Personal or professional - Linux on the desktop matters! It’s the daily interface between users and digital sovereignty – and it’s often put last. While Linux rules the cloud, servers, and mobile devices, the desktop is where control, compliance, and independence become tangible. This talk explores the current state of Linux on the desktop in Europe, with a focus on two real-world case studies from a leading automotive company and the German government. We’ll examine success stories, roadblocks, and new approaches like immutable Linux, zero-trust models, and EU-level OS initiatives. If we ignore the desktop, we risk leaving the front door of digital sovereignty wide open – or we can start where it matters most: every desk, every user, every day.