The new Zorin OS 17.2 brings nice refinements to an already fantastic Linux Operating System

I love what the Zorin team is doing for the Linux community, especially those who want to switch to Linux or prefer a great out-of-the-box user experience. Zorin OS is a well-designed and flexible system based on a reliable Ubuntu foundation. This week I received an announcement from the Zorin team about the new Zorin OS 17.2, which is immediately available to everyone. I hope you are as excited as I am, so let’s see what kind of improvements the new Zorin OS 17.2 will bring us.

Content

1. Introduction
2. Newer applications
3. Improved security and compatibility
4. Additional theming options
5. A new Windows section
6. Toggle Overlay Scrollbars
7. How to get and install Zorin OS 17.2
8. Final words

Introduction

I feel always very privileged that the people behind Zorin OS are informing me in advance about upcoming releases and that they allow me to take a look in advance at the innovations to come. Zorin OS has been on my list of most valued Linux distributions for quite some time now. I published many articles on Zorin OS, I created an extensive course, and I wrote and published my book “Linux for the rest of us“, which is completely based on Zorin OS. So I hope this already indicates how much I value and support what the Zorin team is doing.

Here’s what the Zorin team is saying to all users about this release:

“We’re excited to announce the launch of Zorin OS 17.2 today. It’s packed with enhancements that make the desktop experience even better, and under-the-hood improvements that make your computer faster, more robust, and secure.”

So, let’s look at what is new in Zorin OS 17.2.

Newer applications

In Zorin OS you can use different application packaging formats, like Flatpak or Snap, which both support automatic updates to the latest versions. But in Zorin OS17.2 you also get newer .deb-based applications, which normally will not be automatically updated to a higher version. Applications like the LibreOffice suite, which is now version 24.8, but also many other applications, are now updated to a newer version.

Improved security and compatibility

Zorin OS 17.2 has the same foundation, being the Linux kernel and the graphics stack, as Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Long Term Support), so the complete foundation is more performing, more secure, and offers better compatibility with modern hardware. Think of better support for Intel Core Ultra processors, AMD Zen 5 CPUs (including the newest Ryzen, Ryzen AI, and EPYC chips), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20, 30, and 40 series graphics cards, Logitech peripherals, various gamepads, including Nintendo Switch Online and Google Stadia controllers and the Lenovo Legion Go, and support for Lenovo laptop keyboards, such as on the Lenovo V14, V15, and G14 AMN. Also, the most up-to-date security patches are included.

With Zorin OS 17.2, your system will get support with software updates and security patches until June 2027.

Additional theming options

The team behind Zorin OS listens to their users and their user experience and proposals for improvements. In Zorin OS 17.2 it is now possible to change the theme for the mouse pointer via the Theme / Other section in Zorin Appearance. Here you can choose between the default Adwaita, Handhelds, Redglass, and Whiteglass.

It is now also a lot easier to add and activate additional themes in Zorin OS. Via a dedicated link in the Zorin Appearance screen, you can go directly to a page on the official Zorin OS website to get the required information to install third-party themes, like those from Pling.com, and custom themes for libadwaita apps, which is possible since Zorin OS 17 in which an exclusive patch to the interface library was introduced. 

A new Windows section

In Zorin OS 17.2 you have now a new Windows section in which you have many options to configure window behavior to your specific preferences. There is a Placement section to configure how new windows are placed, how modal dialogs behave relative to their parent windows, and the many options behind advanced window tiling. In the Window Titlebars section, you can set the placement of the title bar buttons, and the behavior for double-click, middle-click, and secondary-click. In the Focus section, we see options for window focus behavior and a toggle to raise windows when focused. 

Toggle Overlay Scrollbars

There is no one standard for building good user interfaces, as it is very subjective what a good interface is. Interfaces and how to design them are also changing over time. We now have for example mainly flat-design user interfaces, but there was a time when Skeuomorphism was the preferred design technique.

But besides high-level concepts like Skeuomorphism vs flat-design, there are many more lower-level design decisions to be made, such as how a mouse pointer should look and should behave, how windows should look and behave, etc.  One of the detailed design decisions where preferences can differ is whether to always show scrollbars (more classic user interface design) or to show scrollbars dynamically as you scroll within a window (modern user interface design). But you can also just offer both. 

The “Interface” section of Zorin Appearance now includes the option to choose between permanently showing the scrollbars or dynamically showing the scrollbars. So, now it is up to your preference which type of design and behavior works best for your way of working and your visual taste.

How to get and install Zorin OS 17.2

When this article is published, the new Zorin OS 17.2 is directly available for all of you. If you are currently using Zorin OS 17 or Zorin OS 17.1, you can do a simple upgrade to Zorin OS 17.2 via the built-in Software Updater functionality. If you are using Zorin OS 16, you can also upgrade to Zorin OS 17.2 without the need to erase your files and data, but first have a look at the official upgrade support page for more information. 

When doing an upgrade from Zorin OS 16 to Zorin OS 17.2 I advise to perform a backup of your important data first. You can read more about backups in my following articles:

• How to setup and use backups in Zorin OS
• How to easily create backups in Linux with Pika Backup
• luckyBackup is a powerful backup solution for Linux

Also, in all cases, your Zorin OS-based system should be up-to-date before starting your upgrade process. You can update your system by opening the Zorin Menu, going to System Tools, then select Software Updater, and then following the on-screen instructions.

Via the button below you can find the official Zorin OS upgrade page:

If you are not a Zorin OS user yet or if you just want to do a completely fresh install, you can download Zorin OS 17.2 from the Zorin website. Here you can find all available editions, like Core, Pro, and Education.

Final words

For this kind of point releases, like Zorin OS 17.2, I always say, these are not about revolution, but about evolution. And in my opinion, that is a good thing. I don’t want my system to get a complete overhaul, every time a new release or point release of an OS is introduced. I like stability, reliability, and of course, some nice improvements to enhance an already perfect user experience. And that is what Zorin OS 17.2 is bringing us. Enjoy this wonderful Linux world!

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