Ubuntu is set to drop support for GNOME on the X11 display server in its upcoming release, Ubuntu 25.10, also known as ‘Questing Quokka.’ This decision follows GNOME’s plans to discontinue X11 support, which has been the foundation for Linux desktop environments for decades but is now largely neglected.
In Ubuntu 25.10, only Wayland sessions will be available for the GNOME desktop, eliminating the option to run GNOME on Xorg. However, this change will not affect other Ubuntu flavors or alternate desktop environments, and applications based on X11 will still work through XWayland. Existing xorg-server packages will remain in the archives, and users of earlier Ubuntu versions will still be able to utilize GNOME on Xorg.
The rationale behind this transition, as articulated by Canonical’s Jean Baptiste Lallement, is to enhance security, performance, and modernity in the user experience, thus simplifying support strategies as Ubuntu strives for a coherent client experience. Ubuntu has been aggressively moving towards adopting Wayland since it made the switch by default in Ubuntu 21.04, and it increasingly focuses on improving Wayland’s usability.
GNOME has been eager to abandon the burdensome maintenance of the outdated X11 protocols, with intentions to fully remove X11 support with the release of GNOME 50. For the Ubuntu ecosystem, this means compatibility with GNOME 49, which is anticipated to strip X11 code, necessitating Ubuntu’s alignment with these upstream changes.
For those currently using GNOME on Xorg, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS will continue to support this setup until its end-of-life in 2029, providing users ample time to adapt to the new environment. Despite concerns over the shift, the move to Wayland represents a commitment to future-proofing the platform and embracing modern display technologies, ultimately helping maintain Ubuntu’s standing within the Linux community.
For more information on this change, you can visit the related articles on GNOME, Ubuntu 25.10, and Wayland.