KDE Confirms X11 Support Ends in Plasma 6.8, Users Urged to Prepare

URGENT UPDATE: KDE has just announced that its popular desktop environment, KDE Plasma, will officially discontinue support for X11 applications starting with the upcoming Plasma 6.8. This significant shift is expected to take place in early 2027, leaving users with limited time to adapt.

The announcement, made on the KDE blog, highlights that while many users primarily operate on Wayland, the transition away from X11 could impact those who rely on it for specific applications. KDE emphasizes that the majority of Plasma users typically engage with Wayland, which may ease the transition for many.

As of now, KDE Plasma is on version 6.5, with several releases scheduled before the full transition occurs. The developers confirm that support for X11 will persist until at least early 2027, providing users with over a year to make necessary adjustments.

For those dependent on X11, KDE offers alternatives. Users can consider Long-Term Support (LTS) distributions like AlmaLinux 9, which will maintain X11 compatibility until 2032. Additionally, the Xwayland compatibility layer has been mentioned as a viable option, enabling many X11 applications to run smoothly on Wayland systems.

KDE assures users that they are actively exploring the possibility of releasing additional bug-fix updates for the current Plasma 6.7 version, but the exact timing for these updates will be confirmed closer to their release date.

This major transition in KDE Plasma signifies a broader trend in the Linux community, encouraging users to embrace the advancements of Wayland technology. With the clock ticking down to the end of X11 support, affected users are urged to begin exploring their options now.

Stay tuned for further updates as KDE continues to refine its desktop environment and support structure. As this situation develops, users are encouraged to share their experiences and prepare for the future of Linux desktops.