Fedora 45 has been released after two week-long delays, with the development team finding last-minute issues before launch. The new version introduces GNOME 51 and KDE Plasma 6.8, while Fedora Asahi Remix 45 adds initial support for M3-based Macs and the installer adds support for Stratis storage.
The new release includes six main editions, five immutable desktop variants, and 12 spins with different graphical interfaces. The recommended system specification is now a 2 GHz quad-core CPU with 8 GB of RAM, 20 GB of disk space, and at least 1024×768 graphics support. 3D acceleration may not work on older GPUs, including some Intel, Nvidia, and AMD Radeon models.
The project's “when it's ready” approach contrasts with the calendar-based schedule used by Canonical for Ubuntu.
The flagship desktop editions are Workstation 45, which ships with GNOME 51 "A Coruña", and Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop with KDE Plasma 6.8. GNOME 51 brings improvements to the Settings app but removes support for some older Nvidia GPUs. Both GNOME and KDE are Wayland-only, but X11 remains available in seven of the spins, including Xfce, Cinnamon, and MATE.
Fedora 45 is accompanied by Fedora Asahi Remix 45 for Apple Silicon Macs, which adds initial support for M3-based systems alongside M1 and M2 support. The M3 support is preliminary and limited; for instance, the M3 Ultra is excluded.
Under the hood, the release uses RPM version 6.1 with enhanced package signature checking, and blocks silent package vendor changes. The GNOME keyring now uses the oo7 secrets manager. Support for two old VPN plugins has been removed due to lack of maintenance. The Stratis storage subsystem, Red Hat's GPL-licensed alternative to OpenZFS, is at version 3.9.3, and the installation program now supports installing Fedora 45 on Stratis storage. Custom disk partitioning has also been made easier: the installer can launch the Cockpit web-management tool to help set up drives.
Fedora 45 ships with kernel 7.2.15, which is an end-of-life version, but the distribution routinely updates to new kernel versions, and the review expects Fedora 45 users to get kernel 7.3 soon. The upgrade path can skip one Fedora release, but not two; the test machine was upgraded via Fedora 44.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Fedora is a widely used distribution that influences the broader Linux ecosystem; its release sets trends for desktop and server Linux.
- The inclusion of initial M3 Mac support expands the reach of Linux on Apple hardware, though it remains limited.
- Stratis, Red Hat's alternative to ZFS, reaches version 3.9.3 with installer support, marking progress toward wider adoption.
Background
Fedora is a community-driven Linux distribution sponsored by Red Hat. It serves as a testing ground for features that later appear in Red Hat Enterprise Linux. The release was delayed twice due to last-minute issues, reflecting the project's preference for stability over adhering to a fixed schedule. The release cycle typically introduces new versions of GNOME and KDE, along with updated system components.
What to Watch
- The expected kernel 7.3 update, which should provide a more recent kernel than the end-of-life version 7.2.15 shipped with 45.
- Further development of the Stratis storage subsystem and its adoption beyond Fedora.
- Evolution of Apple Silicon support, as the M3 compatibility is currently preliminary and limited.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedFedora 45 was released after two week-long delays.www.theregister.com - Articles: “Fedora 45 is here, after not one but two week-long delays as the team found last-minute issues.”
- SupportedThe development team found last-minute issues before launch.www.theregister.com - Articles: “after not one but two week-long delays as the team found last-minute issues.”
- SupportedFedora 45 ships with GNOME 51.www.theregister.com - Articles: “The desktop flagship editions are Workstation 45, which comes with GNOME 51 "A Coruña"”
- SupportedFedora 45 ships with KDE Plasma 6.8.www.theregister.com - Articles: “and Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop, with KDE Plasma 6.8.”
- SupportedFedora Asahi Remix 45 adds preliminary, limited initial support for M3-based Macs.www.theregister.com - Articles: “Asahi 45 brings initial support for M3-based Macs as well as M1 and M2 kit. As The Reg described in September, though, the M3 support is preliminary and limited”
- SupportedFedora 45 has six main editions, five immutable desktop variants and 12 spins.www.theregister.com - Articles: “It includes six main editions, five immutable desktop variants, and 12 "spins" with different GUIs.”
- SupportedThe recommended specification is a 2 GHz quad-core CPU, 8 GB of RAM, 20 GB of disk space and at least 1024×768 graphics.www.theregister.com - Articles: “The recommended spec is now a 2 GHz quad-core CPU with 8 GB of RAM and 20 GB of disk space, and at least 1024×768 graphics.”
- Supported3D acceleration may not work on older Intel, Nvidia and AMD Radeon GPUs.www.theregister.com - Articles: “3D acceleration may not work on older GPUs, including Intel models prior to GMA9xx, Nvidia models prior to NV30 (GeForce FX5xxx series), and AMD Radeon models prior to R300 (Radeon 9500).”
- SupportedGNOME 51 improves the Settings app and removes support for some older Nvidia GPUs.www.theregister.com - Articles: “notably, improvements in the Settings app, but removal of some older Nvidia GPU support.”
- SupportedThe installer can install Fedora 45 on Stratis storage.www.theregister.com - Articles: “the installation program now has support for installing Fedora 45 on Stratis storage.”
- SupportedStratis is at version 3.9.3 in Fedora 45.www.theregister.com - Articles: “and Fedora 45 has version 3.9.3.”
- SupportedFedora 45 ships with kernel 7.2.15, an end-of-life version.www.theregister.com - Articles: “Fedora 45 ships with kernel 7.2 – specifically, version 7.2.15, which is the last release of this short-term series. In other words, it’s an end-of-life kernel version.”
