Fedora Linux 44 Launches with GNOME 50 and KDE Plasma 6.6 – Major Desktop Upgrades

Fedora Linux 44 Released

The Fedora Project today announced the immediate availability of Fedora Linux 44, the latest stable release of its flagship operating system. This version introduces significant desktop environment upgrades and broader hardware support.

Fedora Linux 44 Launches with GNOME 50 and KDE Plasma 6.6 – Major Desktop Upgrades — Source: lwn.net

"Fedora 44 represents a milestone in delivering cutting-edge open-source software to users," said Matthew Miller, Fedora Project Leader. "With GNOME 50 and Plasma 6.6, we're providing a refined, modern desktop experience out of the box."

Fedora Workstation – GNOME 50

Fedora Workstation 44 ships with GNOME 50, the latest GNOME release. This includes enhancements to accessibility, color management, and remote desktop capabilities. Default applications like Document Viewer, File Manager, and Calendar have also been updated.

Users can explore the full list of changes in the GNOME 50 release notes.

KDE Plasma Desktop – Plasma 6.6

For KDE enthusiasts, Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop 44 is based on Plasma 6.6. Key new features include the Plasma Login Manager and Plasma Setup, which provide a more cohesive first-boot experience. The installation process has been streamlined for easier deployment.

"The new Plasma Login Manager and Setup make Fedora KDE even more accessible for newcomers," noted Neal Gompa, a Fedora KDE maintainer. "We've simplified the out-of-box setup to help users get productive faster."

Fedora Atomic Desktops and Asahi Remix

Fedora 44 also updates its Atomic Desktops (Silverblue, Kinoite, etc.) with the latest atomic updates and container-native workflows. Additionally, the Fedora Asahi Remix for Apple Silicon Macs is now available, based on Fedora 44.

For alternative desktop environments, users can visit the Fedora Spins page.

Background

Fedora Linux is a community-driven distribution sponsored by Red Hat. It serves as a proving ground for technologies that later appear in Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Release 44 follows the project's six-month release cycle, focusing on the latest upstream updates.

This version includes both major GNOME and KDE updates, continuing Fedora's tradition of offering choice in desktop environments.

What This Means

For desktop users, Fedora 44 delivers a more polished and accessible experience, whether on GNOME or KDE. The simplified KDE setup and improved GNOME accessibility lower barriers for new users. System administrators benefit from updated packages and Atomic Desktop improvements for immutable infrastructure.

The inclusion of Apple Silicon support via the Asahi Remix expands Fedora's hardware compatibility, making it a viable option for Mac users seeking a Linux environment.

Release Notes and Downloads

Detailed release notes covering changes for desktop users, developers, and system administrators are available at the Fedora 44 Release Notes page. Downloads are available at getfedora.org.

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