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Qubes OS 4.3.0 released

Version 4.3.0 of the security-oriented Qubes OS distribution has been released. Changes include more recent distribution templates, preloaded disposable virtual machines, and the reintroduction of the Qubes Windows Tools set. See the release notes for more information.


From:  Andrew David Wong <adw-aAmZIGRXKFlg9hUCZPvPmw-AT-public.gmane.org>
To:  qubes-announce <qubes-announce-/JYPxA39Uh5TLH3MbocFFw-AT-public.gmane.org>, qubes-devel <qubes-devel-/JYPxA39Uh5TLH3MbocFFw-AT-public.gmane.org>, qubes-users <qubes-users-/JYPxA39Uh5TLH3MbocFFw-AT-public.gmane.org>
Subject:  Qubes OS 4.3.0 has been released!
Date:  Sun, 21 Dec 2025 14:42:56 -0800
Message-ID:  <3303c52a-74f5-44a5-bdbb-4dffaacada91@qubes-os.org>
Archive-link:  Article

Dear Qubes Community,

We're pleased to announce the stable release of Qubes OS 4.3.0! This minor release includes a host
of new features, improvements, and bug fixes. The ISO and associated [verification
files](https://doc.qubes-os.org/en/latest/project-security/verif...) are available
on the [downloads](https://www.qubes-os.org/downloads/) page.

## What's new in Qubes 4.3?

- Dom0 upgraded to Fedora 41 ([#9402](https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues/issues/9402)).
- Xen upgraded to version 4.19 ([#9420](https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues/issues/9420)).
- Default Fedora template upgraded to Fedora 42 (older versions not supported).
- Default Debian template upgraded to Debian 13 (versions older than 12 not supported).
- Default Whonix templates upgraded to Whonix 18 (older versions not supported).
- Preloaded disposables ([#1512](https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues/issues/1512))
- Device "self-identity oriented" assignment (a.k.a. New Devices API)
([#9325](https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues/issues/9325))
- Qubes Windows Tools reintroduced with improved features
([#1861](https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues/issues/1861)).

These are just a few highlights from the many changes included in this release. For a more
comprehensive list of changes, see the [Qubes OS 4.3 release
notes](https://doc.qubes-os.org/en/latest/developer/releases/4_3...).

## How to get Qubes OS 4.3.0

- If you'd like to install Qubes OS for the first time or perform a clean reinstallation on an
existing system, there's never been a better time to do so! Simply
[download](https://www.qubes-os.org/downloads/) the Qubes 4.3.0 ISO and follow our [installation
guide](https://doc.qubes-os.org/en/latest/user/downloading-insta...).

- If you're currently using Qubes 4.2, learn [how to upgrade to Qubes
4.3](https://doc.qubes-os.org/en/latest/user/downloading-insta...).

- If you're currently using a Qubes 4.3 release candidate (RC), [update
normally](https://doc.qubes-os.org/en/latest/user/how-to-guides/how...) (which includes
[upgrading any EOL templates and
standalones](https://doc.qubes-os.org/en/latest/user/how-to-guides/how...) you might have) in order to make your system effectively equivalent to the stable Qubes 4.3.0 release. No reinstallation or other special action is required.

In all cases, we strongly recommend [making a full
backup](https://doc.qubes-os.org/en/latest/user/how-to-guides/how...) beforehand.

## Known issues in Qubes OS 4.3.0

Templates restored in 4.3.0 from a pre-4.3 backup may continue to target their original Qubes OS
release repos ([#8701](https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues/issues/8701)). After restoring such
templates in 4.3.0, you must perform the following additional steps:

```
sudo qubes-dom0-update -y qubes-dist-upgrade
qubes-dist-upgrade --releasever=4.3 --template-standalone-upgrade -y
```

This will automatically choose the templates that need to be updated.

Fresh templates on a clean 4.3.0 installation are not affected. Users who perform an in-place
upgrade from 4.2 to 4.3 (instead of restoring templates from a backup) are also not affected, since
the in-place upgrade process already includes the above fix in stage 4. For more information, see
issue [#8701](https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues/issues/8701).

[View the full list of known bugs affecting Qubes
4.3](https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues/issues?q=is%3Aiss...) in our [issue tracker](https://doc.qubes-os.org/en/latest/introduction/issue-tra...).

## Support for older releases

In accordance with our [release support
policy](https://doc.qubes-os.org/en/latest/user/downloading-insta...), Qubes 4.2 will remain supported for six months after the release of Qubes 4.3, until 2026-06-21. After that, Qubes 4.2 will no longer receive security updates or bug fixes.

[Whonix templates](https://www.whonix.org/wiki/Qubes) are created and supported by our partner, the
[Whonix Project](https://www.whonix.org/). The Whonix Project has set its own support policy for
Whonix templates in Qubes. For more information, see the [Whonix Support
Schedule](https://www.whonix.org/wiki/About#Support_Schedule).

## Thank you to our partners, donors, contributors, and testers!

This release would not be possible without generous support from our
[partners](https://www.qubes-os.org/partners/) and [donors](https://www.qubes-os.org/donate/), as
well as [contributions](https://doc.qubes-os.org/en/latest/introduction/contribut...) from our
active community members, especially [bug
reports](https://doc.qubes-os.org/en/latest/introduction/issue-tra...) from our
[testers](https://doc.qubes-os.org/en/latest/user/downloading-insta...).
We are eternally grateful to our excellent community for making the Qubes OS Project a great
example of open-source collaboration.


This announcement is also available on the Qubes website:
https://www.qubes-os.org/news/2025/12/21/qubes-os-4-3-0-h...

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