> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://itsfoss.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Fedora 42 Released! 6 Things I Like Here - URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/fedora-42-release/ - Published: 2025-04-16T03:44:34.000Z - Updated: 2025-04-23T15:16:14.000Z - Description: Fedora 42 delivers major upgrades like GNOME 48, a COSMIC spin, and more. - Author: Sourav Rudra - Tags: Distribution Releases, News, #Import 2025-11-08 21:15 Fedora is an almost bleeding-edge Linux distribution with an enthusiastic open source community behind it. While its association with [Red Hat](https://www.redhat.com/en?ref=itsfoss.com), and by extension, [IBM](https://www.ibm.com/?ref=itsfoss.com), doesn't sit well with some, the distro has always been popular among desktop Linux users. Almost six months after its [earlier release](https://itsfoss.com/fedora-41/), the Fedora developers have brought out the Fedora 42 release that's packed with many new upgrades. Let's dive in without further ado. 😄 [Join over 56,000 Linux Users on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@itsfoss?ref=itsfoss.com) ## 1\. Anaconda is now Native Wayland ![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/04/fedora-42-workstation-installer-1.png) ![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/04/fedora-42-workstation-installer-2.png) **The Anaconda installer on Fedora 42 Workstation.* Starting Fedora 42, the default system installer, [Anaconda](https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Anaconda?ref=itsfoss.com), has gone Wayland-only, no longer supporting X11 sessions. It ships with improvements like **better keyboard control**, **using GPT as the default partition table** on all supported CPU architectures, and support for [RDP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote%5FDesktop%5FProtocol?ref=itsfoss.com), which replaces the earlier [VNC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VNC?ref=itsfoss.com) implementation. For disk partitioning, Anaconda now comes equipped with **a new web user interface** (*Web UI*) that simplifies the installation process with a guided partitioning feature, offering an automated experience where the user decides what kind of Fedora installation they want (*e.g., single/dual-boot*). It is paired with a new "*reinstall Fedora*" option, which acts as a fallback if things go wrong during installation. This new installation experience has been made the default one for Fedora 42 and later. ## 2\. KDE Plasma Edition ![fedora 42 kde plasma edition with the application launcher and about this system page open](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/04/fedora-42-kde-plasma-edition.png) The [KDE Plasma](https://fedoraproject.org/kde/?ref=itsfoss.com) variant of Fedora is not a Spin anymore. Instead, it has been promoted to Edition, joining other flagship Fedora offerings like *Workstation*, *CoreOS*, *IoT*, and *Server*. While this [was confirmed](https://itsfoss.com/fedora-kde-official/) as an alternative official edition for Workstation users, Fedora 42 is the first official release for it as an Edition. Currently, it comes packaged with [KDE Plasma 6.3.4](https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.3.4/?ref=itsfoss.com), [KDE Frameworks 6.12.0](https://kde.org/announcements/frameworks/6/6.12.0/?ref=itsfoss.com), and a suite of KDE apps. With this, Fedora now has **the perfect alternative for Windows 10 users** looking for a switch before the impending end of support arrives on [October 14, 2025](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-home-and-pro?ref=itsfoss.com). ## 3\. Fedora COSMIC Spin ![the about page open on fedora 42 cosmic spin](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/04/fedora-42-cosmic-spin.png) We knew [this was coming](https://itsfoss.com/fedora-cosmic-spin/), and it's finally here! [Fedora COSMIC](https://fedoraproject.org/spins/cosmic?ref=itsfoss.com) is a new Spin that provides a Rust-based desktop environment developed by System76, the makers of [Pop!\_OS](https://system76.com/pop/?ref=itsfoss.com). Users who opt for this can **expect the latest build of COSMIC**, the [COSMIC](https://system76.com/cosmic/?ref=itsfoss.com) app suite, hybrid per-workspace window/tiling management, window stacking, and a wide range of customization options. While this might not be as polished as the flagship Fedora offerings, it is still a good choice for those who like experimenting and trying new things. ## 4\. Desktop Environment Upgrades ![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/04/fedora-42-lxqt-spin.png) ![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/04/fedora-42-workstation-gnome-48.png) ![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/04/fedora-42-xfce-spin.png) **From left to right: Fedora 42 LXQt Spin, Workstation, and Xfce Spin.