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Q4OS RSS Feed DistroWatch.com: Q4OS

Q4OS


Last Update: 2026-09-16 15:31 UTC


q4os-6.1 (more screenshots in our gallery)  
Q4OS is a Debian-based desktop Linux distribution offering a choice of a classic-style user interface (Trinity) and a modern desktop environment (KDE Plasma). The project also develops various utilities, such as Desktop Profiler and Software Center, as well as installers for third-party applications.

Popularity (hits per day): 12 months: 22 (447), 6 months: 24 (401), 3 months: 25 (377), 4 weeks: 14 (564), 1 week: 37 (369)

Average visitor rating: 8.8/10 from 202 review(s).


Q4OS Summary
Distribution Q4OS
Home Page https://q4os.org/
Mailing Lists --
User Forums https://www.q4os.org/forum/
Alternative User Forums
Documentation https://q4os.org/documents.html
Screenshots DistroWatch Gallery
Screencasts
Download Mirrors https://q4os.org/downloads1.html • DistroWatch Torrent Archive
Bug Tracker https://sourceforge.net/p/q4os/tickets/
Related Websites SourceForge
Reviews 6.x: alternativalinux (Italian) • FOSS Force
5.x: The Register
4.x: Namakutux
3.x: DistroWatch • LinuxInsider
2.x: LinuxInsider • The Register
1.x: Dedoimedo • Dedoimedo
0.x: Blogspot
Where To Donate, Buy or Try https://q4os.org/dnt_donate.html • The Linux Shop

Recent Related News and Releases
  Releases announcements with download links and checksums:
 • 2025-09-12: Distribution Release: Q4OS 6.1
 • 2025-03-27: Distribution Release: Q4OS 5.8
 • 2024-09-04: Distribution Release: Q4OS 5.6
 • 2023-07-07: Distribution Release: Q4OS 5.2
 • 2022-08-01: Distribution Release: Q4OS 4.10
 • 2022-04-05: Distribution Release: Q4OS 4.8
 • 2021-11-21: Distribution Release: Q4OS 4.7
 • 2021-09-27: Distribution Release: Q4OS 4.6
 • 2021-06-29: Distribution Release: Q4OS 3.15
 • 2021-02-16: Distribution Release: Q4OS 3.14
 • 2020-12-18: Distribution Release: Q4OS 3.13
 • 2020-11-27: Development Release: Q4OS 4.2 Testing
 • More Q4OS releases...

  Headlines:
 • 2026-09-24 Q4OS publishes Breeze theme for Trinity desktop
 • 2025-04-28 Trinity Desktop Environment 14.1.4 released
 • 2017-11-28 Q4OS installed on Windows partition
 • More Q4OS headlines...

