MX linux Version 25.2 has been released, fixing some of the more difficult transitions introduced in version 25 and finally updating the Raspberry Pi edition.
The update was announced late last month and includes an optional 7.0 kernel built by Liquorix in addition to the standard Debian kernel.
Existing MX Linux users can upgrade via the reinstall 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 editing options and boot system changes in MX Linux 25.2
MX Linux 25.2 offers different kernel options depending on the edition:
- The Xfce edition comes with either the standard Debian kernel or an Advanced Hardware Support (AHS) version using the Liquorix 7.0 kernel. He
- The KDE Plasma edition includes only the AHS version with the Liquorix 7.0 kernel. He
- The Fluxbox edition, which is lightweight, uses only the Debian kernel.
The AHS edition is designed for newer hardware and benefits from the latest kernel updates.
Previous versions of MX Linux, up to version 23, allowed users to choose between sysvinit and systemd at boot time. This method stopped working starting with kernel 6.12 and later.
MX 25.0 required users to select sysvinit or systemd during installation, and the KDE Plasma desktop was available only in the systemd variant.
In MX 25.1, a new mechanism was introduced to switch between boot systems after installation. This feature persisted in MX 25.2, but the change in the underlying architecture made it difficult to directly upgrade from MX 23 to MX 25.x.
The MX Tools suite, which includes system administration utilities, often encountered problems during such updates.
Upgrading from previous versions of MX Linux to 25.2
For users running MX 23 or earlier who want to upgrade to 25.2, the recommended method is to choose the “install over an 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 settings. It also requires re-enabling the swap partition and recreating the user account. However, it restores MX Tools to a working state.
The contents of the home directory are preserved by the reinstall option, but the configuration files it contains may need to be reapplied or recreated. To preserve all settings and configurations, it is recommended to perform a full manual backup before reinstalling.
After installation, MX Tools offers 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 apps like Gear Lever through Flathub.
Raspberry Pi Edition now updated to MX Linux 25.2
The MX Linux Raspberry Pi edition has been updated to version 25.2. Prior to this update, the Pi version was based on MX 22. The Raspberry Pi edition uses the Xfce desktop environment and is built in part from Raspberry Pi operating system packages rather than directly from Debian.
This approach allows it to look and function like MX Linux while still being compatible with most Raspberry Pi models and Pi OS applications.
Early 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 perfecting the Pi edition.
The latest version of MX Linux comes at a time when several other Debian and Ubuntu derivatives are introducing local 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.
MX Linux 25.2, however, ships without any AI components included. This may appeal to users who prefer to avoid systemd and locally hosted AI models.
MX Linux 25.2 is now available for free download from the project’s official website. Xfce, KDE and Fluxbox editions have been updated to version 25.2.