* The desktop environments also see some changes, with the [Fedora LXQt](https://fedoraproject.org/spins/lxqt?ref=itsfoss.com) Spin now coming equipped with [LXQt 2.1.0](https://lxqt-project.org/release/2024/11/05/release-lxqt-2-1-0/?ref=itsfoss.com) that introduces a new *lxqt-wayland-session* component, enabling support for seven [Wayland](https://wayland.freedesktop.org/?ref=itsfoss.com) sessions: Labwc, KWin, Wayfire, Hyprland, Sway, River and Niri. For Workstation, there is now [GNOME 48](https://itsfoss.com/gnome-48-release/), which introduces new features like **Wellbeing**, **Wayland Color Management**, **HDR support**, **Nautilus 48** as the file manager, **better NVIDIA GPU support**, and more. Lastly, for the [Fedora Xfce](https://fedoraproject.org/spins/xfce?ref=itsfoss.com) Spin, there is [Xfce 4.20](https://itsfoss.com/xfce-4-20-release/), which has brought about improvements like a better Xfce panel, refined power management, experimental Wayland support, and an upgraded Thunar file manager. ## 5\. Core Tool Refinements [DNF5](https://github.com/rpm-software-management/dnf5?ref=itsfoss.com), the default package manager, now **automatically removes any expired/obsolete keys** during software installation or upgrades. Similarly, Fedora 42 introduces **RPM copy-on write**, which leverages Btrfs' [reflink](https://btrfs.readthedocs.io/en/latest/Reflink.html?ref=itsfoss.com) capabilities to reduce I/O and CPU overhead during package decompression. Though, it is not enabled by default. ## 6\. Linux Kernel 6.14 ![a screenshot that depicts the system details page on a fedora 42 workstation system with important hardware and software information being shown](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/04/fedora-42-linux-kernel-6-14.png) Powering all that is Linux kernel 6.14, acting as **a powerful foundatio**n with newly added support for AMD Ryzen AI NPU6, AMD RDNA 4 graphics, Ultra-High Bit Rate (UHBR) mode via DisplayPort for Intel Panther Lake (*and later*) CPUs, and loads of storage improvements. You can check out [our coverage](https://itsfoss.com/linux-kernel-6-14/) to learn more. [Linux Kernel 6.14 Arrives With Performance Gains for AMD, Intel, and RISC-VThe second major Linux kernel release of 2025 has arrived!![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/icon/android-chrome-192x192-58.png)It's FOSS NewsSourav Rudra![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/thumbnail/linux-kernel-6-14-release-1.png)](https://itsfoss.com/linux-kernel-6-14/) ## 📥 Get Fedora 42 🚧 You should ****back up any of your data** and ****update your system's existing packages** before flipping the switch to Fedora 42. SPONSORED [![CTA Image](https://news.itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/04/pCloud-logo.png)](https://partner.pcloud.com/r/141499?ref=itsfoss.com) ****Backup your PC in real time with pCloud.** pCloud will automatically save the folders you chose to the cloud. Any change you make will be applied to your pCloud account and your device. [Learn more about PC backup feature ](https://partner.pcloud.com/r/141499?ref=itsfoss.com) **Existing Fedora Workstation and KDE Plasma users** can go into their respective software center apps [*Software*](https://apps.gnome.org/Software/?ref=itsfoss.com)/[*Discover*](https://apps.kde.org/discover/?ref=itsfoss.com) and look for a banner or notification to get started with the upgrade process. **Users of other Fedora desktop builds** will have to perform the upgrade using DNF. To get started, upgrade any existing packages on your system by running the following command and rebooting: ``` sudo dnf upgrade --refresh ``` Next, download the required packages for Fedora 42: ``` sudo dnf system-upgrade download --releasever=42 ``` Then, use the following command to launch the upgrade process, which will immediately reboot your computer: ``` sudo dnf system-upgrade reboot ``` Given that everything goes well, then your computer will reboot once again, taking you into Fedora 42\. If you have any doubts, then you can refer to the [official upgrade guide](https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/quick-docs/upgrading-fedora-new-release/?ref=itsfoss.com). We also have a [tutorial that shows the steps for upgrading Fedora version](https://itsfoss.com/upgrade-fedora-version/). It remains the same for newer versions, too. [How to Upgrade From Fedora 39 to Fedora 40This tutorial shows you how to upgrade the Fedora version to a new major release.![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/icon/android-chrome-192x192-62.png)It's FOSSAbhishek Prakash![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/thumbnail/upgrade-fedora.png)](https://itsfoss.com/upgrade-fedora-version/) **For fresh installations**, you will find Fedora 42 ISOs for various CPU architectures on the [official website](https://fedoraproject.org/?ref=itsfoss.com). There are separate images for [Workstation](https://fedoraproject.org/workstation/download?ref=itsfoss.com), [KDE Plasma](https://fedoraproject.org/kde/download?ref=itsfoss.com) and the various [Spins](https://fedoraproject.org/spins?ref=itsfoss.com). [Fedora 42](https://fedoraproject.org/?ref=itsfoss.com) You can refer to the [official release notes](https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/fedora/latest/release-notes/?ref=itsfoss.com) and the [changelog](https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Releases/42/ChangeSet?ref=itsfoss.com) for learning more about this Fedora release. *💬 This release offers many nice things; I will be upgrading to it soon. What about you?*