France to shift government systems from Windows to Linux and phase out U.S. software

France is planning to migrate government systems from Windows to Linux and has instructed ministries to prepare transition plans by autumn 2026. The plans must outline how agencies will phase out non-European software across key parts of the country’s IT infrastructure.

The initiative goes beyond desktop operating systems. It also covers collaboration tools, cybersecurity solutions, AI systems, databases, virtualization technologies, and network infrastructure. France’s Interministerial Directorate for Digital Affairs (DINUM) has identified several target solutions, including the Tchap messaging platform, a Zoom alternative called Visio, and the FranceTransfer document-sharing service.

The first meetings between government bodies and private-sector partners are scheduled for June, when officials are expected to define how the transition will be implemented.

The decision marks one of the clearest signs that European governments are moving beyond isolated software replacements toward a broader shift away from American technologies such as Windows, Microsoft Office, Zoom, and Google Docs. The move also aligns with the European Union’s wider push to tighten regulation of major tech companies and strengthen digital sovereignty.