Why not revive your old computer with Linux? The one which once had good a hardware configuration but now potentially outdated. Here I am going to list the best lightweight Linux distributions that you can use on old computers.
While our focus is on older computers, you can also use most of these lightweight Linux distros
on relatively new hardware. This will give you a better performance if you use your computer
for resource-heavy usage such as video editing on Linux.
Let’s see which lightweight Linux distribution you can use.
Xubuntu is one of the official flavors of Ubuntu that features the lightweight Xfce desktop.
You will find it easy to use and can also install it on your older computers with no issues.
Head to their official website to download the ISO (32-bit/64-bit) you need and get started.
If you have a decent hardware configuration (refer to the minimum requirements below),
Linux Mint Xfce edition will be a great option to have.
While being an Ubuntu-based distro, it also features the Xfce desktop which makes it good enough for some old computers.
Considering that Linux Mint as one of the best Linux distros, you can also try other editions (like Cinnamon) available.
Recommended for Linux beginners!
Peppermint is a cloud-focused Linux distribution that doesn’t need high-end hardware.
It is based on Ubuntu and uses LXDE desktop environment to give you a smoother experience.
Originally created with the web-centric approach of netbooks in mind,
Peppermint includes the ICE application for integrating any website or web app as a standalone desktop app.
You’ll find the documentation helpful as well.
A dedicated forum also exists to help troubleshooting issues and answering your questions.
Zorin OS Lite is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution.
It offers a lite edition for older computers that features the Xfce desktop environment.
If you have a decent system (not too old), you can also try the regular Zorin OS to see if it fits your purpose.
Good for beginners who come from Windows!
Ubuntu MATE is the continuation of the old GNOME 2 desktop
an impressive lightweight Linux distro that runs fast enough on older computers.
It features the MATE desktop – so the user interface might seem a little different at first but it’s easy to use as well.
In addition to the desktop support, you can also try it on a Raspberry Pi or Jetson Nano.
Recommended for Linux beginners!
Q4OS is a Debian-based distribution which aims to provide a fast experience while also offering a 32-bit option.
In fact, it is one of the best options for 32-bit systems. It features the Trinity Desktop for 32-bit edition
and the KDE Plasma desktop on 64-bit image.
It may not offer the best looking user interface, but it is simple and it is indeed screaming fast on older hardware.
You can easily try this on your old computer to test it out.
The level of detail in replicating the old retro style Windows look is very impressive.
Slax is a really portable lightweight Linux distro based on Debian which you can use it on a USB drive without installing it.
The ISO file size is just under 300 MB – which makes it a great option for older computers.
The user interface is simple and usable with essential pre-built packages for an average user.
You can even try to customize the OS and make permanent changes on the fly if you require it.
Recommended for those who want to learn how to use Linux, without installing anything on the computer.
As the name suggests, Lubuntu a member of the Ubuntu family but it utilizes either LXDE/LXQT desktop environment.
From Ubuntu 18.10 and above, you will find LXQT as the default desktop environment
and could find LXDE as the default in its previous releases.
Lubuntu is one of the lightest derivatives of Ubuntu so it specializes in speed and the support for older hardware.
Lubuntu has fewer packages pre-installed consisting mostly of lightweight Linux applications.
Linux Lite is a lightweight Linux distro that does not need high-end hardware to run it.
Even a beginner will be able to use it on older computers easily. Linux Lite is based on Ubuntu LTS (Long Term Support) releases.
Even though it’s a lightweight distro – it comes baked with some essential tools, as in most Linux distributions.
Considering that it is based on Ubuntu, you’ll have plenty of support and resources available online as you can follow the Ubuntu tutorials.
Artix Linux is a fork (or continuation as an autonomous project) of the Arch-OpenRC and Manjaro-OpenRC projects.
Artix Linux offers a lightweight, rolling-release operating system featuring the OpenRC init software.
(Alternative spins feature the runit and s6 init software.) Several editions of Artix Linux are available,
among the lighter ones are Mate, Xfce, Lxqt and Lxde.
The disadvantage of Artix is that it does not have a software package installed,
so the individual tools you want to use will be installed from the terminal, as well as updates.
LXLE is actually a respin of the Lubuntu LTS version. Now that Lubuntu ships with LXQT by default,
LXLE is a great option for users who want to use the LXDE desktop environment.
I personally had a good experience trying LXLE both for its lightness and for its stability.
Despite being lightweight Linux distro, the system comes with a wide range
of applications installed by default without affecting performance.
CrunchBang ++ is also known as CBPP or #! ++ or CrunchBang Plus Plus.
Crunchbang ++ is the clone of Crunchbang Linux which has been discontinued.
CrunchBang ++ supports old computers and runs without any issue. CrunchBang ++ is based on Debian 10
with a package of essential applications to have everything you need, without the superfluous.
Ideal for the maniacs of minimalism and simplicity.
BunsenLabs is a distribution offering a light-weight and easily customizable Openbox desktop,
with a low resources consumption, a lot of helpful scripts and quick access to every aspect needed in the system.
The project is a community continuation of CrunchBang Linux.
The current Lithium release is derived from Debian 10.
Yet another light Linux distribution - Bodhi Linux, that gives life to older PCs & Laptops.
Bodhi Linux is quite known for its minimal approach and the support for low-end hardware.
The presence of Moksh Desktop makes it simple and elegant.
Is a decent choice for older hardware configurations while providing a good user experience.
Currently the ISO file size is 782 MB.
antiX is a lightweight Linux distribution based on Debian Linux.
If you are looking for something that does not include systemd, this is a great option.
antiX also uses icewm window manager to keep the system running on low-end hardware.
It doesn’t have much pre-installed software so the ISO file size is around 700 MB.
You can always download and install more software later if you have access to an active internet connection.
Lightweight desktop build using the GTK toolkit.
Manjaro LXDE provides a lightweight GTK desktop environment.
In addition to LXDE itself it comes with Manjaro Hello and the integrated Application utility,
providing quick access to popular applications. Additionally the Kvantum theme manager is provided
to provide consistent theming for both QT and GTK applications.
This edition is supported by the Manjaro community and uses Openbox Window Manager.
Mabox Linux is Manjaro based distribution pre-configured with lightweight window manager Openbox.
The implemental of Openbox on Mabox It a very attractive and useful.
I think I actually prefer MaboxLinux’s implementation of Openbox to Manjaro’s own community edition.
SparkyLinux is another lightweight distro but at the same time, it also targets modern computers.
Depending on what you need – you will find two variants of SparkyLinux.
One based on Debian’s stable release and the other based on Debian’s testing branch. So, you can opt for anyone you see fit.
In addition to the variants, you will also find different editions of ISO to download.
For instance, an LXQT desktop-based edition, a GameOver edition with pre-installed stuff, and so on.
You can head down to their download page and click on “Stable” or “(Semi-)Rolling” releases to find all the editions listed.
Puppy Linux can be booted live with either a CD/DVD/USB.
Puppy Linux uses JWM and Openbox window managers by default which makes it very easy on system resources.
Because Puppy Linux is built to be fast, it does not come along with bundles of applications.
It does have some basic apps, though. In other words, it can get your work done if you want to utilize a really old computer.
Probably, technically, the most lightweight distro there is. However,
it isn’t a complete Linux distribution for an average desktop user.
Tiny Core simply incorporates the fundamental core of an OS which includes the kernel and the root filesystem.
In other words, it features the foundation of a desktop OS.
If you simply want a system to boot up coupled with a wired Internet connection, you can get started using it.
But, you should not expect proper hardware support out of the box.