The KDE Project has launched the beta version of KDE Plasma 6.4, inviting users to participate in testing this upcoming major update. The new version includes a slew of features designed to enhance user experience, such as a significant revamp of the Spectacle screenshot utility and the introduction of per-virtual-desktop custom tile layouts.
Among the notable advancements, KDE Plasma 6.4 introduces the KWin-X11 window manager, which is user-friendly yet flexible. Additionally, users will benefit from the Aurorae theme engine that allows for intricate decoration of window appearances.
This update will enable users to control the visibility of titlebars and frames directly via context menus in the Task Manager. Users can also fully disable system tray icons from apps lacking their own internal setting. The KRunner search functionality has been improved to better order search results, and there will be a new method for selecting color codes within the interface.
Moreover, KDE Plasma 6.4 streamlines operations by allowing updates to be initiated from notifications in the Plasma Discover application and supports sound theme application via double-clicking.
Further enhancements include persistent notifications in the notification history, customizable fade durations for virtual desktop switching, and a revamped KDE Menu Editor (KMenuEdit). A new feature in the Plasma System Monitor will enable grouping of background services, while newly installed applications will be highlighted in the Kickoff application launcher. Users will also appreciate the new ability that allows files dragged to different locations on the same disk to move automatically, without prompting confirmation each time.
For detailed changes, you can check the full changelog. The final release of KDE Plasma 6.4 is slated for June 17th, 2025, with stable tarballs available starting June 12th. Meanwhile, KDE Plasma 6.4 beta can be tested through the openSUSE Tumbleweed or KDE neon distributions, though users are cautioned against using this version for production tasks.