Quick Facts
- Category: Linux & DevOps
- Published: 2026-05-01 12:45:07
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Breaking News — Fedora Asahi Remix 44 is now generally available, bringing Fedora Linux 44 to Apple Silicon Macs. The release marks a significant milestone by retiring custom graphics drivers in favor of upstream packages, streamlining support for the growing ecosystem of M-series devices.
“This is a huge step forward for the Asahi Linux project,” said Hector Martin, lead developer of Asahi Linux. “By moving to upstream Mesa and virglrenderer, we reduce maintenance burden and align fully with Fedora’s infrastructure, ensuring users benefit from the latest GPU improvements directly from the open-source community.”
Fedora Asahi Remix 44 ships with KDE Plasma 6.6 as the flagship desktop environment, alongside a GNOME 50 variant and a Server edition. New installations now use Plasma Setup for initial configuration and Plasma Login Manager as the default greeter, replacing SDDM and Calamares.
“We’ve worked closely with the Fedora Asahi SIG and the upstream Fedora project to deliver a seamless experience,” said a Fedora Asahi SIG representative. “Existing users upgrading from version 42 or 43 will keep their current settings, but new users will enjoy a more integrated Plasma-first setup.”
Key Updates in Fedora Asahi Remix 44
- Upstream Mesa and virglrenderer — Vendored graphics packages are removed; users are automatically transitioned to official Fedora packages.
- KDE Plasma 6.6 — Flagship desktop with full Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop 44 features.
- GNOME 50 — Available as an alternative desktop image.
- Fedora Server variant — For headless and server workloads.
- Minimal image — For users building custom environments.
- New installer — Plasma Setup replaces Calamares on fresh installs; SDDM replaced by Plasma Login Manager.
Background
The Fedora Asahi Remix is developed in collaboration with the Fedora Asahi Special Interest Group (SIG) and the Asahi Linux project. Asahi Linux has been working since 2020 to bring Linux to Apple Silicon, and this remix is the officially supported Fedora spin for that hardware.
Previous releases relied on custom Mesa and virglrenderer packages to support the Apple GPU. With Fedora Asahi Remix 44, the upstream Fedora repositories now include the necessary patches, eliminating the need for separate vendor packages.
What This Means
For users, this release simplifies updates and improves compatibility with future Fedora upgrades. The move to upstream Mesa means graphics drivers will receive timely security and performance fixes through standard Fedora channels.
However, upgrades via GNOME Software are not supported; users must use KDE’s Discover or the DNF system-upgrade command. New installations are guided by the new Plasma Setup wizard, which integrates fully with Plasma’s look-and-feel.
To install or upgrade, follow the official installation guide. Bugs should be reported in the Remix issue tracker or discussed on the Discourse forum and Matrix room.