Feren OS 2025.03 is here — and it’s a big one. Officially codenamed “Osmium”, this release marks a major rebase for the popular Linux distribution, now built on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, and comes packed with system refinements, feature updates, and exciting under-the-hood changes.

Although finalized on March 31st, the update was rolled out to existing users at 4 AM on April 1st. A brief delay was caused by a rare race condition during testing, making this technically a late-March release. The ISO itself needed further polishing and was released shortly after.

What’s New in Feren OS 2025.03?

🔁 Based on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

Feren OS has now moved on from Ubuntu 20.04 LTS to Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, offering improved security, newer software, and support through April 2027. This foundational shift has enabled deeper refinements and long-overdue changes.

🔧 Rebuilt, Refined, and Reclaimed

This version revisits Feren OS’s system structure from the ground up:

• Removed unnecessary upstream metapackages and software recommendations.
• Eliminated unneeded dependencies, resulting in a lighter, faster system.
• Protected system-critical components from accidental removal.
• Pre-installed apps remain removable, except essential system parts.

These changes aim to improve stability and future-proofing while delivering the polished Feren OS experience users expect.

💻 KDE Plasma 5.27 — Final Release of Plasma 5

Feren OS 2025.03 ships with KDE Plasma 5.27, marking the end of the Plasma 5 era. Key tweaks include:

• Adaptive panel transparency (old behavior restored).
• Notification drain bar and extended accent color options.
• Reduced custom patching for faster Plasma updates and more authentic layouts.
• Latte Dock removed — replaced by pre-configured panels for “Human” and “Mac and Cheese” layouts.

🔊 Pipewire Takes Over

Replacing PulseAudio, Pipewire is now the default sound server. This change, in development since 2022, enhances sound quality and screen recording capabilities.

🧑‍💻 Rewritten OEM Config

OEM Config has been redesigned to resemble Vanilla OS’s approach:

• Logs into a restricted Plasma session after boot.
• Lets users connect to Wi-Fi, monitor battery, and adjust brightness before finishing setup.
• Prepares the system for a future Wayland transition.

🖥️ Introducing: DesktopSwop

Feren OS introduces DesktopSwop, a feature that segregates GTK configurations per desktop environment:

• Separate themes for GTK apps on KDE, GNOME, etc.
• No more cross-DE theme conflicts.
• Ideal for advanced users running multiple desktop environments.

📦 Firefox & GNOME Web Now from Flathub

Two big package changes:

• Firefox now comes from Flathub, not Snap.
• GNOME Web (Epiphany) is also now pulled from Flathub, based on community votes.

These changes provide faster updates, cross-platform profile consistency, and better integration with Feren OS.

Removals

• PPAs and custom repositories are disabled by default due to security and compatibility risks.
• Users needing advanced repository controls can manually install software-properties-qt.

Known Issues

• DNS Resolver Bug: Occasionally, DNS resolution may fail due to a known systemd issue (tracked here). A quick reconnect to your network usually fixes it.

For further information on FerenOS 2025.3 - read the official release announcement.