Beijing has directed all government offices and state-owned organisations to remove Microsoft Windows from their computers and switch to the Linux operating system. The move is aimed at reducing China’s dependence on US technology.
Microsoft is reported to have more than 400 million customers worldwide, and Windows remains widely used across sectors. However, Chinese authorities said the latest step is part of a broader effort to reduce reliance on foreign technology.
According to the report, the decision was taken by China’s Ministry of State Security, which has also asked some government-linked entities to immediately uninstall Windows. The shift is being implemented earlier than planned, as Windows 10 was expected to be phased out in February 2027.
China has also been encouraging government bodies to adopt technology developed by domestic companies, particularly for handling sensitive and important data. The report noted that similar moves are being seen elsewhere, with France announcing in April that its government departments would move from Windows to Linux, while countries such as Germany, Denmark and Austria are also reducing use of Microsoft technologies.
