Qubes OS 4.3.0-rc4 released
A new test release candidate (RC4) for Qubes OS 4.3 is out now! This marks another step on the iterative path toward getting ready for the final stable version.
This latest RC introduces several updates, but one major shift is under the hood: Dom0 has switched to Fedora 41, and Xen has been updated to version 4.19. If you're on an older Qubes install, upgrading your default templates might also be necessary; you'd need to move from whatever old template it came with to either the current Fedora 42 or Debian 13 setup.
Beyond these core upgrades, the developers incorporated several other new features and enhancements into this version compared to 4.2. One notable addition is improved hardware setup using preloaded disposables, which should speed up things for you if you're setting up a VM from scratch. The New Devices API has also gotten a refresh, offering a different way to assign devices directly tied to system identity, giving more control over managing your hardware.
They even added back the Qubes Windows Tools, with some feature upgrades too. These are practical improvements aimed at enhancing user experience on Windows systems.
The testing process itself is ongoing, and it’s tricky predicting exactly when they get that stable release tag. The usual approach involves gathering bug reports, sorting them out, fixing what pops up, and potentially releasing another RC if needed, looping back until things feel smooth enough for the public version.
From what testers have seen so far with this particular RC (4.3.0-rc4), things look promising that the current release could be one last checkpoint before they declare 4.3 stable.
Therefore, if you're keen to help test it out and contribute feedback, there are a couple of ways in: You can set up Qubes from scratch on fresh hardware or upgrade your existing Qubes 4.2 system using the standard "in-place update" option. The good news is that several bugs identified during previous RC testing have been resolved already.
Important: Before diving in, please remember to back up everything properly first! Getting updates also helps ensure you benefit from all the latest bug fixes right away. If you're still on an earlier release candidate version and haven't updated your Whonix setup recently, now is a good time to move it over, specifically upgrading that part of your system if you use Whonix.
Qubes OS 4.3.0-rc4 is available for testing
We’re pleased to announce that the fourth release candidate (RC) for Qubes OS 4.3.0 is now available for testing.
