Tails 7.10 released with safer shutdown, Celluloid video player, and Tor Browser update
Tails 7.10 shipped today, July 23, 2026. The new stable release swaps GNOME Videos for Celluloid as the default media player and introduces a slower shutdown flow designed to stop users from losing unsaved work. Tor Browser landed at version 15.0.19 with security patches pulled from Firefox 153.
If you're running Tails, an automatic upgrade is available from version 7.0 or later. Manual upgrades require wiping Persistent Storage, so you'll need to back up first. Head here to read the full announcement. Head here to grab the ISO.
A safer shutdown, slower power-down
The headline change here is philosophical. Tails now uses GNOME's standard shutdown flow instead of its previous faster, emergency-style mechanism. That means shutdown is slower.
You'll see a confirmation dialog if you have unsaved work open. Tails enforces a 60-second window to save documents or close apps before powering off. The older emergency shutdown remains available for high-risk situations where every second counts.
It's a trade-off. Tails historically prioritized speed-of-shutdown to prevent forensic extraction of RAM contents. Slowing it down represents a new balancing act between anti-forensics and practical usability. Most users' greatest risk of data loss isn't forensics. It's simply forgetting to save a document.
The project has historically walked a fine line between these priorities. This shift signals that Tails is maturing from an emergency tool into something you might use more routinely.
Celluloid takes over the media slot
GNOME Videos (Totem) has been removed. Celluloid is now the default video player.
Celluloid cannot access the network, which is a deliberate security constraint. Tails blocks network access for non-browser applications by default. Online videos should be opened in Tor Browser instead.
Streaming protocols like IPTV or HLS still require VLC installed as additional software. Celluloid also won't run on hardware from 2011 or earlier. Legacy users fall back to VLC.
The rapid 7.x release cadence
Tails has released eleven versions in the 7.x series between January and July 2026. That pace reflects the project's shape after merging into The Tor Project in September 2024. The Tails team now focuses exclusively on maintaining the OS while leaning on Tor's infrastructure for fundraising and HR.
The release velocity has been driven by multiple emergency patches for critical Linux kernel vulnerabilities. The 7.x series includes fixes for Copy Fail, Dirty Frag, and CVE-2026-43503. Recent updates also addressed CVE-2026-46331. Tails treats these as deanonymization threats. If an attacker exploits a kernel vulnerability, they might deanonymize you.
That's the reality of running anonymous systems in 2026. The kernel is just another attack surface.
Thunderbird removed, firmware updates
If you're still on an older version, you should know that Thunderbird was removed from the base system starting with Tails 7.8. It's now available as additional software.
The project noted that Thunderbird followed Firefox's release calendar, which meant it was almost always outdated with known vulnerabilities. Now, users get the latest version installed automatically each boot.
Firmware packages got updated too. That helps with newer hardware support for graphics and Wi-Fi.
Post-merger context
Running Tails as an independent project for 15 years took a toll on the team. Not the technical part. The business side.
"Running Tails as an independent project for 15 years has been a huge effort, but not for the reasons you might expect," said intrigeri, team lead for Tails at The Tor Project. "The toughest part wasn't the tech. It was handling critical tasks like fundraising, finances, and HR."
The merger seems to be working. The release cadence is steady, and the team can focus on what matters: keeping the OS secure and usable.
Keep in mind that ISO images are no longer bootable from USB sticks. That's been the recommendation since 2019, but people forget. Use the dedicated USB images for installation.
