How to install Zorin OS 15

Zorin OS 15 is the latest offering from the Zorin OS project. 15 provides an elegant, modern, and fast user interface that can quickly be changed to suit many different workflows, including layouts similar to Apple Mac OS, a standard Linux layout, Windows 10, and even a touch-based UI!

If you’ve been looking for an elegant, beautiful Linux-based operating system packed with features, Zorin 15 may be just what you’re looking for. So, grab a USB flash drive and follow along as we guide you through how to install Zorin OS 15!

Download Zorin OS 15

Getting Zorin OS 15 isn’t as simple as other Linux operating systems, as there are multiple download options. The first download option available to users is the $39 “Ultimate” release. It comes pre-loaded with over 20 video games, and an array of different apps, so you don’t have to install them yourself. To get Ultimate, go to the Zorin OS official website, and click the blue button underneath “Zorin OS 15 Ultimate” to go through the purchasing/download process.

Aside from the Ultimate release of Zorin OS 15, there’s “Core.” The Core release is the same underlying technology that users get with Ultimate, but without the games and apps pre-loaded.  For Core, head to the Zorin OS website, scroll down to “Zorin OS 15 Core,” and click the blue button to get the latest ISO.

Making a bootable Zorin OS 15 USB

Installing Zorin OS 15 on a desktop or laptop computer in 2019 requires making a bootable USB flash drive with the ISO on it. To do this, we’ll need to make use of an imaging tool. As of now, the best and easiest tool for this job is Etcher, which you can download from this page here.

When the Etcher imaging tool is done downloading plug in a USB flash drive into your PC, follow the step-by-step instructions to learn how to create a bootable Zorin OS 15 USB installer.

Note: the Etcher USB imaging tool works on Mac, Linux, and Windows, and no matter which one of the big three computer operating systems you use to burn Zorin to a flash drive, the instructions outlined below are the same!

Step 1: Once the Etcher application is installed, open it up. Then, plug in your USB flash drive into the USB port. Be sure that the USB flash drive is at least 2GB in size, or Zorin will not fit on it!

Step 2: Find the “Select Image” button in the Etcher application, and click it with the mouse to bring up a file browser window. Then, use the file browser window to select the Zorin OS 15 ISO image, so that it can be flashed in the Etcher app.

Step 3: Locate the “Select Drive” button and click it to choose the USB flash drive as the device Etcher will flash the Zorin OS 15 ISO file to.

Step 4: Find the “Flash!” button and click it with the mouse to start the USB imaging process. Then, when the process is complete, reboot your computer and access the BIOS to configure it to boot from the Zorin OS 15 USB stick.

Install Zorin OS 15

Installing Zorin OS 15 starts at the welcome page. This welcome page has two options. The first option says, “try Zorin OS.” The second option says, “Install Zorin OS.” Click the install button to move on to the next page.

On the next page, you’ll see a list of keyboard layouts to choose from. Look through the list of layouts for one that matches your keyboard. Then, select the “Continue” button to move to the next page in the installer.

Following the keyboard layout page is the “Updates and other software” page. Here you’ll be able to specify if Zorin should auto-update during the install process to save time, and whether or not it should install 3rd party codecs and drivers. By default, these options are both selected. If you do not want these options enabled, check the boxes to turn them off. After making your selections, click “Continue” to move to the next page.

The page after “Updates and other software” is the “installation type” section. In this area, look through the various types of installations for Zorin OS 15 and make your selection. For best results, choose the “Erase disk and install Zorin OS.” Alternatively, if you need to dual-boot with Windows or another OS, choose the “Install alongside” option. Select the “Install Now” button to start the installation of Zorin OS 15 on your PC.

After you’ve chosen the installation type for Zorin OS 15, you’ll be taken to the “Where are you?” page. From here, click on your location, and the Zorin installer will automatically assign a timezone. Then, choose “Continue” to move to the final page in the installer.

On the final page, you’ll be asked to enter your full name, the name for your Linux PC (network ID name,) as well as a username and password. Fill out each of the boxes, then, click “Continue” to finalize the installation.

Once your username is filled out, the Zorin OS installer will finish setting up your new installation and present you with an “installation complete” message. Select the “Reboot Now” button to restart into Zorin OS 15!