MX Linux 25.2 Released with Kernel 7.0 and Updated Raspberry Pi Edition

MX Linux 25.2 has been released, addressing some of the rougher transitions introduced in version 25 and finally updating the Raspberry Pi edition.

The update includes an optional Liquorix-built kernel 7.0, in addition to the standard Debian kernel. Existing MX Linux users can upgrade through 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 choice for users who prefer to avoid systemd.

Kernel and Edition Options

MX Linux 25.2 offers different kernel options depending on the edition:

• The Xfce edition comes with the standard Debian kernel or an Advanced Hardware Support (AHS) version that uses the Liquorix kernel 7.0.
• The KDE Plasma edition includes only the AHS version with the Liquorix 7.0 kernel.
• The Fluxbox edition, which is lightweight, uses only the Debian kernel.

The AHS edition is designed for newer hardware and benefits from the more recent kernel updates.

Init System Changes

Earlier versions of MX Linux, up to version 23, allowed users to choose between sysvinit and systemd at boot time. This method ceased to work starting with kernel 6.12 and later.

MX 25.0 required users to select either sysvinit or systemd during installation, with the KDE Plasma desktop available only in the systemd variant.

In MX 25.1, a new mechanism was introduced to switch between init systems after installation. This feature persists in MX 25.2, but the change to the underlying architecture made upgrading directly from MX 23 to MX 25.x difficult. The MX Tools suite, which includes system administration utilities, often encountered issues during such upgrades.

Upgrading from Older MX Linux Versions

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 instead of attempting an in-place upgrade.

This method performs a clean reinstallation of the operating system and does not keep the previous configuration. 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 through the install-over option, but configuration files within it may need to be reapplied or recreated. To keep all settings and configurations, it is advisable to perform a full manual backup before reinstalling.

After installation, MX Tools offers easy point-and-click access to selecting repositories, configuring mirrors, installing drivers including Nvidia drivers, managing kernels, and adding software. Flatpak is preinstalled, making it straightforward to install applications like Gear Lever through Flathub.

Raspberry Pi Edition Now Updated

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 partly from Raspberry Pi OS packages instead of 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 past the splash screen on Pi 4 and Pi 5 hardware. The MX Linux team continues to work on refining the Pi edition.

MX Linux’s latest release 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, while Linux Lite 8.0 offers an optional local large language model through its MyAI feature. MX Linux 25.2, however, ships without any bundled AI components, which 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.