Fedora Linux 45 Beta is now available, giving Linux users their first real opportunity to try the next version of Fedora before its final release. Version 45 brings some notable changes, including a replacement for the traditional Linux console, tighter security defaults, updated development tools, and expanded Apple Silicon support.
One of the biggest changes is something many desktop users may rarely think about. Fedora 45 replaces the Linux kernel’s traditional virtual console implementation with kmscon, a userspace console built around Linux kernel mode setting. The result should include better font and Unicode support, smoother rendering, and a more modern text console outside the graphical desktop.
Security gets attention too. Fedora 45 enables package signature checking by default, making it harder to accidentally install unsigned RPM packages. Users can still deliberately override the protection when necessary, but Fedora is changing the default behavior in favor of verification.
The distribution is also restricting ptrace by default. Ptrace provides powerful debugging capabilities, but it can also allow one process to inspect another. Fedora’s tighter default should reduce that attack surface while developers who need the functionality can still adjust the appropriate settings.
Another change could affect how applications store passwords, tokens, and other secrets. Fedora 45 is standardizing desktop secret management around oo7, moving away from separate legacy implementations such as GNOME Keyring and KWallet. For ordinary users, this should mostly happen behind the scenes.
There are plenty of familiar version upgrades as well. Fedora 45 includes Podman 6 and Pandas 3, alongside updated MySQL and MariaDB releases. Developers get early access to Python 3.15, Go 1.27, GCC 16.2, and glibc 2.44.
Fedora CoreOS is getting systemd-oomd and zram swap support by default, while Atomic Desktop ISO images are now built using image-builder. Anaconda gains initial WebUI installation flows for Atomic Desktops as well as native support for partitioning Stratis filesystems.
NetworkManager is also gaining IPv6-mostly support. That should help Fedora operate on networks designed primarily around IPv6 while retaining limited IPv4 connectivity where necessary.
Apple Silicon users get something particularly interesting alongside the regular Fedora beta. Fedora Linux Asahi Remix 45 Beta brings initial out-of-the-box support for Macs powered by Apple’s M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips.
There is an important catch. Performant 3D GPU acceleration for M3 Macs isn’t included yet, with the necessary drivers expected through a future Mesa update. Hardware-accelerated H.264 and VP9 video decoding is supported across Apple Silicon systems, while M3 hardware also gets AV1 decoding support.
Existing Fedora Asahi Remix 43 and 44 installations can be upgraded, although users will need to use DNF’s System Upgrade plugin rather than Fedora Workstation’s graphical Software application.
Fedora 45 is also pushing toward reproducible package builds while tightening other parts of the operating system. Fedora has long been a place where newer Linux technologies reach desktop users relatively quickly, and this release continues that approach.
Of course, this is still beta software. Anyone installing Fedora Linux 45 Beta on a production machine should expect bugs and potentially unfinished pieces. Those willing to test it can download Fedora Workstation, KDE Plasma Desktop, Server, Cloud, and IoT beta images now, with Atomic Desktops, Spins, and Labs also largely available.
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