Fedora Linux 45 Released: GNOME 51, KDE Plasma 6.8, Linux 7.2 and More

Fedora Linux 45 is officially available as of November 3, 2026. The new release delivers GNOME 51 on Workstation, KDE Plasma 6.8 on the dedicated KDE edition, a Linux 7.2 kernel at launch, smarter installation options, and security improvements that go well beyond the desktop.

After two schedule delays, Fedora’s latest stable release is ready to download for desktops, servers, cloud deployments, and more. Here is what matters, what may affect your existing setup, and how to move from Fedora 44 without reinstalling.

Fedora Linux 45 at a glance

Release date	November 3, 2026
Linux kernel	7.2 at launch
Fedora Workstation	GNOME 51
Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop	KDE Plasma 6.8
Developer tools	Python 3.15, GCC 16.2, Go 1.27, glibc 2.44
Package and container tools	RPM 6.1 and Podman 6
Installation	Stratis storage support in Anaconda

GNOME 51 brings smoother everyday computing

Fedora Workstation 45 ships with GNOME 51, which focuses on responsiveness and practical refinements rather than a dramatic visual redesign. Changes to Mutter’s frame scheduling aim to keep window animations and desktop transitions fluid, even when a system is busy.

The Files app benefits from improvements to large-directory handling and drag-and-drop feedback, while the Calendar app gets work aimed at more responsive navigation. GNOME also expands its reduced-motion accessibility behavior and makes screenshot selections easier to adjust with the keyboard.

On the security side, Fedora Workstation adopts oo7, a modern secrets-service implementation for credentials such as saved application passwords and tokens. Together, these updates make Workstation 45 an appealing upgrade for developers and daily Linux desktop users.

KDE Plasma 6.8 adds powerful multitasking features

The dedicated Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop 45 edition features Plasma 6.8. Its standout addition is per-screen virtual desktops, giving multi-monitor users more freedom to organize work separately on each display.

Other improvements include more polished remote desktop sessions with two-way clipboard synchronization, a convenient light/dark theme toggle, better accessibility options, and the return of the classic Oxygen theme. For users who want flexibility and extensive desktop customization, the KDE edition remains a strong choice.

One important distinction: Fedora Kinoite, the KDE-based Atomic Desktop, launches with Plasma 6.7, with 6.8 expected shortly afterward. Don’t assume that the KDE edition and Kinoite have identical desktop versions on release day.

Linux 7.2, a better text console, and easier crash reporting

Fedora 45 launches with the Linux 7.2 kernel, bringing updated hardware support and a newer foundation for desktop and server workloads. As usual with Fedora, later kernel updates may arrive through the normal update channels.

A less visible but meaningful system change is the adoption of kmscon for virtual text consoles. It replaces the traditional kernel-rendered console in the default configuration, improving features such as Unicode rendering, font handling, and keyboard layout support.

Fedora also adds a more approachable DRM Panic frontend. When a kernel panic occurs, its associated web interface can help users interpret the crash information and prepare a bug report. It won’t prevent every failure, but it should make severe crashes easier to investigate.

Stratis storage comes to the Anaconda installer

One of the release’s most significant improvements for system administrators is native Stratis support in Anaconda. During custom partitioning, the installer can use Cockpit’s storage interface to configure Stratis storage pools and filesystems. Stratis brings capabilities such as pooling, thin provisioning, snapshots, and encryption under a more convenient management layer.

Automated installs also gain Kickstart options for Stratis. This is particularly relevant for teams provisioning Linux systems repeatedly or building storage-heavy lab environments.

Fedora’s Atomic Desktops, including Silverblue and Kinoite, also move their installation media to the newer Anaconda Web UI. The interface supports secure browser-based remote installation workflows, while new image-building infrastructure prepares the Atomic variants for future improvements.

Stronger package security and fresh developer tools

Fedora 45 raises the default bar for package verification: RPM now enforces signature checking by default. For most people installing software from Fedora’s official repositories, this is largely behind the scenes. Anyone deploying custom or third-party RPMs should make sure their packages are properly signed before upgrading.

The release also includes updated developer components, notably Python 3.15, GCC 16.2, Go 1.27, glibc 2.44, LLVM 23, and RPM 6.1. Container users get Podman 6, although some legacy options and backends have been removed. Developers with custom scripts or container automation should test their workflows before switching production machines.

Breaking changes to check before upgrading

Not every Fedora 45 change is purely additive. In particular:

Legacy VPN plugins are gone. The NetworkManager-vpnc and NetworkManager-fortisslvpn plugins are retired. If you rely on them, plan a migration to a supported solution such as OpenConnect or Libreswan before upgrading.
Custom unsigned RPMs may fail verification. Stricter RPM signature rules can affect manual installs and third-party packaging workflows.
Podman 6 changes compatibility. Old components including slirp4netns support and the BoltDB backend are removed, so review container configuration and automation.
Atomic Desktop versions differ. Silverblue and Kinoite have their own upgrade and rebase procedures; do not treat them exactly like a traditional DNF-managed Workstation installation.

Review the Fedora 45 change set and relevant known issues before upgrading an important computer.

How to upgrade from Fedora 44 to Fedora 45

For a standard Fedora Workstation installation, first back up important files, finish existing updates, and make sure you have enough free disk space. GNOME users can use the graphical upgrade offer in GNOME Software; KDE users can use Discover when the release upgrade becomes available.

For a conventional DNF-managed Fedora 44 system, the supported command-line route is:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
sudo reboot

After rebooting and confirming that your current Fedora installation is up to date, download Fedora 45’s packages:

sudo dnf system-upgrade download --releasever=45

Review any dependency or repository warnings rather than automatically accepting package removals. When the download and checks complete successfully, start the offline upgrade:

sudo dnf system-upgrade reboot

Your computer will restart and perform the installation before booting Fedora 45. Do not power it off during the upgrade.

These commands are for conventional DNF-managed installations; Fedora Atomic Desktops use a different update model. Fedora’s official upgrade instructions are the reference for additional scenarios and troubleshooting.

Download Fedora Linux 45

New users can download Fedora Workstation, Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop, Fedora Server, Fedora Cloud, Fedora CoreOS, Fedora IoT, or one of the supported spins and Atomic Desktop variants from the official Fedora website.

Choose the edition that matches your needs, verify the downloaded image using Fedora’s published checksums and signatures, and create bootable installation media. If you want to explore the release without replacing an existing operating system, a virtual machine is also a sensible starting point.

Is Fedora 45 worth upgrading to?

For desktop users, GNOME 51 and Plasma 6.8 offer useful refinements. Developers get fresh compilers and language runtimes, while administrators gain better installation and storage options. Fedora 45 is especially compelling if you appreciate current open-source software and do not mind keeping up with Fedora’s relatively fast release cadence.

If your computer depends on unusual drivers, third-party RPMs, a legacy VPN connection, or production container automation, test those components first. There is no need to rush an upgrade on a mission-critical system just because the release is available.

The bottom line: Fedora Linux 45 is more than a routine desktop refresh. It combines modern GNOME and KDE environments with meaningful changes to installation, package security, and core Linux infrastructure—and it is available now.