KDE Plasma 6.8 arrives for its 30th anniversary, introducing the Kup backup utility, native system audio recording in Spectacle, default NVIDIA triple-buffering, and refined HDR handling.
Startup times and memory efficiency see noticeable improvements, while legacy X11 session support is officially dropped.
New tools and features
Version 6.8 includes Kup, a tool that automatically creates backups to external storage. The Spectacle app can now record, along with the screen, system and microphone audio.
The Steam desktop app now features drop shadows and rounded corners to better blend in with the rest of the environment. A new accessibility feature automatically clicks when the mouse pointer hovers over an item.
Digital Clock now supports the Hindu Bikram Sambat calendar, while the on-screen keyboard supports Amharic.
Performance and settings improvements
Displaying content with a wider range of brightness and colors works better with color profiles. The Plasma core environment starts faster and uses less memory when there are many small tools on the desktop.
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Plasma 6.8 does not work in X11 sessions
Plasma 6.8 itself can no longer run in X11 sessions. Older applications still run through XWayland, a compatibility mode. Newer KDE applications also continue to run on X11 desktops.
When will the new version be available?
Continuously updated Linux distributions are expected to receive Plasma 6.8 in the coming days. KDE neon users will receive it as a software update in the coming weeks.
Kubuntu 26.10 does not include version 6.8 due to its release schedule. Instead, it offers the latest version of the Plasma 6.7.x series.
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