I am so grateful that Debian exists. Same for alternative DEs. Gotta love Linux for all the options it offers.
Mint suffered the Steam polkit issue and also the Wine install running into the libdecor-gtk-1:i386 issue, as well.
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My intent was not to start a Zorin hate thread, but to find out if these are common issues with these updates and det6ermine the source. The negativity is certainly not deserved if these are, in fact, issues with the update to Ubuntu 24.04. That would also be reason to not jump the gun and switch to another distro based on Ubuntu.
I have noticed that after a flood of seemingly random updates I get one that specifically names Zorin. For all I know the others are the Ubuntu updates and the Zorin-labeled ones are corrections to make Zorin work smoothly again.
I just don't know, so I asked. My main PC seems to have settled down in regards to the issues I've listed, which is why I am still looking at other distros but not in a hurray to switch.
We like Zorin. It's kind of like the Linux equivalent of Windows XP; Clean, simple, user friendly, with a hint of whimsy.
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You're fine. No worries. I understood the intent. It's just that for those who want better out of Zorin (because we believe in the OS and enjoy using it when it works), it's like, "guys, do better" (to @AZorin and @zorink) when we know they can (but don't), and it's frustrating (especially when there's radio silence from them).
Glad to hear that. When enough time passes, I may give Zorin OS another chance (assuming that all the bugs are worked out), but I don't know. I'm fine with MX Linux XFCE, and appreciate how it just works, and has no bugs.
I also am happy with how communicative the MX Linux team is. Besides, the last time I tried Zorin out (which was like a week ago) on my spare MacBook, many of the same bugs I reported still were there. So again, I don't know.
Again, you're fine. Enjoy Zorin until when and if you do switch. Good luck.
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