How To Achieve a Windows 11 Interface Similar to Ubuntu or Linux Mint

Trying to make Windows 11 look more like Linux — particularly Ubuntu or Mint — can be a bit of a dance. Not everyone wants to wipe Windows altogether, especially if there’s specific software, games, or work setups that require it. So, this guide is kinda about getting that fresh Linux vibe without actually ditching Windows. It’s not perfect, and a lot of times, third-party apps or themes can be flaky or break after certain updates. But hey, with a few tweaks, you can definitely get a decent look that feels more Linux-esque, at least visually. Just keep in mind, some things may need redoing after Windows updates, and not everything will be seamless.

Of course, Windows doesn’t give you as many customization options as most Linux distros do out of the box. But there are workarounds, and some involve fiddling with themes, icons, fonts, and even replacing the taskbar. Another thing — you gotta be comfortable with simple command-line stuff, like PowerShell or extracting files. For some, installing custom fonts or changing icon cursors is straightforward, but setting up a full Ubuntu-like experience? That takes patience. Still, it’s doable, and the results can be pretty satisfying if you don’t mind the effort.

How to Make Windows 11 Look & Feel Like Linux — Especially Ubuntu or Mint

Alter your mouse cursor to match Ubuntu

First, grab some Ubuntu cursors. Look online for “Ubuntu cursor themes”—many free ones are floating around on DeviantArt or GitHub. Just make sure they’re from a legit source; some shady files can mess things up.
Once downloaded, head over to File Explorer and go to your Downloads folder.
Right-click the zip file and select Extract All. Pick a simple folder like Downloads/UbuntuCursor.
Open the Start menu, type in mouse settings, and hit enter. Then, click on Additional mouse options (usually on the right).
Go to the Pointers tab. Click Browse next to Normal Select.
Navigate to where you extracted the cursors, and pick the cursor file (usually named like `cursor_ubuntu_normal.cur`).Click Open.
Hit Apply and then OK. Your cursor should change to match Ubuntu’s look.
Repeat for other pointers — I’ve found changing Help Select and Busy cursors makes it more cohesive.

It’s kind of weird, but on some setups, the cursor change might not take until a reboot or log out. Not sure why, but rebooting often helps.

Give your accent colors a Linux flavor

Right-click on the desktop and choose Personalize.
Hit Colors, then turn on Transparency effects if they aren’t already. Makes the taskbar and window borders look slick.
Scroll down to Choose your color and click Custom color.
Then, click More and enter in #S6E349 — this matches Ubuntu’s dominant greenish hue. Hit Done.

This subtly changes some accents, start menu highlights, and headers to feel more Ubuntu-like. Totally weird but it works.

Hide desktop icons for a cleaner look

Right-click the desktop, choose View, then uncheck Show desktop icons. Voilà, icons vanish.
If you want to restore icons later, just repeat. You can also hide specific icons like Recycle Bin through Properties.

Hide or customize the taskbar

Grab a lightweight taskbar hider tool like this one. Make sure to get the correct 32 or 64-bit version.
Extract the ZIP file to the Downloads folder or somewhere easy to find.
Open PowerShell with admin rights: right-click the Start button, select Windows Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
Type: cd ~/Downloads to go into the folder.
Hide the taskbar with: .\TaskBarHider.exe --hide --exit. The taskbar should go bye-bye almost instantly.
To bring it back, run: .\TaskBarHider.exe --show --exit. Easy.

This is handy if you’re trying to mimic a Linux desktop with a clean look. On some machines, the hiding isn’t super smooth at first, but a quick reboot can fix it.

Change PowerShell’s look to match Linux fonts and colors

Download Ubuntu Fonts from here.
Extract the ZIP file into your Downloads folder.
Right-click on the Desktop and select Personalize.
Click Fonts from the sidebar, then View fonts in font settings.
Open your Downloads folder where you extracted Ubuntu fonts.
Select all fonts, then drag and drop them into the Fonts window. This installs them.
Open PowerShell, right-click the top bar, choose Properties.
Switch to the Font tab. Pick Ubuntu Mono from the list, increase size if desired, then click OK.
Change console colors: in Properties under the Colors tab, pick Screen Text palette (white).For Screen Background, enter R:94, G:39, B:80 (Ubuntu purple).

This makes command prompts look more Linux-y, especially if you’re into terminal work.

Adding a launcher bar with Links

Download Linkbar, extract it, and run the LinkBar.exe.
Right-click the bar and select Settings. Make sure style is set to Accent for matching your theme.
To add shortcuts, right-click the bar, choose New > Shortcut.
Browse to the application’s executable, name it, and hit Finish for each launcher.

Set Ubuntu or Mint wallpapers

Download a preferred wallpaper from Ubuntu or Mint sites. Right-click on the desktop and select Set as desktop background.
Dark wallpapers seem to work better for that Linux aesthetic.

Use Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) for full Linux shell

Open PowerShell as administrator.
Type: wsl --install. Wait for it to download and install.
Open the Microsoft Store, search Ubuntu, and hit Install.
Once installed, launch Ubuntu from the Start menu. It’ll set up and drop you into a Bash prompt.

WSL is kinda a big deal. It’s like running Linux inside Windows, and it’s getting more integrated with each update. You can tweak its appearance, like font and background, the same way you do with PowerShell—by right-clicking the window bar, choosing Properties, and adjusting colors and fonts (like Ubuntu Mono and the purple palette).It’s not perfect but adds lots of Linux flavor without leaving Windows.

Is making Windows 11 look like Ubuntu worth it?

Honestly, if you’re an open-source nerd or just love the Ubuntu aesthetic, doing all these tweaks can be pretty rewarding. It’s kinda fun to have a familiar interface on Windows, especially if you spend a lot of time in terminals or want that sleek, minimal vibe. Plus, not everyone is ready to switch to full Linux, so this lets you dip a toe in without losing access to Windows-only apps. Just remember: it’s semi-permanent and may require some maintenance after updates.

Fingers crossed this helps someone shave off a few hours getting their customization right. Good luck!

Summary

Custom cursors can match Ubuntu look — just grab and set via mouse options.
Accent colors can be tweaked with HEX codes.
Taskbar hiding apps tidy up the desktop.
Fonts like Ubuntu Mono can be installed and applied in PowerShell.
Wallpaper matters — pick dark Ubuntu/Mint pics for best vibe.
WSL gives a real Linux shell inside Windows, with customizable colors and fonts.

Wrap-up

This whole process isn’t about turning Windows into Linux 100%, but it’s a decent compromise for a Linux-inspired interface. On some setups, things can be a little laggy or require repeated tweaks, but overall, it’s doable. If the goal is to get that Ubuntu or Mint look without losing the Windows base, these tweaks should get you close enough. Just don’t expect it to replace a real Linux distro — but for a visual refresh, it’s more than enough. Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone, and the look stays intact after updates. Good luck messing around with it!