OpenWrt 25.12 Released with APK Package Manager Replacing opkg

The OpenWrt project has introduced OpenWrt 25.12, marking the first stable release in the new 25.12 series of its open-source Linux-based operating system designed primarily for embedded devices such as home routers and network gateways.

Major Change: New Package Manager

One of the biggest changes in this release is the transition from the opkg package manager to Alpine Package Keeper (APK). Because the OpenWrt-specific fork of opkg is no longer actively maintained, the project has adopted APK as the default tool for managing software packages. Although most package names remain unchanged, the command-line syntax differs. To help users adapt, the project provides a migration guide that maps common opkg commands to their APK equivalents.

Easier System Upgrades

The upgrade workflow has also improved. The Attended Sysupgrade feature is now built directly into the LuCI web interface, making upgrades simpler through the browser. For devices with sufficient flash storage, the owut command-line utility is included as well. Both tools automatically rebuild firmware images with the currently installed packages so users can upgrade while keeping their existing configuration and software setup.

Wi-Fi Management Improvements

Wireless management scripts have been rewritten using ucode, replacing older shell-based scripts. According to the developers, ucode offers faster performance, better reliability, and deeper integration with OpenWrt components like ubus and UCI.

Persistent Command History

Another usability enhancement is persistent shell command history. Commands entered in the terminal are now stored in a RAM-backed filesystem, allowing the history to remain available across sessions without causing unnecessary writes to flash storage. Users can enable permanent storage manually if they want, though the project notes that this could increase flash wear over time.

Qt Application Support

OpenWrt 25.12 also includes the video feed repository by default, giving users access to **Qt5-based graphical applications directly from the package repositories.

Expanded Hardware Compatibility

Hardware support has grown in this release. Updates include:

• Additional switch SoCs supported under the Realtek target, including 10-gigabit models
• Expanded support in the qualcommax target for the ipq50xx and ipq60xx chip families
• New targets for Siflower SF21A6826/SF21H8898 SoCs
• Support for Microchip LAN969x switch platforms
• A new sunxi arm926ejs subtarget enabling devices based on Allwinner F1C100 and F1C200s

Updated Core Components

The release updates several key system components:

• Linux kernel 6.12
• GCC 14.3
• glibc 2.41
• musl 1.2.5
• GNU Binutils 2.44

Networking and system utilities have also been refreshed, including dnsmasq 2.91, Dropbear 2025.89, and BusyBox 1.37. Wireless components use cfg80211 and mac80211 backported from kernel 6.18, while hostapd is based on an upstream snapshot from August 2025.

Support Timeline

With this release, the project has also confirmed that OpenWrt 24.10 will reach end of life in September 2026. After that date, it will no longer receive security updates, so users are encouraged to migrate to the 25.12 series before support ends.

Availability

Firmware images for OpenWrt 25.12 can be downloaded through the project’s Firmware Selector or from the official download servers. In most cases, devices running OpenWrt 24.10 can upgrade directly using the sysupgrade utility. As always, creating a backup of the current configuration before upgrading is strongly recommended.

For the full list of changes and technical details, users should review the official release announcement.