Table Notes and Explanations

(Please refer to the table below.)
  • Select view:
  • To compare the software in this project to the software available in other distributions, please see our Compare Packages page.
  • Notes: In case where multiple versions of a package are shipped with a distribution, only the default version appears in the table. For indication about the GNOME version, please check the "nautilus" and "gnome-shell" packages. The Apache web server is listed as "httpd" and the Linux kernel is listed as "linux". The KDE desktop is represented by the "plasma-desktop" package and the Xfce desktop by the "xfdesktop" package.
  • Colour scheme: green text = latest stable version, red text = development or beta version. The function determining beta versions is not 100% reliable due to a wide variety of versioning schemes.
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Feature 7.0-r5
testing
6.9 5.10 4.12 3.16 2.7 1.8.8 0.5.29 Feature
Release Date 2026-09-08 2026-09-16 2026-08-31 2023-05-03 2023-01-01 2018-12-30 2017-09-14 2015-03-27 Release Date
End Of Life   2030-08 2028-06           End Of Life
Price (US$) Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Price (US$)
Image Size (MB) 1700-2200 1400-1800 1000-1500 1000-1300 800-900 300-900 200-600   Image Size (MB)
Free Download ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO Free Download
Installation Calamares Calamares Calamares Calamares Calamares Text mode Text mode Text mode Installation
Default Desktop KDE Plasma, Trinity KDE Plasma, Trinity KDE Plasma, Trinity KDE Plasma, Trinity KDE Plasma, Trinity KDE Plasma, Trinity Trinity Trinity Default Desktop
Default Browser Chromium Chromium Chromium Chromium Chromium Chromium Chromium Konqueror Default Browser
Package Format deb deb deb deb deb deb deb deb Package Format
Package Management apt apt apt apt apt apt apt apt Package Management
Release Model Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Release Model
Office Suite -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Office Suite
Processor Architecture x86_64 x86_64 i686, x86_64 i386, x86_64 i386, x86_64 aarm64, armhf, i386, x86_64 i386, x86_64 i386, x86_64 Processor Architecture
Init Software systemd systemd systemd systemd systemd systemd systemd SysV Init Software
Journaled File Systems Btrfs, ext4, JFS, XFS Btrfs, ext4 Btrfs, ext4 Btrfs, ext4 Btrfs, ext4 ext4 ext4 ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS Journaled File Systems
Multilingual Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes       Multilingual
Full Package List 7.0-r5 6.9 5.10 4.12 3.16 2.7 1.8.8 0.5.29 Full Package List
Package 7.0-r5
testing
6.9 5.10 4.12 3.16 2.7 1.8.8 0.5.29 Package
alsa-lib (1.2.16.1) 1.2.16.1 1.2.14 1.2.8 1.2.4 1.1.8 1.1.3 1.0.28 1.0.25 alsa-lib (1.2.16.1)
amdgpu (25.0.0) 25.0.0 23.0.0 23.0.0 19.1.0 18.1.99 -- -- -- amdgpu (25.0.0)
apparmor (5.0.2) 4.1.8 4.1.0 3.0.8 2.13.6 -- -- -- -- apparmor (5.0.2)
apt (3.3.3) 3.3.3 3.0.3 2.6.1 2.2.4 1.8.2.3 1.4.8 1.0.9.8.4 0.9.7.9 apt (3.3.3)
bash (5.3) 5.3 5.2.37 5.2 5.1 5.0 4.4 4.3 4.2 bash (5.3)
bind (9.20.29) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- bind (9.20.29)
chromium (154.0.8037.57) 150.0.7871.181 152.0.7977.82 151.0.7922.137 113.0.5672.63 108.0.5359.124 71.0.3578.98 61.0.3163.79 -- chromium (154.0.8037.57)
cinnamon (6.6.9) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- cinnamon (6.6.9)
cups (2.4.19) 2.4.18 2.4.10 2.4.2 2.3.3 2.2.10 2.2.1 1.7.5 1.5.3 cups (2.4.19)
e2fsprogs (1.47.4) 1.47.4 1.47.2 1.47.0 1.46.2 1.44.5 1.43.4 1.42.12 1.42.5 e2fsprogs (1.47.4)
ffmpeg (9.0.2) 8.1.2 7.1.5 5.1.9 4.3.6 4.1.10 3.2.12 -- -- ffmpeg (9.0.2)
firefox (156.0.1) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- firefox (156.0.1)
flatpak (1.18.3) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- flatpak (1.18.3)
freetype (2.14.3) 2.14.3 2.13.3 2.12.1 2.10.4 2.9.1 2.6.3 2.5.2 2.4.9 freetype (2.14.3)
gcc (16.2.0) -- -- -- 10.2.1 8.3.0 -- -- -- gcc (16.2.0)
gimp (3.2.6) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- gimp (3.2.6)
git (2.55.0) -- -- -- 2.30.2 -- -- -- -- git (2.55.0)
glibc (2.44) 2.43 2.41 2.36 2.31 2.28 2.24 2.19 2.13 glibc (2.44)
gnome-shell (51.0) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- gnome-shell (51.0)
grub (2.16) 2.14 2.12 2.06 2.06 2.06 2.02beta3 2.02beta2 1.99 grub (2.16)
gtk (4.24.0) 3.24.52 3.24.49 3.24.38 3.24.24 3.24.5 3.22.11 3.14.5 3.4.2 gtk (4.24.0)
httpd (2.4.68) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- httpd (2.4.68)
hyprland (0.56.2) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- hyprland (0.56.2)
inkscape (1.4.4) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- inkscape (1.4.4)
kmod (34.2) 34.2 34.2 30 28 26 23 18 9 kmod (34.2)
krita (6.0.4) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- krita (6.0.4)
Package 7.0-r5
testing
6.9 5.10 4.12 3.16 2.7 1.8.8 0.5.29 Package
LibreOffice (26.8.0) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- LibreOffice (26.8.0)
libselinux (3.11) 3.11 3.8.1 3.4 3.1 2.8 2.6 2.3 2.1.9 libselinux (3.11)
linux (7.2.8) 7.1.12 6.12.107 6.1.180 5.10.178 4.19 4.9.130 3.16.43 3.2.65 linux (7.2.8)
mariadb (13.0.2) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- mariadb (13.0.2)
mate-desktop (1.28.2) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- mate-desktop (1.28.2)
mesa (26.2.3) 26.1.6 25.0.7 22.3.6 20.3.5 18.3.6 13.0.6 10.3.2 8.0.5 mesa (26.2.3)
nautilus (51.0.1) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- nautilus (51.0.1)
NVIDIA (615.71.09) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- NVIDIA (615.71.09)
openjdk (27) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- openjdk (27)
openssh (10.5p1) 10.4p1 10.0p1 9.2p1 8.4p1 7.9p1 7.4p1 6.7p1 6.0p1 openssh (10.5p1)
openssl (4.0.2) 3.6.3 3.5.7 3.0.20d 1.1.1n 1.1.1n 1.1.0j 1.0.1t 1.0.1e openssl (4.0.2)
perl (5.44.0) 5.42.3 5.40.1 5.36.0 5.32.1 5.28.1 5.24.1 5.20.2 5.14.2 perl (5.44.0)
php (8.5.11) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- php (8.5.11)
plasma-desktop (6.7.5) 6.7.4 6.3.6 5.27.5 5.20.5 5.14.5.1 5.8.6 -- -- plasma-desktop (6.7.5)
postfix (3.11.7) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- postfix (3.11.7)
postgresql (18.6) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- postgresql (18.6)
Python (3.14.7) 3.14.7 3.13.5 3.11.2 3.9.2 3.7.3 2.7.13 2.7.9 2.7.3 Python (3.14.7)
qt (6.11.2) 6.10.2 6.8.2 5.15.8 5.15.2 5.11.3 5.7.1 4.8.6 3.3.8 qt (6.11.2)
samba (4.25.0) 4.24.6 4.22.11 4.17.12 4.13.13 -- -- -- -- samba (4.25.0)
systemd (262) 261.2 257.13 252.39 247.3 241 232 215 -- systemd (262)
thunderbird (156.0.1) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- thunderbird (156.0.1)
vim (9.2) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 7.3 vim (9.2)
vlc (3.0.24) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- vlc (3.0.24)
wayland (1.26.0) 1.26.0 1.23.1 1.21.0 1.18.0 1.16.0 1.12.0 1.6.0 -- wayland (1.26.0)
xfdesktop (4.20.2) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- xfdesktop (4.20.2)
xorg-server (21.1.24) 21.1.24 21.1.16 21.1.7 1.20.11 1.20.4 1.19.2 1.16.4 1.12.4 xorg-server (21.1.24)

