gnome 50Also known as Tokyo, has been released with a significant update: the complete removal of X11 session. Now, Wayland is the only display server available at login. Users can no longer log into a GNOME 50 session using X11, even if X.org is manually installed.
However, support for X11 applications remains through XWayland, the compatibility layer integrated into GNOME 50. Existing X11 apps continue to work as before. The option to use X11 as a session backend is no longer available.
What GNOME 50 means for Ubuntu and Fedora users
GNOME 50 for Ubuntu 26.04 “Resolute Raccoon” has been confirmed as a long-term support release next month. Most Ubuntu desktop users will be running GNOME 50 through at least Ubuntu 28.04, and many will be running 26.04 for the entire five-year support lifetime of LTS.
Fedora 44, which is currently in beta, also ships GNOME 50 as its default desktop.
GNOME 50 display and Wayland performance upgrade
GNOME 50 brings several improvements, including support for variable refresh rates and a new low-latency mode for the mouse cursor. The update also expands fractional scaling options, making it easier to get a perfect fit on different screens. Screen sharing now handles HDR content, and color management has been upgraded, along with better graphics acceleration for remote desktop sessions.
Parental controls and access in GNOME 50
Thanks to funding from the Endless Foundation, new parental controls now include features like screen-time limits and automatic locking at bedtime. Orca screen reader has received a full update, and there’s a new option to reduce animation effects on the desktop for those who prefer or need less speed.
App updates in GNOME 50: Files, Papers, Calendar
GNOME Files, which used to be run by Nautilus, gets a speed boost and uses less memory in this latest update, as well as several interface changes. The document viewer, now called Papers since GNOME 48, introduces new annotation features like text, drawing, line tools, and highlights. GNOME Calendar has also seen improvements with better keyboard navigation and easier ICS file export. Also, GTK 4.22 is included for developers to explore.
Why GNOME 50 shows the end of X11 sessions
GNOME 50 is an important milestone for the Linux desktop. By fully adopting Wayland, GNOME is signaling that the future of Linux graphics has arrived and the days of relying on X11 as the main desktop environment are coming to an end.
GNOME 50 is available now, and users running the current distribution will receive it through their regular system updates once the new release is added to their repositories.
