KDE Plasma's Big Move: X11 Support Ends Soon

KDE Plasma, a beloved desktop environment for Linux, is making a significant change. By early 2027, it will stop supporting X11, the older display server protocol. This shift is not sudden. Most users already use Wayland, the newer protocol, so the impact will be minimal. The transition will happen with the release of KDE Plasma 6. 8. Currently, the latest version is 6. 5, so there's time to prepare. KDE has announced that X11 support will end when Plasma 6. 8 is released. They expect this to happen in early 2027. What if you still need X11? KDE has thought about that. They suggest using Long-Term Support (LTS) distributions like AlmaLinux 9, which will support X11 until 2032. Another option is Xwayland, a compatibility layer that allows X11 apps to run on Wayland. KDE claims Xwayland works well for most applications. This change is a big deal for Linux users. It shows how the community is moving forward with technology. While some may resist change, others see it as progress. The key is to be prepared and explore the options available.