Fedora Asahi Remix 44 is now generally available, bringing the power of Fedora Linux 44 to Apple Silicon Macs. This release marks a significant milestone for the project, which is developed in close collaboration with the Fedora Asahi Special Interest Group (SIG) and the Asahi Linux project. Whether you are a developer, a desktop enthusiast, or a system administrator, Fedora Asahi Remix 44 offers a polished, up-to-date Linux experience tailored for M1, M2, and M3 hardware.
What's New in Fedora Asahi Remix 44
Fedora Asahi Remix 44 incorporates all the exciting improvements from Fedora Linux 44, including updated packages, security fixes, and performance enhancements. One of the most notable changes in this release is the retirement of the previously vendored Mesa and virglrenderer packages. Users who have not already manually transitioned will be automatically switched to the upstream versions provided by the official Fedora repositories. This change ensures better alignment with the broader Fedora ecosystem and simplifies future updates.
Desktop Environments and Variants
Fedora Asahi Remix 44 offers a choice of desktop environments to suit different preferences and workflows. Each variant is fully optimized for Apple Silicon hardware, ensuring smooth graphics, efficient power management, and seamless integration with hardware features like the trackpad, keyboard, and display.
KDE Plasma 6.6: The Flagship Experience
The flagship desktop for Fedora Asahi Remix is KDE Plasma 6.6, which brings all the new features and refinements of Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop 44. A major improvement in this release is the switch from the Calamares system installer to a new Plasma Setup wizard, providing a native Plasma experience during user account creation and initial system configuration. Additionally, the Plasma Login Manager now serves as the default greeter and session manager, replacing SDDM. These changes apply only to fresh installations; users upgrading from Fedora Asahi Remix 42 or 43 will keep their existing login manager setup.
GNOME 50 Variant
For those who prefer a more traditional desktop layout, Fedora Asahi Remix also offers a variant featuring GNOME 50. This edition matches the GNOME experience provided by standard Fedora Linux 44, so users can enjoy all the latest GNOME features while benefiting from Asahi’s hardware optimizations.
Server and Minimal Options
Beyond desktop variants, Fedora Asahi Remix 44 includes a Fedora Server variant for headless deployments, such as web servers, containers, or development environments. Additionally, a Minimal image is available for users who want to build their own custom system from scratch, installing only the packages they need.
Installation and Upgrade Paths
Installing Fedora Asahi Remix 44 is straightforward. Follow the detailed installation guide to get started. If you are already running Fedora Asahi Remix 42 or 43, upgrading to version 44 follows the standard Fedora upgrade process. Note that upgrades via GNOME Software are not supported; instead, use either Plasma Discover (on KDE) or the DNF system upgrade command. These tools will handle the transition smoothly, including the automatic migration to upstream Mesa and virglrenderer packages.
Community and Support
The Fedora Asahi Remix project encourages community involvement. If you encounter any issues specific to this Remix, please report them in the issue tracker. For user support and discussions, join the Discourse forum or the Matrix room. Whether you’re a long-time Linux user or new to Apple Silicon, the community is ready to help you make the most of Fedora Asahi Remix 44.
Upgrade today and experience the best of Fedora Linux on your Apple Silicon Mac.