Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS: A New Era with COSMIC Desktop Environment

Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS: A New Era with COSMIC Desktop Environment

After years of anticipation and development, System76 has officially released Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS on December 11, 2025, marking a pivotal moment in Linux desktop history.

This release introduces COSMIC, an entirely new desktop environment built from the ground up in Rust, representing a bold departure from traditional Linux desktop paradigms.

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A Three-Year Journey

System76 first announced plans to create COSMIC in 2021, recognizing limitations in their previous GNOME-based approach.

The company spent three years developing not just a desktop environment, but an entire ecosystem including a custom compositor, widget toolkit, and suite of first-party applications.

As founder and CEO Carl Richell reflects, this release represents System76’s commitment to open-source innovation during the company’s 20th anniversary year.

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The COSMIC Desktop Environment

COSMIC stands for “Computer Operating System Main Interface Components,” and this version represents a complete reimagining of the desktop experience. Built entirely in Rust using the Iced toolkit, COSMIC prioritizes performance, modularity, and user empowerment.

Key Features

Intuitive Window Management
COSMIC features powerful automatic window tiling that users can control with either mouse or keyboard. The system makes it easy to organize workspaces efficiently, whether you prefer clicking and dragging or using keyboard shortcuts. A simple toggle in the panel activates tiling mode.

Fast Launcher System
The COSMIC Launcher, activated by pressing the Super key, serves as a command center for your desktop. Beyond just launching applications, it includes integrated web search, a calculator, file search capabilities, and quick command execution—all accessible from a single interface.

Comprehensive Customization
Users can theme their entire desktop using color pickers in the settings, creating personalized color schemes. The desktop supports flexible layouts, allowing you to choose between a traditional panel, a dock, or both, positioned on any screen edge. The theming system makes it easy to create custom appearances while maintaining readability.

New COSMIC Applications
System76 has replaced several GNOME applications with custom COSMIC alternatives:

COSMIC Files (replaces GNOME Files/Nautilus)
COSMIC Terminal
COSMIC Text Editor with Git integration, Vim keybindings, and tree view
COSMIC Media Player
COSMIC Store (replaces Pop!_Shop)

The COSMIC Store provides unified access to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS repositories, Pop!_OS APT packages, Flathub applications, and a dedicated COSMIC Flatpak remote.

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Technical Foundation

Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS builds upon Ubuntu 24.04 LTS but includes significant updates:

Kernel: Linux 6.17.9
Graphics: Mesa 25.1.5 drivers
NVIDIA Support: NVIDIA 580 driver series
Display Server: Wayland-native with improved hybrid graphics support

The distribution includes new hybrid graphics support for laptops with dual GPUs, automatically routing applications to the appropriate GPU without requiring mode switches. This extends battery life while maintaining performance when needed.

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Gaming and Professional Use

Pop!_OS has long been favored by Linux gamers, and the 24.04 release continues this tradition with out-of-the-box support for Steam, Proton, and NVIDIA graphics.

The COSMIC desktop’s efficient resource usage and responsive design make it suitable for both gaming and professional creative workflows.

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ARM Support and Hardware

Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS introduces official ARM support, particularly for the System76 Thelio Astra desktop. The distribution also includes Tow-Boot for community support on non-System76 ARM hardware.

Refresh Install Feature

A notable new feature allows users to reinstall the operating system while preserving personal files, settings, and Flatpak applications. This can be triggered by holding Space at boot or from the ISO, with plans to add it to COSMIC Settings after release.

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The Road Ahead

While this represents COSMIC’s first stable release, early user feedback suggests areas for refinement. Some users report that certain features feel unpolished, with panel customization occasionally restarting the shell and some settings responding slowly. These growing pains are expected for a completely new desktop environment, and System76 has indicated ongoing development will address feedback and add features.

The modularity of COSMIC means it’s not exclusive to Pop!_OS. The desktop environment is already available for other distributions including Arch Linux, openSUSE Tumbleweed, NixOS, Fedora Linux, and even BSD systems, allowing the broader Linux community to benefit from System76’s innovation.

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Availability

Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS is available for download from System76’s website. Existing Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS users can upgrade from the command line, though a backup is recommended given the significant changes. As an LTS release, it will receive five years of support, making it suitable for both enthusiasts seeking cutting-edge features and professionals requiring long-term stability.

System76’s COSMIC desktop represents more than just another Linux desktop environment—it’s a demonstration that innovation in open-source software continues to thrive, and that rethinking established patterns can lead to fresh approaches that benefit the entire ecosystem.

Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS: A New Era with COSMIC Desktop Environment