8 ways I optimize Zorin OS for peak performance - from a decades-long Linux user

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ZDNET cardinal takeaways

Zorin OS is 1 of the champion Linux distributions available.
There is an endless array of imaginable customizations.
These are the settings that I judge are a must.

I'm a large instrumentality of Zorin OS. I've compared the operating strategy to the likes of Linux Mint and AnduinOS and ever recovered that it comes retired connected top. In short, 10 retired of 10; would recommend.

Out of the box, Zorin OS looks and behaves great, but determination are ever tweaks and customizations to marque the desktop OS amended suited to your aesthetic oregon your workflow.

I privation to amusement you the Zorin OS settings I ever tweak for each installation.

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Do enactment that these modifications are a substance of taste. What I bask mightiness not perfectly align with your requirements. However, I'm assured you'll privation to usage astatine slightest immoderate of these tweaks.

With that said, let's get to it.

1. Zorin Layout

One of the coolest tools recovered successful Zorin OS is the Appearance tool. With Zorin Appearance, you tin rapidly alteration the desktop layout. The escaped mentation provides 4 layouts, and the Pro mentation ($47.99) gives treble that.

But adjacent the disposable options tin beryllium tweaked. For instance, you tin instrumentality the default GNOME layout and easy crook it into a MacOS-like desktop. Each layout tin beryllium customized, truthful take 1 and commencement tinkering until you get it precisely however you want.

If you're similar me, you'll upwind up changing the layout respective times.

2. Zorin Dash

In each desktop I use, there's a dock astatine the bottommost of the screen. I find docks incredibly efficient, and they besides align with my aesthetic. Whether I'm connected Linux or MacOS (sorry, Windows), there's a dock, and I usage it extensively.

On Zorin OS, you tin alteration the Dash, which is akin to GNOME's Dash To Dock extension.

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With Zorin Dash, you tin customize the dock successful aggregate ways to marque it unsocial and effective. The Zorin Dash is besides rather elegant and tin beryllium fixed a transparent look with ease.

To alteration Zorin Dash, unfastened the Extensions app, scroll down, and click the On/Off slider associated with the diagnostic until it's successful the On position.

3. Online Accounts

With the Online Accounts feature, I tin subordinate immoderate fig of my online accounts (such arsenic Google) with the desktop. With this feature, I tin integrate my Google Calendar, Gmail, Contacts, and overmuch much into the assorted apps (such arsenic the calendar and email apps) recovered connected the desktop oregon successful the desktop menu.

By connecting an online account, I don't person to interest astir configuring each app to link with those services.

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Online accounts marque this task rather easy.

To entree Online accounts, unfastened Settings and click Online Accounts successful the near sidebar. You tin past prime the relationship you privation to adhd and travel the wizard for that account.

4. Jelly Mode

I emotion Jelly Mode. Essentially, this diagnostic wobbles the windows arsenic you determination them. No, Jelly Mode won't marque you much productive oregon a amended Linux user, but it definite is fun. This effect is 1 of the archetypal I alteration connected Zorin OS, simply due to the fact that it makes maine smile.

To alteration Jelly Mode, unfastened Zorin Appearance, click Effects, and determination the On/Off slider for Jelly Mode to the On position.

5. Desktop Cube

Desktop Cube takes maine mode backmost to the days of the model manager, Compiz. With Desktop Cube, you tin navigate the desktop (and its assorted virtual desktops) by clicking the Overview fastener (the ellipse that appears successful the panel), clicking your near rodent button, and dragging the rodent around.

Desktop Cube gives you a 3D practice of your desktop and its layout. The diagnostic creates an astonishing effect that I emotion to amusement disconnected to those who've yet to acquisition the powerfulness and awe of Linux.

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To alteration the Desktop Cube, unfastened Zorin Appearance, spell to Effects, and determination the On/Off slider to the On position.

6. Icons connected Desktop

I hatred icons connected the desktop. I cognize astir radical similar them due to the fact that they marque it casual to entree applications, files, oregon bookmarks, but I deliberation they instantly ruin the look of a desktop that I've tuned to my aesthetic.

To that end, I ever disable icons connected the desktop. With Zorin OS, that task is completed successful Zorin Appearance > Desktop > Icons connected Desktop.

7. Zorin Tiling Shell

The much I usage tiling model managers, the much I similar them, arsenic they are the astir businesslike mode of placing windows connected the desktop.

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Zorin OS ships with Advanced Window Tiling wrong Zorin Appearance > Windows > Advanced Window Tiling.

Once you've enabled the feature, you tin click and resistance a model to the apical and past prime the presumption you want. Or, you tin resistance a model to an country to spot it.

Within Settings, you tin customize elements, specified arsenic Show Indicator, gaps, threshold, animations, and the tiling behavior.

8. Secure Shell Access

Zorin OS makes it casual to alteration Secure Shell (SSH) entree to the desktop. All you person to bash is unfastened Settings and spell to System > Secure Shell. Once there, click the On/Off slider for Secure Shell until it's successful the On position.

One happening to support successful caput is that Secure Shell volition springiness the bid to entree the desktop, but it uses the hostname. You'll request to find your desktop's IP code to SSH into it.

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You tin find the IP code by opening a terminal app and issuing the command:

ip a

And those are my favourite Zorin OS settings. Give each of these a effort and spot if 1 oregon much of them marque Zorin OS adjacent amended for you.

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