We round up the best new feature set of Fedora 43 workstation release (upcoming).
Fedora 43 release is packed with enhancements and core updates. The release is currently going thru beta phase and the release is expected within few days.
This page highlights key system-wide and self-contained changes that make Fedora 43 a release to watch. Let’s dive into the key features of this release.
Fedora 43: New Features
Core distribution updates
Kernel updates: Fedora 43 is based on Linux Kernel 6.17 which brings latest hardware support and updates following along with the industry releases.
Linux kernel 6.17 key highlights includes improvements to the EXT4 file system, including efficient zero-writing on NVMe and SCSI SSDs without I/O operations and better scalability for block allocation. Hardware support is expanded with new graphics drivers for Intel Panther Lake laptops, AMD hybrid GPU power management, and compatibility with ARM’s Branch Record Buffer Extension (BRBE) and AMD Hardware Feedback Interface (HFI).
Expanded /boot partition: Fedora 43 doubles the default /boot partition size from 1 GiB to 2 GiB. This change ensures ample space for growing kernel and initramfs files, making updates and installations more robust.
Static libraries in Fedora 43 will now retain useful debuginfo by default. Using a new tool, this update improves debugging capabilities for developers, making it easier to troubleshoot and optimize code.
RPM 6.0 and changes in Anaconda
The Anaconda WebUI, already the default installer for Fedora 42 Workstation, will now extend to Fedora Spins and Editions in Fedora 43. This modern, user-friendly installer enhances the installation experience, with some Spins potentially transitioning in later releases based on readiness.
The RPM package manager is updated to version 6.0, introducing new features and performance improvements. Additionally, the Anaconda installer will switch to DNF5 from DNF4 for package installation, streamlining the process.
Toolchain and core package Updates
Fedora 43 upgrades all LLVM sub-projects to version 21, boosting performance for developers working with LLVM-based tools. Additionally, the GNU Toolchain will see updates to GCC 15.2, Binutils 2.45, Glibc 2.42, and GDB 17.1, ensuring Fedora remains a leading platform for modern development.
The release also upgrades the Python stack to Python 3.14, offering the latest advancements in the language. Similarly, Perl 5.42 brings a year’s worth of improvements. This ensures that the developers have access to cutting-edge tools.
The default PostgreSQL stream will upgrade from version 16 to 18, continuing Fedora’s versioned packaging structure. This update brings improved performance and new features for database users.
In addition, this latest release introduces Ruby on Rails 8.0, the latest version of the popular web framework, and updates the Dovecot email server to version 2.4.
The initial ramdisk (initrd) for all Fedora variants will now use zstd compression by default when built with dracut. This change, fully implemented, improves boot performance and efficiency.
New programming language supports
Fedora 43 introduces Idris 2, a dependently typed functional programming language, and updates the Haskell GHC compiler to version 9.8 with Stackage LTS 23.
This release also adds support for Hare, a systems programming language focused on simplicity and robustness. While still under development, Hare’s inclusion reflects Fedora’s commitment to emerging technologies.
Workstation desktop and other spins
The default workstation edition features GNOME 49 which brings some core updates across its components. Also, GNOME 49 brings new video player, improvements to the Web and calendar. You may check out the GNOME 49 deep dive in this article.
Perhaps the most important change in this release is the removal of GNOME X11 packages, migrating all users to the modern, secure GNOME Wayland session. This leads to the transition to a Wayland-only GNOME environment, retiring X11 session packages.
Fedora’s release cadence aligns with the other upstream DE updates, so Fedora 43 incorporates the latest stable versions available at this time. Below is a summary of the key DE versions across the main spins, based on official release notes and announcements.
| Desktop Environment | Spin/Edition Name | Version in Fedora 43 |
|---|---|---|
| GNOME | Fedora Workstation | 49 |
| KDE Plasma | Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop | 6.4 |
| Xfce | Fedora Xfce | 4.20 |
| LXQt | Fedora LXQt | 2.1 |
| Cinnamon | Fedora Cinnamon | 6.4 |
| MATE | Fedora MATE-Compiz | 1.28 (expected) |
Fedora 43 also supports niche spins like i3 (tiling WM), Sway (Wayland tiling), Budgie (3.3 expected), and COSMIC (1.0 alpha with hybrid tiling).
Download
You can download the workstation (GNOME) ISO (beta) from the below page and give it a try.
For other distribution spins, you can grab the ISO image from the below link.
Download Fedora 43 spins (beta)
Wrapping up
Overall, it is a big release considering core updates such as Python 3.14, DNF 5.0 and RPM 6.0. There are numerous core updates, deprecations, and adoption of new feature sets across modules.
As of publishing this, Fedora 43 is planned for release on October 28, 2025; this followed by Nov 11, 2025 for contingencies.