Reader Ratings
Reader supplied reviews for Q4OS

Average rating
8.8
from 202 review(s)



What are your thoughts on Q4OS?
Please include a few pros and a few cons, along with your overall impression of the operating system.
Our FAQ page has tips on writing a good mini-review.

Version:

Rating:    out of 10

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Past reviews - sort by:

Version: 6.8
Rating: 10
Date: 2026-08-21
Country: France
Votes: 12


Simply the best KDE/Debian association, by far.
Maybe one of the best distro, period.
I've been using it for 10 years and really, really, had no issue whatsoever with reliability and stability.
Its KDE look is light, classy and clean.
It's easy to install on any old computer.

Suitable for grandmas, noobs and linux haters because no technical maintenance is needed and because every basic usage is provided by default.
Suitable also for advanced users because of the Debian base and the stability !


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 6.8
Rating: 9
Date: 2026-08-17
Country: United States
Votes: 2


Forgot to add important point from my previous review since there are a lot of Chromebooks out there.
Q4OS will work well on Chromebook or Chromebox,but you may have to remove write protection screw from chromebox and first remove bottom of case.
Then replace the proprietary ChromeOS firmware with custom open-source firmware from MrChromebox., which unlocks full UEFI/BIOS support and allows booting from USB.

More difficult than Linux install on windows PCs but it did work and just do web search for Mr. Chromebox firmware and tutorials on installing Linux on a Chromebook.
Since Chromebooks have limited storage,I'd recommend installing Stacer or Bleachbit to clear logs and cache so your PC storage doesn't fill up quickly & crash the PC.
Seems hit or miss using terminal commands for this so Stacer would probably be the easiest for most people.





Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 6.8
Rating: 10
Date: 2026-08-13
Country: Canada
Votes: 3


Discovered Q4OS a few weeks ago while looking for a "lighter" version of MXLinux. Installed the KDE Plasma DE and liking it so far!
Came without a load apps installed that I didn't want and is fast and responsive. Q4OS comes with it's own software manager with just 76 apps/programs available to get you going.
The Q4OS team on the forum is quick to respond to any questions or issues a person might have.
I've download and installed a lot of the latest versions of apps I use instead of always using what might be in the repositories and Q4OS hasn't choked on any of them to date.

I originally was looking for a stable OS for my laptop which I use occasionally, not every day, so I didn't have to worry about constantly updating it. Q4OS fits what want/need perfectly for that!
Q4OS comes with S4 Snapshot (MX Linux Snapshot) for backing up most everything in your entire system to an ISO, for reinstalling, or installing it on another drive or PC.

I've been using Arch OS's (EOS and Big Linux primarily) for the last couple of years as my daily driver but now seriously considering Q4OS for my daily driver also!

To date, I have found no Cons.


Was this review helpful? Yes No

See all 202 reader reviews of Q4OS...



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