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WinDoesNot is an independent Linux desktop designed for a familiar start. Its start menu, taskbar and desktop icons sit on CachyOS, Hyprland and Quickshell. You can customize the appearance and use the included settings app and software store.
The bootable live ISO includes a Calamares installer. It supports offline and online installation and offers GRUB, Limine, rEFInd and systemd-boot. Separate German and English ISO variants are available.
Version 0.1.0-27 is an early preview. The live desktop was checked in UEFI virtual machines. Tests on real hardware are still open. Read the current test status and installation guidance at https://windoesnot.me/en/help/release-status/ before installing.
WinDoesNot is an independent project and is not affiliated with Microsoft.
Features
- Desktop workflow: Start menu, centered taskbar with pinned apps and system tray; freely placed desktop icons, recycle bin, Alt+Tab switcher and workspace overview.
- Window controls: Hyprland tiling or floating windows, title bars with close and maximize controls, a snap preview while dragging and documented keyboard shortcuts.
- Appearance: Light and dark themes, GTK color matching, wallpaper and accent settings; choose between two Start-button styles or use your own image.
- Installer: Boot a live ISO and install offline from the medium or online. Select GRUB, Limine, rEFInd or systemd-boot, plus optional apps and web apps.
- Hardware setup: The installer detects the CPU level for suitable CachyOS package repositories, detects graphics hardware and configures drivers; package mirrors are ranked during or after setup.
- Software store: Browse packages from pacman repositories and Flathub, optionally enable the AUR, inspect AUR builds, and see updates grouped by source and topic with Arch notices shown first.
- Settings and help: One app for appearance, displays, input, updates, backups, kernel and maintenance, with searchable help and a complete shortcut reference.
- Recovery on Btrfs: Create restore points manually and automatically around package changes; use the configured boot menu to return to an earlier system state when needed.
- Desktop updates: An optional signed package channel updates the WinDoesNot desktop components after one-time setup, while managed code is kept separate from personal settings and pinned apps.
- Built-in controls: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and per-application audio controls, plus graphics readings for AMD, NVIDIA and Intel in a taskbar popup and dedicated app.
- Languages: Separate German and English live ISOs, with matching desktop language and standard folders.
Project Samples
