Download Zorin OS: official images and preparation
English edition published on .
To install Zorin OS, first choose an edition and check your hardware, then obtain the ISO from the official project. The button above opens edition selection; distrib.wiki does not host installation images.
Updated on . Links and procedure checked against official documentation; no hands-on installation is claimed.
1. Choose a suitable image
On 27 October 2026, the official download page offered Zorin OS 18.1: Core and Education were free, while Pro was paid. Core suits a general first trial; Education adds an educational software selection. Pro offers additional options but is not a mandatory step to download Zorin OS. The newsletter signup presented during a free download can be bypassed using Skip to download.
For Xfce, use the official Zorin OS Lite page, which referenced 18.1 Lite when checked. Read the edition comparison for differences and Lite’s announced future.
These images target 64-bit Intel or AMD PCs. Do not equate “recent computer” with “compatible architecture”: Apple Silicon Macs and ARM Surface devices are not natively supported by these images. The official requirements also specify memory and storage for each edition.
2. Check ISO integrity
Keep the exact downloaded filename, including version and edition. The official verification procedure explains calculating its hash with QuickHash: select the File tab, SHA256 and your ISO.
Compare every character with the published hash for the same file. Core, Education, Pro and Lite have different hashes; revisions may also differ. Use official values instead of a checksum copied into an old tutorial.
If values differ, do not install from that copy: download it again from the project and repeat the check. A matching hash verifies integrity against the reference consulted; it does not replace choosing a trustworthy download source.
3. Write the image to the correct USB drive
The official installation guide specifies a 4 GB drive for Core or Lite and 16 GB for Pro, Pro Lite or Education. Back up its contents: writing the image erases them.
- Open balenaEtcher, the tool used in the official guide, and choose your ISO with Flash from file.
- Choose USB media using Select target. Check its capacity and name to avoid selecting another disk.
- Start writing with Flash! and let verification finish. Simply copying the ISO to USB does not perform this operation.
4. Boot and try before installing
Boot the computer from USB through its boot menu. Let the automatic media check finish on first launch. Then choose Try Zorin OS; the installation guide describes steps and special options.
- Check networking, audio, display and peripherals.
- Use document copies for testing; keep a separate, readable backup.
- Before installing, identify the destination disk. The disk-erasure option removes its contents; stop if you do not understand the proposed layout.
Record observations in the trial worksheet. A successful boot does not validate all your applications.
Already using Zorin OS: do you need an ISO?
From Zorin OS 18, updating to 18.1 uses the update application, as the official announcement explains. For a major-version upgrade, back up data and check the paths offered by Upgrade Zorin OS in the upgrade guide. Do not reinstall solely because a new ISO is available.
The Zorin OS profile explains editions, applications and Windows compatibility limits.