Tails 7.0 is now available as the latest major release of this portable Linux distribution focused on privacy and anonymity, widely used to protect against surveillance and censorship. Based on Debian 13 “Trixie”, this edition brings technical improvements, desktop changes, and security updates that reinforce its role as a go-to operating system for those seeking to browse and communicate anonymously.
Based on Debian 13 and Linux 6.12 LTS
Tails 7.0 builds on Debian 13 and ships with the Linux 6.12 LTS kernel, ensuring long-term stability and broader hardware support. On the desktop side, the distribution adopts GNOME 48 with notable changes to default applications: GNOME Console replaces GNOME Terminal as the default terminal emulator, and GNOME Loupe becomes the default image viewer.
Due to this change, the development team found that the Root Terminal tool was broken, so it has been renamed to Root Console.
Application and component changes
Several adjustments stand out in the user experience:
- Kleopatra, the certificate manager, has been removed from Favorites but remains accessible under Applications > Accessories.
- The obsolete Network Connection option has been removed from the Welcome screen and from the Places menu.
- Some packages have been removed from the live ISO image, including unar, aircrack-ng, and sq.
This release also updates a large set of software, including:
- Tor 0.4.8.17 and Tor Browser 14.5.7
- Mozilla Thunderbird 128.14 ESR
- OnionShare 2.6.3
- Kleopatra 24.12
- KeePassXC 2.7.10
- GIMP 3.0.4
- Inkscape 1.4 (with onboarding skipped)
- Audacity 3.7.3
- Electrum 4.5.8
Performance improvements and requirements
One important change is the increase in minimum memory requirements, from 2 GB to 3 GB of RAM. If the system does not meet this requirement, Tails will display a notification at startup.
Performance has also improved: thanks to changing the compression algorithm of ISO and USB images from xz to zstd, Tails now boots 10–15 seconds faster on most computers. However, on poor-quality USB drives, testing showed boot times up to 20 seconds slower than with higher-quality sticks.
Fixes and other details
Among the fixes is an issue with selecting the correct keyboard layout for certain languages, improving usability for international users.
Existing Tails installations can be upgraded manually, and new ISO and USB images for 64-bit systems are available from the project’s official website.
A tribute to Lunar
The release of Tails 7.0 is dedicated to the memory of Lunar (Jérémy Bobbio), a developer who played a key role in the project’s history:
“Lunar has always been by our side throughout Tails’ history. From the first baby steps of the project that eventually became Tails, to the merge with Tor, he provided sensible technical suggestions, out-of-the-box product design ideas, outreach support, and caring organizational advice.”
Conclusion
Tails 7.0 strengthens its position as a leading operating system for anonymity and digital security, with a modern Debian 13 base, GNOME desktop improvements, updated software, and faster performance. With these changes, it remains the top choice for those who need portability, privacy, and resistance to censorship.
🔗 Official source: Tails 7.0 Release Notes
