Fedora Asahi Remix 44 Now Available: KDE Plasma 6.6 and GNOME 50 Hit Apple Silicon Macs

Breaking: The Fedora Asahi Remix 44 has been released, bringing the latest Fedora Linux 44 to Apple Silicon Macs with a revamped desktop experience and critical package updates.

"This release marks a significant leap forward for Linux on Apple hardware," said a spokesperson for the Fedora Asahi Special Interest Group (SIG). "Users will immediately notice the polished KDE Plasma 6.6 desktop and the retirement of our custom Mesa packages in favor of upstream support."

Key Highlights

Fedora Asahi Remix 44 debuts KDE Plasma 6.6 as the flagship environment, replacing the older Calamares-based installer with a new Plasma Setup wizard. The Plasma Login Manager now serves as the default greeter, replacing SDDM—applies only to fresh installations.

Fedora Asahi Remix 44 Now Available: KDE Plasma 6.6 and GNOME 50 Hit Apple Silicon Macs — Source: fedoramagazine.org

For GNOME enthusiasts, a variant featuring GNOME 50 is available, along with a Fedora Server edition for headless deployments and a Minimal image for custom builds.

Important Changes

One of the most notable technical changes is the retirement of vendored Mesa and virglrenderer packages. Existing users will be automatically transitioned to the upstream versions provided by the standard Fedora repositories. "This move ensures better long-term compatibility and security," the SIG added.

Background

Fedora Asahi Remix is a joint effort between the Fedora Asahi SIG and the Asahi Linux project, dedicated to bringing a polished Linux experience to Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, and later). The remix has been steadily improving hardware support and desktop integration since its inception.

Installation and Upgrades

New users can install via the official installation guide. Those running Remix 42 or 43 can upgrade using KDE's Plasma Discover or DNF’s System Upgrade command. Note: GNOME Software is not supported for upgrades.

Support Channels

Report Remix-specific issues on the project tracker. Community support is available via the Discourse forum and the Matrix room.

What This Means

For Apple Silicon Mac users, Fedora Asahi Remix 44 delivers a cutting-edge Linux desktop with robust hardware support. The retirement of custom packages simplifies maintenance, while the shift to Plasma Setup and Login Manager improves the out-of-box experience. This release solidifies Fedora Asahi as a leading option for running Linux on Apple hardware, offering both performance and flexibility.