Summary
Table of Contents
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KaOS stops shipping KDE Plasma by default, shifting to Niri and Noctalia; Plasma can still be installed from repos.
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2026.03 removes systemd-boot and mkinitcpio; KaOS now uses Limine and Dracut while systemd remains present.
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VLC replaced by phonon-mpv as Phonon backend; SDDM 0.20 can run Wayland, 0.21 will default to Wayland.
KaOS, a 12-year partner of KDE Plasma, shook the Linux world last month after it dropped the desktop environment in exchange for Niri and Noctalia. The development team cited issues with systemd and stated that, because “Plasma pretty much demands Systemd,” it would be scrapping Plasma in exchange for Niri. Now, the dev team has begun dismantling systemd from KaOS, and while it’s not completely gone yet, the team is making progress.
KaOS just ditched KDE Plasma, and the replacement is unlike anything else on Linux
It certainly has a unique look and feel now.
KaOS 2026.03 removes systemd-boot from the OS
It’s the first step toward getting rid of it in totality
In the KaOS 2026.03 release notes, the team explains what’s going on with this new version of the operating system. One of the biggest changes won’t even be visible to the average user, as the KaOS team begins dismantling their dependence on systemd, starting with systemd-boot:
With this ISO, KaOS has started to remove parts of systemd. Notably, the systemd-boot bootloader is no longer in use. Neither is mkinitcpio (fully systemd-based) in use for initramfs creation. ISO creation is now done using Dracut (and the creation no longer uses any systemd).
KaOS now uses Limine as the default bootloader, with other methods available via Calamares, albeit “Systemd-boot is no longer an option.” It’s worth noting that the OS still depends on systemd, so it’s not totally gone yet. However, swapping out systemd-boot was likely the easiest way to begin separating the operating system from systemd.
While KaOS enjoyed over a decade of KDE Plasma use, the team has since pivoted to use Niri and Noctalia instead. If you’re using KaOS and you still want to use KDE Plasma, you can install it manually via the operating system’s repositories. However, you’ll no longer find KDE’s desktop environment used or installed by default, either on the live USB or the installed system.
Other than that, KaOS 2026.03 introduces some nice new features. For example, the OS is moving to a Phonon sound backend; while it used VLC before, the devs cited issues with Qt6 porting, so they’re moving to phonon-mpv as a default. Plus, SDDM 0.20.0 now has an option to run with Wayland, with the devs stating that Wayland will be the default come version 0.21.0.
KDE addresses the Systemd mandate rumors with an anti-FUD FAQ
It’s likely in response to KaOS leaving Plasma behind.
