France Moves to Phase Out Microsoft Windows for Government Systems, Shifting to Linux in Push for Digital Sovereignty

France is taking tangible steps to distance itself from Microsoft Windows for official use, with the country announcing plans to migrate a share of its government-run computers from the proprietary Microsoft operating system to the open-source platform Linux. The transition is a core part of France’s broader strategy to cut its long-standing dependence on United States-developed technology.

Linux is a fully open-source operating system available for free download and public use. Unlike closed proprietary systems, it supports a vast ecosystem of customized versions (called distributions) that can be tailored specifically to fit the unique requirements of specialized use cases and government operations.

In an official translated statement, French minister David Amiel framed the transition as a push to “regain control of our digital destiny” by reducing the country’s reliance on major U.S. technology firms. Amiel emphasized that the French government can no longer accept a status quo where it lacks full control over its own sensitive state data and critical digital infrastructure.

To date, the French government has not released a specific timeline for the full Windows phaseout, nor has it shared details of which Linux distributions are under evaluation. The transition will launch first on devices managed by DINUM, France’s central government digital agency. When contacted by TechCrunch for comment on the announcement, a Microsoft spokesperson declined to issue a statement.

This shift away from Windows marks the latest policy move by France to cut dependence on U.S. tech giants and prioritize homegrown technology and cloud services — a policy priority the country frames as advancing digital sovereignty. The push has gained urgency amid growing concerns over geopolitical instability and unpredictable policy shifts from the second Trump administration.

Lawmakers and government leaders across Europe have increasingly recognized the national security risks created by their overreliance on U.S. technology. In January 2025, the European Parliament voted to adopt a report directing the European Commission to map out key areas where the bloc can reduce its dependence on non-European technology vendors.

Since taking office in January 2025, Trump has escalated confrontations with global leaders, including overt acts of detaining one foreign head of state and supporting the assassination of another. He has also weaponized U.S. sanctions against political opponents, extending these measures even to judges at the International Criminal Court, effectively cutting them off from any business transactions with U.S. companies. Sanctioned individuals have reported having their U.S. bank accounts closed, access to U.S. tech services revoked, and being locked out of nearly all other U.S.-based services.

France’s decision to abandon Windows for government use comes just months after the country announced it would phase out Microsoft Teams for official video conferencing. Teams is being replaced by Visio, a French-built tool built on top of Jitsi, an open-source end-to-end encrypted video meeting platform.

The French government also added that it plans to complete the migration of its national health data platform to a new sovereign, trusted domestic platform by the end of the current year.