Bazzite

Open source alternative to Windows 11

9.3K stars
Apache-2.0
Active this week
Last commit today

Last verified Nov 14, 2026

Run a gaming-optimized Linux OS on desktops, handhelds, and HTPCs, with Steam pre-installed, atomic updates, and 90-day rollback support.

Visit website GitHub9.3K Deploy on Hostinger

Read the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs, the quick start and the FAQ

who it's for

Who Bazzite is for#

Handheld PC gamers replacing Windows

Users running ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, or similar handhelds who find Windows 11 ill-suited to the form factor benefit from Bazzite's Steam Gaming Mode, handheld-specific power management, and device-compatible input drivers. The installation process is comparable in time to a Windows reinstall, and the team documents device-specific steps in the Handheld Wiki.

Skip if:

Your handheld's primary games rely on kernel-level anti-cheat without Linux support. Check ProtonDB for your library before committing to the switch.

HTPC builders wanting a console-like living room setup

Home theater PC builders who want Steam Big Picture or a living room gaming UI without Windows can use the HTPC variant to boot directly into Steam Gaming Mode. HDMI CEC, DisplayLink, and couch-friendly controller support ship out of the box with no post-install configuration.

Skip if:

You primarily use your HTPC for streaming services that require Widevine L1 DRM or apps available only on Windows. Bazzite supports many streaming services via Flatpak, but DRM tier availability varies by service.

Desktop gamers moving from Windows to Linux

PC gamers on AMD, Nvidia, or Intel desktops who want to try Linux gaming without manual driver setup can use Bazzite as a drop-in replacement. The KDE Plasma desktop mirrors Windows' taskbar layout closely enough for a smooth transition, and the Bazaar store plus Flathub cover most desktop software needs.

Skip if:

You need software that runs only on Windows with no Linux equivalent or Wine compatibility. Check the application's ProtonDB or compatibility page before switching.

Linux gamers who want gaming to work without tinkering

Experienced Linux users who want gaming to work without maintaining a custom configuration can use Bazzite as a stable, pre-tuned base. MangoHud, vkBasalt, OBS VkCapture, and performance monitoring tools ship pre-installed and ready to use, with the OGC kernel providing improved CPU scheduling for responsive gameplay.

Skip if:

You prefer full control over every system package and use a rolling-release distro like Arch for gaming. Bazzite's image-based model restricts some package-level customization in favor of OS stability.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Gaming on Linux has traditionally required hours of driver configuration, manual package installations, and debugging compatibility issues before a single game launches. Windows ships pre-installed on nearly every gaming PC and handheld, making it the default choice, despite per-license fees for OEM builders, mandatory telemetry, and system updates that interrupt gaming sessions at inopportune moments.

For handheld PC gamers the problem runs deeper. Devices like the ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go ship with Windows 11, which was not designed for the handheld form factor: battery life, thermal management, and the UI all need per-device tuning to reach a console-like experience. SteamOS, Valve's gaming-first Linux system, only officially supports the Steam Deck, leaving owners of other handhelds without a first-party alternative.

how Bazzite solves it

How it solves it#

Image-based atomic updates with 90-day rollback

Every Bazzite update replaces the full OS image atomically, so a failed or unwanted update never leaves the system in a broken state. The previous image stays on disk and can be selected at boot. Bazzite repositories retain builds for 90 days, letting users rebase to any specific build in that window via the terminal. For Nvidia users, a broken driver update can be pinned to a known-good release.

Steam Gaming Mode for handhelds and HTPCs

The deck variant boots directly into a console-like Steam Gaming Mode, matching SteamOS behavior on the Steam Deck. It supports the ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and other handhelds with device-specific fan controllers, firmware updaters, and input drivers. Decky Loader plugins extend the interface with community-developed overlays and tools.

Multi-store game launcher integration

Beyond Steam, Lutris is pre-installed and integrates Xbox Game Pass via Battle.net, EA App, Epic Games Store, GOG.com, itch.io, Rockstar Games Launcher, and Ubisoft Connect into Steam Gaming Mode. Games from these stores appear alongside Steam titles in a single library interface.

Pre-installed GPU drivers and hardware support

Nvidia proprietary drivers and the latest Mesa for AMD and Intel are included in their respective image variants. Additional support covers DisplayLink, OpenRazer for Razer peripherals, HDR and VRR out of the box, and udev rules for Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, Wii, and steering wheel controllers. No post-install driver setup is required.

Waydroid and container-native app management

Waydroid is pre-installed, enabling Android apps to run alongside Linux applications. Distrobox allows packages from any Linux distribution to run as if native. The Bazaar app store provides curated access to Flathub apps, and Brew brings cloud-native tooling to the desktop. Built-in container-aware terminals give direct access to Distrobox containers.

Security-hardened by default

SELinux is enabled and configured out of the box, alongside Secure Boot support, signed container images with SBOMs and attested build provenance, and optional LUKS full disk encryption with automatic TPM unlocking. Flathub's sandboxing and attestation add an application-level security layer on top of the OS baseline.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Broader hardware support than SteamOSWhile Valve's SteamOS officially targets the Steam Deck only, Bazzite supports desktops, laptops, tablets, and a wide range of handhelds including the ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go. The team maintains a Handheld Wiki with device-specific guides and applies the relevant kernel parameters and display profiles per device automatically.
Apache-2.0 licensed with no subscription costsBazzite is Apache-2.0 licensed and free to download, install, and use on any number of machines. Unlike Windows 11, there are no OEM licenses, upgrade fees, or telemetry tradeoffs. The project is funded through Open Collective sponsorships, not per-seat licensing.
Active development updated multiple times per weekBazzite has accumulated 9,345 GitHub stars since its February 2023 launch and receives updates multiple times per week from upstream Fedora packages. The team follows an upstream-first philosophy: improvements made for Bazzite are submitted back to the broader Linux gaming community rather than kept as project-specific patches.
MicroSD game library shared across installsBazzite supports sharing a MicroSD card game library between multiple Bazzite installs on different devices. A gamer using both a handheld and a desktop can carry their game data between machines without additional configuration or cloud sync, matching a capability handheld users expect from dedicated gaming consoles.

