Examples of Operating Systems

Laptops, tablets, and desktop computers all run operating systems that you’ve probably heard of. Some examples include versions of Microsoft Windows (like Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP), Apple’s macOS (formerly OS X), Chrome OS, BlackBerry Tablet OS, and flavors of Linux, an open-source operating system.

Screenshot of the Windows 10 desktop

Your smartphone runs a mobile operating system, probably either Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android. Both are household names but you may not have realized that they are the operating systems running on those devices.

Servers, like those that host the websites you visit or serve the videos you watch, typically run specialized operating systems, designed and optimized to run the special software required to make them do what they do. Some examples include Windows Server, Linux, and FreeBSD.

The Linux Mint Desktop's Main Menu

Software & Operating Systems

Most software applications are designed to work with just one company’s operating system, like just Windows (Microsoft) or just macOS (Apple).

A piece of software will clearly say which operating systems it supports and will get very specific if necessary. For example, a video production software program might say it supports Windows 11 and Windows 10, but doesn’t support older versions of Windows like Windows Vista and XP.

Annotated screenshot of the Adobe Acrobat download page demonstrating Windows vs Mac operating system download options

Software developers also often release additional versions of their software that work with other operating systems. Coming back to the video production program example, that company might also release another version of the program with exactly the same features but that only works with macOS.

It’s also important to know whether your operating system is 32-bit or 64-bit. It’s a common question you’re asked when downloading software. See How to Tell If You Have Windows 64-bit or 32-bit if you need help.

Special types of software called virtual machines can actually mimic “real” computers and run different operating systems from within them. See What Is a Virtual Machine? for more on this feature.

Operating System Errors

There are a number of ways that an operating system itself can become corrupted or damaged but these issues are relatively rare.

In Windows, the most severe is the Operating System Not Found error message and implies that one can’t even be found!

Operating System Updates

All modern operating systems have a built-in mechanism to keep the software updated. In Windows, this is done through Windows Update. Other operating systems work similarly, like when you update the Android OS or install iOS updates.

Keeping an operating system up to date with the newest features is important so that you’re getting the most out of what you paid for. Getting security fixes is another crucial reason to make sure your OS is always updated; this can help prevent hackers from getting into your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How many operating systems are there? There are three main operating systems for computers: Windows, Apple, and Linux. The two main operating systems for mobile are Android and iOS. There are countless other operating systems made for specific devices, such as Samsung’s One UI that only works on Samsung devices.
  • What is the operating system for Chromebooks? Google Chromebooks typically run Chrome OS, which is optimized for use with Google’s ecosystem of online tools (Google Docs, the Chrome browser, etc.) Some Chromebooks, however, can also run Android apps and Linux apps.
  • What is the operating system for Amazon Fire tablets? Amazon tablets run Fire OS, which is a modified version of Android.
  • What operating system do smartwatches use? It can vary. Apple Watch runs on watchOS while most other smartwatches use Wear, Google’s operating system for wearable products.

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