Big, clear tiles
Apps, learning sites, music, and videos launch through the same touch- and keyboard-friendly interface.
Version 0.6.0 · free · open source
Turn an old laptop into a kids’ computer.
Cozy Kids Launcher makes Linux simple for children: big tiles, familiar apps, and clear screen time. Parents keep the normal desktop—and family settings stay at home.
For Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Zorin OS, and similar desktop Linux systems.
Kid-friendly up front. Full Linux underneath.
No accountstart right away
No cloudlocal settings
No subscriptionfree to use
MIT licensedopen source
Simple for kids, understandable for parents
Less searching. More doing.
The launcher brings apps, websites, and local media into one calm home screen. It does not replace the operating system or lock parents out.
A profile for every child
Names, avatars, themes, apps, and media favorites stay neatly separated for each child.
Screen time with schedules
Timers plus weekly and per-app schedules make available times clear and predictable.
Local media library
Music and videos appear with favorites, recents, and separate playback progress per profile.
A clear parent overview
An optional local activity log, backups, and focused sections make the launcher easier to manage.
Personal and accessible
World themes, local sounds, speech, small celebrations, and combinable accessibility presets are set per child.
New in version 0.6.0
Much more than four big tiles.
Every view comes directly from the real launcher. See how children start independently while parents manage profiles, time, and content locally.
Parent settings
Set it up without studying a manual.
Manage profiles, choose apps, plan time, and change the look—all in one place. Export, backups, and privacy-safe diagnostics help when something changes later.
- Detect installed apps or add one manually
- Separate profiles with their own favorites and themes
- Edit weekly and per-app schedules clearly
- Organize websites and local media together
- Back up, export, and restore settings
- German and English included
Three simple steps
Try it today.
Prepare a Linux laptop
A modern Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Zorin OS, or similar distribution with Firefox or Chromium is enough.
Run one command
The installer checks the environment, installs only for the selected user, and explains missing requirements.
Log out and back in
The launcher starts automatically. Parents can then arrange tiles, time, and appearance.
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/TrissyGE/cozy-kids-launcher/main/scripts/install.sh | bash
Terminal
Personal, not generic
A home screen that feels like home.
Soft color themes and illustrated worlds give the kids’ computer its own personality. Custom emoji and labels stay available.
- Four large or nine compact tiles per page
- Tested with keyboards, touch, and small displays
- Reduced motion and high contrast considered
Frequently asked
What parents want to know first.
Is Cozy Kids Launcher an operating system?
No. It runs on an existing Linux desktop. The normal desktop remains available to parents.
Is it a complete parental-control system?
No. It simplifies access to selected content and can protect parent actions with a PIN. Network filtering, operating-system permissions, and supervision remain separate responsibilities.
Does it upload my child’s data?
Cozy Kids Launcher needs no account and does not send family configuration to a Cozy Kids service. External websites and apps have their own privacy practices.
Which Linux systems work?
Installation targets modern desktop distributions such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Zorin OS. Releases are tested on GNOME, KDE Plasma, and XFCE across Wayland and X11.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. The project is free, has no subscription, and is open source under the MIT License.
Ready for a calmer kids’ computer?
Install Cozy Kids Launcher for free, or review every line in the open-source repository first.