Trade-offs

-Anti-cheat compatibility gaps for some titlesSome competitive multiplayer games use kernel-level anti-cheat systems that have not enabled Linux support. Players should check ProtonDB for their specific library before switching. The Bazzite website references ProtonDB and GamingOnLinux as community-maintained sources for game compatibility on Linux.
-792 open GitHub issues across a wide hardware rangeThe repository carries 792 open issues. As a community-maintained project spanning a wide range of hardware configurations, device-specific bugs or driver edge cases can sit open for extended periods. The documentation site and Discord provide active support, but resolution timelines depend on volunteer contributors.
-Image-based design limits direct package managementBazzite's image-based model means the base OS cannot be modified through traditional package managers the way a standard Fedora desktop can. Users who need to layer custom Fedora packages or prefer a traditional rolling-release workflow with unrestricted package management may find this design more restrictive than a conventional Linux distribution.

versus alternatives

Bazzite vs alternatives#

Bazzite vs Windows 11

Bazzite and Windows 11 target the same gaming hardware, including desktops, handhelds, and HTPCs, but they differ on licensing model, update behavior, and form-factor fit.

Feature	Bazzite	Windows 11
License	Apache-2.0 (free)	Proprietary, paid
Installation	No license key required	OEM or retail license required
Steam Gaming Mode	Yes, console-like interface	No (Steam Big Picture available)
Atomic OS updates	Yes, with 90-day rollback	No rollback by default
GPU drivers	Included in OS image	Manual install or OEM bundled
Anti-cheat compatibility	Varies by title	Full native support
Handheld optimization	Built-in for ROG Ally, Legion Go, and others	Requires per-device tuning
Android apps (Waydroid)	Pre-installed	Not available

Bazzite is the stronger choice for handheld gamers who find Windows 11 battery life and interface poorly suited to small screens, for HTPC builders who want a console-like living room setup, and for desktop gamers whose libraries are primarily on Steam. Reviewers from Forbes and The Verge have noted that Bazzite delivers a better or comparable experience to Windows 11 on handheld hardware, with Forbes describing it as "objectively better than Windows" for the ROG Ally.

Windows 11 is still the better fit when your game library includes titles using kernel-level anti-cheat without Linux support. It also suits users who rely on Windows-exclusive professional software or specific hardware peripherals without Linux drivers. For mainstream gaming on Steam with verified titles, Bazzite covers the same ground at no licensing cost.

install · quick start

Quick start#

bash

Download the Bazzite ISO for your device from GitHub Releases: https://github.com/ublue-os/bazzite/releases/latest

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages: Python

frequently asked

FAQ#

Does Bazzite support the Steam Deck?

Yes. Bazzite offers a deck variant that boots directly into Steam Gaming Mode, matching SteamOS behavior. It includes ported SteamOS packages, fan controllers, firmware updaters, and color-calibrated display profiles for matte and reflective Steam Deck screens. Some hardware-specific services can be enabled or disabled via ujust commands in the terminal.

Can I install Bazzite on a ROG Ally or Lenovo Legion Go?

Yes. Bazzite supports both devices along with other handhelds listed in its Handheld Wiki. Installation involves downloading the appropriate ISO from the Bazzite website and following the installation guide. Device-specific power management, fan curves, and input drivers are included in the image.

What happens if a Bazzite update breaks something?

Bazzite retains the previous OS image on disk after every update. At boot, you can select the prior image to roll back without any data loss. Bazzite repositories also store builds for 90 days, so you can rebase to any specific build in that window using the terminal. For Nvidia GPU users, a broken driver update can be pinned to a known-good release and held there until a fix ships.

Does Bazzite work with non-Steam game stores?

Yes. Lutris is pre-installed and supports Xbox Game Pass via Battle.net, EA App, Epic Games Store, GOG.com, itch.io, Rockstar Games Launcher, Ubisoft Connect, and others. These stores can be integrated into Steam Gaming Mode so their libraries appear alongside Steam games in a single interface.

Does Bazzite support dual-booting with Windows?

Yes. The desktop and deck variants retain Fedora's GRUB installation, which supports a Windows dual-boot configuration. This is documented as an option for users who want to test Bazzite while keeping access to Windows on the same machine.

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Hostinger

Self-host Bazzite on a Hostinger VPS

Keep it running 24/7, even when your laptop is off. A Hostinger VPS gives it a server of its own.

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Bazzite vs Windows 11

Bazzite and Windows 11 target the same gaming hardware, including desktops, handhelds, and HTPCs, but they differ on licensing model, update behavior, and form-factor fit.

Feature	Bazzite	Windows 11
License	Apache-2.0 (free)	Proprietary, paid
Installation	No license key required	OEM or retail license required
Steam Gaming Mode	Yes, console-like interface	No (Steam Big Picture available)
Atomic OS updates	Yes, with 90-day rollback	No rollback by default
GPU drivers	Included in OS image	Manual install or OEM bundled
Anti-cheat compatibility	Varies by title	Full native support
Handheld optimization	Built-in for ROG Ally, Legion Go, and others	Requires per-device tuning
Android apps (Waydroid)	Pre-installed	Not available