Solus 4.9 “Serenity” Released With Linux 6.18 LTS, Mesa 26, and Installer Improvements

What Is Solus 4.9?

Solus is an independent Linux distribution designed primarily for desktop computing. It offers a curated software experience and several desktop environments, with Budgie being particularly associated with the project.

Solus 4.9 carries the codename Serenity and follows Solus 4.8 “Opportunity.” The release was announced on April 18, 2026, as the project’s first release of that year.

Rather than concentrating only on visible desktop changes, Serenity addresses important components beneath the desktop: kernel configuration, graphics software, system service presets, bootloader support, and the graphical installer.

What’s New in Solus 4.9?

Solus 4.9 includes several changes intended to improve system maintenance, hardware support, installation flexibility, and everyday desktop use.

Linux 6.18 LTS and Mesa 26.0.4

One of the most important components in Solus 4.9 is the Linux 6.18 LTS kernel. The kernel manages communication between hardware and software, including processor scheduling, memory, storage, networking, and device drivers.

Solus also reports cooperation with AerynOS on the kernel patch set and configuration. This shared work is intended to improve hardware enablement for Solus users.

What does this mean for desktop users?

• Access to a newer Linux kernel series with long-term support.
• Updated foundations for supported hardware and device drivers.
• A refreshed graphics stack through Mesa 26.0.4.
• Potential compatibility improvements depending on the hardware and its drivers.

Mesa is an important part of the Linux graphics ecosystem. It provides graphics drivers and implementations used by many applications, games, and desktop environments, particularly on supported AMD and Intel graphics hardware.

Actual graphics performance depends on the GPU, driver, application, and workload. A newer Mesa release does not guarantee the same performance improvement on every system.

Installer and Disk Encryption Improvements

Installation is another area receiving attention in Solus 4.9. The distribution now includes Calamares 3.4.2, with changes intended to simplify bootloader setup and support modern disk encryption options.

GRUB 2.14 on legacy non-EFI systems

Solus includes GRUB 2.14 for legacy non-EFI systems. This version adds Argon2 support, allowing the distribution to use LUKS2 encryption in the relevant boot configurations.

LUKS2 disk encryption

The release changes the default disk encryption format from LUKS1 to LUKS2. The newer format offers additional capabilities, including support for storing encryption key material in a compatible Trusted Platform Module (TPM) configuration.

Whether automatic unlocking is possible depends on the system’s configuration and the software used to integrate TPM-based unlocking. It should not be assumed to work automatically on every computer.

Hybrid bootloader installation

Updated Calamares capabilities also allow Solus to use a hybrid bootloader arrangement on legacy systems. In this configuration, boot partitions can be created for both systemd-boot and GRUB2, with one bootloader chainloading the other.

Larger recommended EFI partition

Solus now recommends a 2 GB EFI system partition to accommodate the growing size of firmware components, kernel modules, and NVIDIA packages.

Solus 4.9 Desktop Editions

Solus 4.9 is available in four desktop editions. Users can select the environment that best matches their preferred interface, workflow, and resource requirements.

1. Solus Budgie

The Budgie edition ships with Budgie 10.9.4. It remains an option for users who prefer a traditional desktop layout with a modern appearance and integrated desktop features.

Solus changes the default terminal application to Ptyxis in this edition. The project also describes a planned transition to Budgie 10.10, which is expected to drop X11 support in favor of Wayland. That planned transition is separate from the Budgie 10.9.4 version included in Solus 4.9.

2. Solus GNOME

The GNOME edition includes GNOME 49.5, from the GNOME 49 “Brescia” series. It is suitable for users who prefer GNOME’s streamlined interface and integrated desktop workflow.

The Solus team has also outlined plans to introduce GNOME 50. The planned version is expected to be Wayland-only, but it is not the GNOME version shipped with the Solus 4.9 release image.

3. Solus KDE Plasma

The KDE Plasma edition features KDE Plasma 6.6.4, KDE Frameworks 6.24.0, and KDE Gear 25.12.3. It is an option for users who prefer a highly configurable desktop with extensive personalization features.

Notable Plasma 6.6 improvements include:

• An improved on-screen keyboard.
• Text extraction from screenshots through Spectacle.
• QR-code-based Wi-Fi network setup using a camera.
• Additional accessibility improvements and settings.

Solus also highlighted the planned transition to Wayland-only sessions in KDE Plasma 6.8, expected in October 2026. Users who depend on X11 applications or workflows should check compatibility before moving to a future desktop release.

4. Solus Xfce

The Xfce edition uses software from the Xfce 4.20 series. It focuses on a familiar desktop experience and stability rather than introducing extensive visual changes in this release.

Xfce may be worth considering for users who prefer a traditional desktop interface. Actual resource consumption depends on the applications, services, hardware, and configuration in use.

Updated Applications in Solus 4.9

Solus 4.9 also updates several widely used applications across its desktop editions.

Application versions listed here describe the published Solus 4.9 release. Installed versions can differ after subsequent package updates, so check your system’s package information for the versions currently installed.

Solus 4.9 Editions Compared

The following table summarizes the main desktop choices available in the release.

All four editions share the major Solus 4.9 platform improvements. Your choice should primarily depend on your preferred desktop environment, application requirements, and hardware compatibility.

How to Download or Upgrade to Solus 4.9

Users can obtain Solus installation images from the official project website. The release is offered in Budgie, GNOME, KDE Plasma, and Xfce editions, with download and torrent options listed by the project.

Installing on a new computer

1. Visit the official Solus website and choose your preferred edition.
2. Download the installation image using the available official options.
3. Review the current installation instructions and prepare suitable installation media.
4. Back up important data before changing disk partitions or installing an operating system.
5. Boot from the installation media and follow the installer instructions.
6. After installation, connect to the internet and apply available system updates.

Existing Solus users

Existing users should consult the official upgrade guidance and package-management documentation before making major changes. Back up important files and review any release-specific instructions before proceeding.

Do not assume that downloading a new ISO is required for every update. The correct approach depends on your existing installation, current package state, and the project’s supported upgrade process.

What to Check Before Installing Solus 4.9

Before installing Solus on a physical computer or virtual machine, consider the following:

• Hardware compatibility: Check support for your graphics adapter, Wi-Fi device, storage controller, and other important peripherals.
• Disk space: Make sure sufficient space is available for the operating system, applications, updates, and personal files.
• Boot mode: Identify whether your computer uses UEFI or legacy BIOS booting before changing partitions.
• Encryption: If using full-disk encryption, safely store recovery information and understand the unlocking process.
• Backups: Preserve important files before repartitioning or replacing an operating system.
• Application compatibility: Verify that the applications and development tools you depend on support your intended Linux environment.

If you are testing Solus in VMware or another virtualization platform, verify the virtual machine’s hardware configuration, available memory, graphics support, and boot settings before beginning the installation.

Why Solus 4.9 Matters for Linux Users

Solus 4.9 “Serenity” is a maintenance-focused release with meaningful improvements across the Linux kernel, graphics stack, installer, and disk encryption support. Its four desktop editions continue to provide flexibility for different desktop preferences.

The move to Linux 6.18 LTS and Mesa 26.0.4 will be particularly relevant to users interested in newer kernel and graphics components. The Calamares and GRUB changes also improve the distribution’s installation and encryption options in supported configurations.

For existing Solus users, the release is worth reviewing as part of their system maintenance plans. For new users, the Budgie, GNOME, Plasma, and Xfce editions offer several ways to experience the distribution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official Announcement and Sources

The following references provide the original release details and additional information about Solus 4.9.