Key takeaway: Your personal files can move across safely if you back them up first, but most Windows programs do not run natively on Linux — you will typically replace them with free equivalents rather than transfer them.
One of the most common worries when considering Linux is simple: "what happens to everything I already have?" It is a fair question, and the answer depends on whether you are talking about your files or your installed software, because the two behave very differently during a switch.
Your personal files: documents, photos and music
Your personal data — Word documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, photos, music and videos — is just data. It is not tied to Windows in any technical sense, so it can be copied across to Linux without any conversion needed. The safest method is to back everything up to an external USB drive or cloud storage before you install Linux, then copy it back into your new Linux home folder afterwards. If you are dual-booting (keeping Windows and Linux on the same PC), you can even browse your Windows partition from within Linux and copy files across directly, as long as it has not been encrypted with BitLocker.
Before you start: Always back up your files before installing Linux, even if you plan to dual-boot. Installation mistakes, though rare, can happen, and a backup means nothing important is ever at risk.
What happens to installed programs
This is where things are different. Windows programs (.exe files) are built to run on Windows and, in most cases, will not run directly on Linux at all. When you install Linux, your existing programs do not carry over — you start with a fresh set of free, open-source alternatives that come with the distribution or are available in its Software Manager.
The good news is that free equivalents exist for almost everything a typical home user needs: LibreOffice instead of Microsoft Office, GIMP instead of Photoshop, Thunderbird instead of Outlook, and the Firefox or Chrome browsers you may already use, since those do have native Linux versions. For the small number of Windows-only programs with no direct Linux equivalent, tools like Wine or virtual machines can sometimes run them, though not always reliably (this is covered in more detail in a separate guide on running Windows software on Linux).
What about your file formats?
Common file formats are not a problem. Documents in .docx, spreadsheets in .xlsx, PDFs, JPEG photos, MP3 and MP4 files all open perfectly well in Linux's free software. LibreOffice, for example, reads and writes Microsoft Office formats, and you can usually keep swapping files with Windows-using friends and colleagues without anyone noticing the difference.
Tip: If you rely on a specific paid Windows program with no Linux alternative, check its requirements before switching fully — you may want to try Linux from a USB stick first or dual-boot, so you keep access to Windows for that one program while you settle in.
Settings, browser bookmarks and passwords
Browser data is usually the easiest thing to bring across cleanly: if you use Firefox or Chrome and are signed into a account, your bookmarks, saved passwords and browsing history will simply sync down once you sign in again on Linux. Windows-specific settings, desktop shortcuts and the general "layout" of your PC will not transfer, since Linux desktop environments are laid out differently — though most, like Cinnamon or KDE Plasma, can be set up to feel very close to what you are used to.
Frequently asked questions
- Will I lose my photos and documents when I install Linux?
- Not if you back them up first. Installing Linux typically replaces the Windows operating system, so anything not backed up beforehand could be lost during installation.
- Can I keep using Microsoft Office on Linux?
- Not natively — Microsoft does not make a desktop version of Office for Linux. Most people switch to LibreOffice, which opens and saves the same file formats, or use Office through a web browser.
- Do my games and their save files transfer over?
- Not automatically. Some games work through Steam's Proton compatibility layer on Linux, but saves and installations generally need to be set up again — see our dedicated guide on gaming with Steam Proton.