COSMIC Desktop 1.11 Released with New Touchpad Options and GPU Fixes
System76 has released COSMIC Desktop 1.11, bringing new touchpad controls, improved graphics selection on hybrid-GPU systems, and several fixes for window management, application search, display settings, and on-screen keyboard behavior. The update focuses on practical usability and reliability across the COSMIC desktop.
COSMIC Epoch 1.11 Arrives with Practical Desktop Improvements
System76 released COSMIC Epoch 1.11.0 on October 20, 2026. COSMIC is a modern, Rust-based desktop environment developed by System76 and used with its Linux ecosystem, including Pop!_OS. The project is also intended to be usable on other compatible Linux distributions.
Rather than introducing a complete visual redesign, version 1.11 concentrates on usability and bug fixes across several desktop components. The most visible changes include configurable tap-and-drag and drag-lock behavior for touchpads, improved application GPU selection on hybrid-graphics systems, and better handling of modal dialogs.
The release also includes updates to application search, display settings, volume controls, notifications, JSON file associations, and virtual-keyboard integration. The official release record lists changes across multiple COSMIC projects.
New Touchpad Tap-and-Drag and Drag Lock Options
One of the most user-facing changes appears in COSMIC Settings. Version 1.11 adds options to enable or disable tap-and-drag and drag lock for touchpads.
Tap-and-drag
This option allows a user to double-tap an item and then drag it using the touchpad. It can make moving windows, selecting text, or dragging interface elements more convenient for users who prefer tapping over holding down a physical touchpad button.
Drag lock
Drag lock allows the user to briefly lift a finger during a drag without immediately dropping the selected item. This can help when moving an item across a larger touchpad area.
These are configurable controls rather than a replacement for every existing touchpad gesture. Users can choose the behavior that best suits their workflow through the available settings.
Improved GPU Selection on Hybrid-Graphics Systems
COSMIC 1.11 includes fixes intended to help applications use the correct graphics processor on systems with integrated and dedicated GPUs. This is particularly relevant to laptops that combine a power-efficient integrated GPU with a more powerful discrete GPU.
The COSMIC App Library now includes a fix to ensure games use the appropriate GPU on hybrid systems. Related changes in the application launcher improve GPU selection for launcher-related workflows.
The release should not be interpreted as a universal fix for every hybrid-GPU configuration. Users experiencing graphics problems should still check driver support, system configuration, and distribution-specific documentation.
Compositor Improvements for Modal Dialogs and Windows
COSMIC’s compositor receives several fixes in version 1.11. One
important change is support for the Wayland
xdg-dialog-v1 protocol. This improves how modal
dialogs are handled, helping ensure that these dialogs remain
visible rather than appearing behind other windows.
The compositor also fixes a problem in which closed windows were not properly removed when no display outputs were connected. Additional changes address input methods that use the virtual keyboard protocol and communication used to activate the on-screen keyboard.
These changes target window-management and input edge cases that can affect the reliability of a desktop session, particularly when applications use dialogs or alternative input methods.
Launcher Search and Application Library Fixes
The COSMIC launcher and App Library receive several refinements aimed at making everyday application discovery more predictable.
- Case-insensitive search: launcher queries are handled without depending on the capitalization entered by the user.
- Improved word matching: search behavior is refined when matching words inside parentheses.
- Keyword relevance: a fix adjusts keyword weighting when a query contains more keywords.
- Keyboard navigation: pressing the Down Arrow after searching in the App Library now selects the first matching application.
- GPU selection: the App Library includes a fix to use the correct GPU when launching games on hybrid systems.
These refinements are small individually, but they can make the desktop feel more consistent when users search for and launch applications.
Display Settings, Volume Controls, and Notifications
The update fixes a display-settings issue associated with improperly handled monitor serial numbers. On affected systems, this problem could prevent the display settings page from opening.
COSMIC applets also receive fixes for volume adjustment using the mouse wheel or touchpad scroll. Another change addresses a notification applet that could fail to start.
Other listed improvements include a fix for window-preview close buttons, scrollbar padding, and a launcher blur region that overlapped the desktop panel. These changes focus on everyday interface behavior rather than adding major new applications.
Additional Changes Across COSMIC Applications
COSMIC Edit
The text editor adds a JSON file-type association, improving how JSON files are associated with the editor in supported environments.
COSMIC Settings
Settings can replace broken startup application links. Such links can occur when applications are installed from different sources, including Flatpak.
On-screen keyboard
Changes to activation signaling and virtual-keyboard communication improve compatibility with other input methods.
Translations and dependencies
The release includes translation updates and dependency updates across multiple COSMIC projects.
How to Get COSMIC Desktop 1.11
COSMIC is developed by System76 and is associated with Pop!_OS, while the project is also designed for use on compatible Linux distributions. How quickly version 1.11 becomes available depends on the distribution, its repositories, and its packaging schedule.
Before upgrading, check the release notes and the instructions provided by your Linux distribution. Do not assume that the upstream release is immediately available through every distribution’s stable repositories.
View Official COSMIC Releases Visit System76 COSMIC System76 SupportWhat COSMIC 1.11 Means for Linux Desktop Users
COSMIC 1.11 is primarily a refinement release. The new touchpad options offer more control over dragging, hybrid-GPU fixes target an important class of laptop configuration, and compositor and launcher changes address a range of usability issues.
For current COSMIC users, the practical value will depend on whether their hardware or workflow is affected by the problems addressed in this release. Users considering COSMIC for the first time should also evaluate distribution support, hardware compatibility, application requirements, and their preferred desktop workflow.
The official release notes provide the most reliable record of the code changes. Distribution-specific availability and behavior should be confirmed with the relevant Linux project.
Sources and Further Reading
- COSMIC Epoch Official Releases on GitHub — upstream release record and component change summary.
- Linuxiac: COSMIC Desktop 1.11 Adds New Touchpad Options, GPU Fixes — related reporting on the release.
- System76 COSMIC Desktop — official project overview.
- System76 Graphics Switching Documentation — background on hybrid graphics in supported Pop!_OS environments.
Editorial disclaimer: This article summarizes the upstream COSMIC 1.11.0 release record and related reporting. Feature availability may differ by Linux distribution, package version, hardware, and configuration. VMoreCloud is an independent technology publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by System76. COSMIC and related product names belong to their respective owners.