The GNOME Project has officially launched the beta version of GNOME 49, coinciding with the desktop environment’s 28th anniversary. This new release introduces several enhancements, including media controls on the lock screen, a fresh default wallpaper, and a new notification encouraging donations to the GNOME initiative.
Just five weeks after the announcement of the GNOME 49 alpha version, this beta iteration brings numerous features and improvements aimed at optimizing user experience and functionality. Among the highlights is a redesigned search popover in the Nautilus file manager and improvements in keyboard navigation for the Extensions app. Additionally, the GNOME Display Manager (GDM) now utilizes systemd-based session management for improved user session control.
Other notable updates include the replacement of the Evince document viewer with a new Papers app found within the GNOME Shell’s Utilities folder. Users can also expect the option to restart and shut down directly from the lock screen and enhancements in accessibility menu icons for the login screen. Per-monitor brightness sliders have also been introduced in Quick Settings.
The Epiphany web browser, which is part of the GNOME ecosystem, has been upgraded to include a Shortcuts dialog, while GNOME Maps adds icons for public phones, clocks, and a search option for vegan and vegetarian restaurants. The GNOME Software application has received an update to support systemd-based startup procedures.
The GNOME Calculator has seen a number of new features, including a conversion rate dialog, expanded currency support, and enhanced handling of mathematical functions.
Furthermore, significant changes are present under the hood, as the GNOME session has transitioned away from reliance on shell scripts to a more direct C implementation, streamlining session startup. The GNOME 49 beta also defaults to using xdg-terminal-exec as the terminal launcher and increases the document font size in gsettings-desktop-schemas.
Lastly, the new Snapshot webcam app has been enriched with support for hardware-accelerated video encoding, better gesture handling, and enhanced video recording options.
For those eager to explore these updates, more details and a complete changelog can be found on the GNOME release announcement page. The final release of GNOME 49 is anticipated to be available on September 17, 2025, with a Release Candidate likely to surface in late August or early September.