MX Linux 25.2 has been released, which addresses some difficult changes introduced in version 25 and finally updates the Raspberry Pi version.
The update was announced late last month and includes an alternative Licorix-built kernel 7.0 in addition to the standard Debian kernel.
Existing MX Linux users can upgrade via the install-over option in the installer. MX Linux is a Debian-based distribution that does not require systemd by default, making it a more accessible option for users who prefer to avoid systemd.
Kernel and version options and init system changes in MX Linux 25.2
MX Linux 25.2 offers different kernel options depending on the version:
- The Xfce edition comes with the standard Debian kernel or an Advanced Hardware Support (AHS) edition that uses Liquorice kernel 7.0.
- KDE Plasma Edition includes only the AHS version with the Liquorice 7.0 kernel.
- The Fluxbox version, which is lighter, uses only the Debian kernel.
The AHS version is designed for newer hardware and benefits from the latest kernel updates.
Older versions of MX Linux, up to version 23, allowed users to choose between syswinit and systemd at boot time. This method stops working in kernel 6.12 and onwards.
MX 25.0 required users to select sysvinit or systemd during installation, with the KDE Plasma desktop available only in the systemd variant.
In MX 25.1, a new mechanism for switching between init systems after installation was introduced. This feature remained in MX 25.2, but changes in the underlying architecture made it difficult to upgrade directly from MX 23 to MX 25.x.
The MX Tools suite, which includes system administration utilities, often encounters problems during such upgrades.
Upgrading to 25.2 from older MX Linux versions
For users running MX 23 or earlier who wish to upgrade to 25.2, the recommended method is to select the “Install over existing MX installation” option in the installer rather than attempting an in-place upgrade.
This method performs a clean reinstallation of the operating system and does not keep the previous configuration. This also requires re-enabling the swap partition and recreating the user account. However, this restores MX Tools to a working state.
The contents of the home directory are preserved through the install-over option, but configuration files within it may need to be reapplied or recreated. To maintain all settings and configurations, it is recommended to perform a full manual backup before reinstalling.
After installation, MX Tools provides easy point-and-click access to select repositories, configure mirrors, install drivers including Nvidia drivers, manage kernels, and add software. Flatpak is pre-installed, making it easy to install applications like Gear Lever via Flathub.
Raspberry Pi Edition now updated to MX Linux 25.2
MX Linux Raspberry Pi Edition has been updated to version 25.2. Before this update, the Pi version was based on MX 22. The Raspberry Pi version uses the Xfce desktop environment and is built partially from the Raspberry Pi OS package, rather than directly from Debian.
This approach allows it to look and function like MX Linux while remaining compatible with most Raspberry Pi models and Pi OS applications.
Earlier in the development process, testers experienced stability issues that prevented the system from booting beyond the splash screen on Pi 4 and Pi 5 hardware. The MX Linux team continues to work on refining the Pi version.
The latest release of MX Linux comes at a time when many other Debian and Ubuntu derivatives are introducing native AI features. Canonical has announced AI-powered features for Ubuntu 26.10 “Stonking Stingray”, while Linux Lite 8.0 offers an optional local large language model through its MyAI feature.
However, MX Linux 25.2 comes without any bundled AI components. This may appeal to users who prefer to avoid both systemd and locally hosted AI models.
MX Linux 25.2 is now available for free download from the project’s official website. The Xfce, KDE and Fluxbox editions have all been updated to the 25.2 release.
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