Bored with the Raspberry Pi's default desktop? You could try a different distro or desktop, but if you want something that feels more familiar, there's Twister OS.

Designed for the Raspberry Pi, Twister OS delivers a host of alternative desktop themes, mimicking Windows and macOS. Here's how to grab Twister OS, install it, and turn your $50 Raspberry Pi into a $1000 Mac.

What Is Twister OS?

The successor to Raspbian 95, Raspbian XP, and other themed Pi operating systems, Twister OS is based on Raspberry Pi OS and features the Xfce desktop environment.

A selection of desktop themes, inspired by Windows and Mac operating systems, are preinstalled. So, you'll find Windows 95, XP, Vista, and 7 themes, along with the Mac-inspired iRaspbian.

Twister OS also features an administration utility, overclocking tool, pre-installed media software (including Kodi), and an Android remote tool.

Twister is best installed on a Raspberry Pi 4, although it can run on the Raspberry Pi 3B+. You'll need a larger than usual microSD card---32GB is a good option.

Install Twister OS on Your Pi's SD Card

To install Twister OS, first head to the site and download the ISO.

Download: Twister OS (Free)

Note that the direct download option is a little slow, even on fast connections. You might prefer to rely on the BitTorrent link instead.

Once downloaded, the ISO image will need to be extracted from the compressed XZ file. If you're using a Windows desktop PC, this can be unpacked with the 7-Zip archive utility from www.7-zip.org. Finally, you'll need a card writing tool such as BalenaEtcher.

Installing Twister OS on the Raspberry Pi is as straightforward as installing any other operating system:

  1. Insert a microSD card in your PC
  2. Launch BalenaEtcher
  3. Select the extracted Twister OS ISO file
  4. Select the microSD card
  5. Click Flash to write the image
  6. Wait for completion, then safely remove the microSD card from your PC's card reader

When you're ready, insert the card in the Pi, and boot up.

Related: Install an operating system on the Raspberry Pi

First Look at Twister OS

With your Raspberry Pi booted, you'll get your first glimpse of Twister OS. Based on Raspberry Pi OS, it includes all the same preinstalled tools.

Try Windows and macOS desktops on the Raspberry Pi with Twister OS

Twister OS also offers some enhancements. There's the Commander Pi tool for overclocking, the Kodi media library player, and even a tool for remotely accessing your Android device. A version of Chromium is provided that is optimized for streaming Netflix, and you'll find RetroPie is preinstalled too.

There's also a system administration tool, PiKISS. This is a utility that simplifies installing software on Raspberry Pi. It's packed with scripts to keep software installation streamlined, requiring little input from you.

Then there's the ThemeTwister. This is what Twister OS is all about and you'll find the icon to launch it on the desktop.

Turn Your Raspberry Pi into a Windows PC

ThemeTwister is simple to use. It presents a simple menu to select a new look for the Twister OS desktop, prompting you to reboot. After restarting, the new look is applied.

Windows 10-style RaspbianX desktop on the Raspberry Pi with Twister OS

For example, if you wanted to add a Windows style appearance to your Raspberry Pi (hey, it's your computer…) then you would select one of:

  • Raspbian95
  • RaspbianXP
  • Nighthawk
  • RaspbianX

(Note there is no Windows 8-inspired option.) Each new theme requires a reboot, so tap Enter when prompted to confirm the choice.

With the new look applied, you can then consider installing new, suitable software. For example, with a Raspbian 95 or RaspbianXP look, you might add games in DOSBox. You can then enjoy some cracking retro gaming action in an emulated Windows DOS prompt.

Similarly, there is some support for Steam if you prefer the look of Nighthawk or RaspbianX (above). It's wholly unsuitable for AAA Windows games but will let you run various low-spec indie titles. These options are available across all themes, however.

Try Windows and macOS desktops on the Raspberry Pi with Twister OS

Look carefully at each theme. You'll notice that considerable effort has been made to convince you that you're using Windows. For example, the Windows XP style of RaspbianXP features realistic tooltips for the key toolbar buttons.

Make Your Pi Look Like a Mac

Two macOS-inspired themes are included with Twister OS. iRaspbian-Light and iRaspbian-Dark do exactly what you'd expect, offering daytime and night-time twists on the macOS visual style, complete with dock.

Try Windows and macOS desktops on the Raspberry Pi with Twister OS

Selecting these once again is a case of launching ThemeTwister from the desktop, clicking the desired theme, and restarting.

As before, considerable detail has been applied in creating a realistic-seeming macOS experience.

Give Us a PiKISS

One of the most significant additions to the pantheon of great Linux software over the past few years has been PiKISS. Designed for Raspberry Pi systems, this is a terminal menu-driven collection of scripts for almost every project eventuality.

PiKISS Raspberry Pi script installer

Need to setup your Pi with CUPS to manage printers? Need to setup a web or FTP server? Want to add some games that will run natively on your Raspberry Pi without emulation? Or actually want emulators to enjoy classic games from your favorite retro platform?

These scripts, and many more, are all available in PiKISS. It's an excellent piece of software that you should have on every Raspberry Pi operating system that you run. If you need to install PiKISS on other systems, use

        curl -sSL https://git.io/JfAPE | bash
    

In the meantime, it's preinstalled on Twister OS. Once you've chosen a theme, this is the place to go to start tweaking things.

What Else Can You Do With Twister OS?

A whole host of options---entertainment and productivity---come with Twister OS. It really is jam-packed with software. It makes the larger Raspberry Pi OS download look like an empty cupboard in comparison.

We don't have the space to list every highlight here. However, look out for

  • Overclocking tools
  • Preinstalled retro games
  • Preinstalled current games, from Minecraft Pi to CS2D, a 2D version of Counter-Strike
  • Kodi, VLC,
  • Full LibreOffice suite
  • GIMP
  • ThonnyIDE
  • Wine
  • Various utilities from SD cCard Copier and Xfburn to My Android

Remember, if all of that isn't enough, you can install additional software in the terminal. Not enough? Use PiKISS's automated scripts to install everything else, including software to run some of the best Raspberry Pi projects.