OnWorks lets you try Linux online in your web browser without installing it on your computer. You use a desktop running on the provider’s servers, while Windows or macOS stays on your own device. It is useful for a quick look at Linux, but you should treat the session as temporary.
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How to run Linux online with OnWorks
- Open the official OnWorks website.
- Choose a Linux desktop, such as Ubuntu or Fedora. Read the image name and version rather than assuming it is the newest release.
- Select Run online for that desktop and follow the launch page. Wait for a workstation to become available; the wait can vary.
- Once the desktop opens, try its file manager, terminal or included apps. Start with a test file that contains no private information.
- Download anything you want to keep before you leave. Check that the saved copy opens on your own computer.
The provider’s launch instructions say basic sessions do not need registration. They also say a workstation can be released after five minutes without activity. Do not leave your only copy of a document inside it.
What can you use it for?
| Your goal | How well it fits |
|---|---|
| See what a Linux desktop looks like | A useful first look without changing your local operating system. |
| Practice a few commands | Use disposable examples and check which tools the selected image includes. |
| Keep a long-term workspace | A temporary browser session is a poor place for your only copy of ongoing work. |
| Test your PC’s Wi-Fi, graphics or gaming speed | The remote machine does not show how Linux will work on your own hardware. |
A simple first exercise is to create a folder, save a short text file in it, then find that file again. You learn more from a small task you understand than from pasting a long command you have not checked. For a next step, read our guide to installing programs on Linux.
Saving files and understanding privacy
OnWorks provides file-transfer tools and optional Google Drive session saving. If you connect cloud storage, read the access request before agreeing. Files used in the remote desktop pass through a service you do not control.
The provider’s policy and FAQ describe online file storage, advertising and an internet requirement. A remote desktop is not a promise of anonymous browsing or secure deletion the moment you close a tab.
For this reason, keep passwords, customer files and other private material out of a casual test session. Before closing it, save your work elsewhere and sign out of any account you chose to open.
OnWorks alternatives: which way should you try Linux?
| Option | Best reason to choose it | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| OnWorks in a browser | A quick look from a device with a browser and internet access. | You rely on a remote service and its session limits. |
| A local virtual machine | A test system you can keep and return to on your PC. | It needs local storage, memory and setup. |
| A Linux live USB | Try a desktop on your actual computer. | You need a USB drive and must boot from it. |
Ubuntu‘s official live-session guide explains the USB option. Choose the option to try Ubuntu if you are only testing, rather than starting an installation. Our overview of ways to try Linux without removing Windows also compares local and browser approaches.
Does an OnWorks Windows or Mac desktop install those systems?
A familiar-looking theme does not turn Linux into Windows or macOS. Check the description of the chosen image. A themed Linux desktop or compatibility layer is not the same as installing Microsoft‘s or Apple‘s operating system, and it does not mean every Windows or Mac app will run.