France ditches Windows in favor of Linux

France plans to phase out Windows across government systems, shifting to EU-built tech to cut reliance on US vendors and boost digital sovereignty.

Last year, we learned that the French city of Lyon is ditching Windows and Microsoft Office in favor of Linux and other similar free and open source software (FOSS) alternatives. Now, the government of France itself has decided to make a similar decision as it announces its plans to get rid of Windows.

As spotted by XDA, multiple government bodies in France jointly met earlier this week and agreed to reduce digital dependencies on "extra-European" technologies. In simple words, France will prioritize technology solutions that have been developed within the European Union rather than choosing vendors based in countries like the United States.

As a part of this strategy, Direction interministérielle du Numérique (DINUM) has outlined several steps, such as ditching Windows on government PCs in favor of Linux-based operating systems. Any particular distro has not been explicitly named. It also noted a similar migration of its health data platform, which is moving to a "trusted solution" by the end of this year.

It's notable that each ministry has been tasked to formalize its own migration plan by fall. This strategy should cover PCs, online collaboration tools, antivirus utilities, database management systems, AI solutions, network equipment, and more. A concrete timeline has not been shared yet, but the Minister of Public Action and Account, David Amiel is quoted as saying (machine translated):

The State can no longer simply acknowledge its dependence; it must break free. We must become less reliant on American tools and regain control of our digital destiny. We can no longer accept that our data, our infrastructure, and our strategic decisions depend on solutions whose rules, pricing, evolution, and risks we do not control. The transition is underway: our ministries, our operators, and our industrial partners are now embarking on an unprecedented initiative to map our dependencies and strengthen our digital sovereignty. Digital sovereignty is not optional.

This is not the first time that a European region has made such a decision. Last year, Denmark announced that it is ditching Windows and Office as well. Conversely, the German city of Munich decided to return to Microsoft's OS after spending a decade on Linux.

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Posted Sunday 12 April 2026 at 12:14 pm AEST (my time).

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