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MX Linux RSS Feed DistroWatch.com: MX Linux

MX Linux


Last Update: 2026-02-08 01:17 UTC


MX Linux, a desktop-oriented Linux distribution based on Debian's "Stable" branch, is a cooperative venture between the antiX and former MEPIS Linux communities. Using Xfce as the default desktop (with separate KDE Plasma and Fluxbox editions also available), it is a mid-weight operating system designed to combine an elegant and efficient desktop with simple configuration, high stability, solid performance and medium-sized footprint.

Popularity (hits per day): 12 months: 3 (1,954), 6 months: 3 (1,985), 3 months: 3 (1,850), 4 weeks: 3 (1,816), 1 week: 2 (1,987)

Average visitor rating: 8.1/10 from 815 review(s).


MX Linux Summary
Distribution MX Linux
Home Page https://mxlinux.org/
Mailing Lists --
User Forums https://forum.mxlinux.org/
Alternative User Forums
Documentation https://mxlinux.org/manualshttps://www.mxlinux.org/wiki
Screenshots https://mxlinux.org/screenshotsDistroWatch Gallery
Screencasts https://mxlinux.org/videosYouTube
Download Mirrors https://mxlinux.org/download-links#MirrorsDistroWatch Torrent Archive
Bug Tracker https://us-bz3.devzing.com/mx_antix/
Related Websites MX Community Repository
Reviews 25: DedoimedoDistroWatch
23: FOSS ForceDedoimedoDedoimedoDedoimedoDistroWatchMichlFranken (German)
21: DedoimedoMichlFranken (German) • The RegisterFOSS PostDedoimedoDedoimedoDistroWatch
19: DedoimedoDedoimedoDistroWatchDedoimedoDistroWatch
18: CMS CriticDedoimedo
17: Linux.comCMS CriticOpenSource.comDedoimedoDedoimedoDistroWatch
16: DarkDuckDistroWatchDedoimedo
15: DedoimedoOCS-MagLinux-Community (German)
14.x: DedoimedoDedoimedoBlogspot
Where To Donate, Buy or Try https://mxlinux.org/donate/The Linux Shop

Recent Related News and Releases
  Releases announcements with download links and checksums:
 • 2026-01-19: Distribution Release: MX Linux 25.1
 • 2025-11-09: Distribution Release: MX Linux 25
 • 2025-10-26: Development Release: MX Linux 25 RC1
 • 2025-09-22: Development Release: MX Linux 25 Beta 1
 • 2025-04-14: Distribution Release: MX Linux 23.6
 • 2025-01-13: Distribution Release: MX Linux 23.5
 • 2024-09-16: Distribution Release: MX Linux 23.4
 • 2024-05-20: Distribution Release: MX Linux 23.3
 • 2024-01-22: Distribution Release: MX Linux 23.2
 • 2023-10-16: Distribution Release: MX Linux 23.1
 • 2023-07-31: Distribution Release: MX Linux 23
 • 2023-07-14: Development Release: MX Linux 23 RC1
 • More MX Linux releases...

  Headlines:
 • 2021-11-25 MX releases new Advanced Hardware Support edition
 • 2019-12-15 MX Linux introduces MX-Fluxbox
 • 2019-04-29 MX asks for help maintaining systemd-shim
 • 2019-01-18 MX launches new bug tracker
 • 2018-09-14 Making it easier to get Flatpaks
 • 2018-09-13 Workaround for Chromium password prompts
 • 2018-06-01 MX-14 reaches end of life
 • 2018-04-11 MX's new FAQ page
 • 2018-02-26 Improvements in MX 17.1
 • 2017-03-16 Fixing an expired GPG signature
 • More MX Linux headlines...

Table Notes and Explanations

(Please refer to the table below.)
  • Select view:
  • To compare the software in this project to the software available in other distributions, please see our Compare Packages page.
  • Notes: In case where multiple versions of a package are shipped with a distribution, only the default version appears in the table. For indication about the GNOME version, please check the "nautilus" and "gnome-shell" packages. The Apache web server is listed as "httpd" and the Linux kernel is listed as "linux". The KDE desktop is represented by the "plasma-desktop" package and the Xfce desktop by the "xfdesktop" package.
  • Colour scheme: green text = latest stable version, red text = development or beta version. The function determining beta versions is not 100% reliable due to a wide variety of versioning schemes.
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Feature 25.1
infinity
23.6
libretto
21.3
wildflower
19.4 18.3 17.1 16.1 Feature
Release Date 2026-01-18 2025-04-13 2023-01-15 2021-04-01 2019-05-27 2018-03-14 2017-06-08 Release Date
End Of Life   2028-06 2026-06   2022-06 2022-06 2020-06 End Of Life
Price (US$) Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Price (US$)
Image Size (MB) 2100-3200 1700-2600 1400-2300 1500-1900 1300-1500 1200-1300 1100-1300 Image Size (MB)
Free Download ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO Free Download
Installation MX Installer MX Installer MX Installer MX Installer MX Installer MX Installer MX Installer Installation
Default Desktop Fluxbox, KDE Plasma, Xfce Fluxbox, KDE Plasma, Xfce Fluxbox, KDE Plasma, Xfce KDE Plasma, Xfce Xfce Xfce Xfce Default Desktop
Default Browser Firefox Firefox Firefox Firefox Firefox Firefox Firefox Default Browser
Package Format deb, flatpak deb, flatpak deb, flatpak deb, flatpak deb, flatpak deb deb Package Format
Package Management               Package Management
Release Model Semi-Rolling Semi-Rolling Semi-Rolling Semi-Rolling Semi-Rolling Semi-Rolling Fixed Release Model
Office Suite LibreOffice LibreOffice LibreOffice LibreOffice LibreOffice LibreOffice LibreOffice Office Suite
Processor Architecture x86_64 i386, x86_64 i386, x86_64 armhf, i386, x86_64 i386, x86_64 i386, x86_64 i386, x86_64 Processor Architecture
Init Software systemd, SysV systemd, SysV systemd, SysV systemd, SysV systemd, SysV SysV SysV Init Software
Journaled File Systems Btrfs, ext4, JFS, XFS Btrfs, ext4, JFS, XFS Btrfs, ext4, JFS, XFS Btrfs, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS Btrfs, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS Btrfs, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS Journaled File Systems
Multilingual en, ca, cs, de, es, fr, hu, nl, pt_br en, ca, cs, de, es, fr, hu, nl, pt_br en, ca, cs, de, es, fr, hu, nl, pt_br en, ca, cs, de, es, fr, hu, nl, pt_br en, ca, cs, de, es, fr, hu, nl, pt_br en, ca, cs, de, es, fr, hu, nl, pt_br en, ca, cs, de, es, fr, hu, nl, pt_br Multilingual
Full Package List 25.1 23.6 21.3 19.4 18.3 17.1 16.1 Full Package List
Package 25.1
infinity
23.6
libretto
21.3
wildflower
19.4 18.3 17.1 16.1 Package
alsa-lib (1.2.15.3) 1.2.14 1.2.8 1.2.4 1.1.8 1.1.3 1.1.3 1.0.28 alsa-lib (1.2.15.3)
amdgpu (25.0.0) 23.0.0 23.0.0 22.0.0 19.1.0 18.1.0 -- -- amdgpu (25.0.0)
apparmor (5.0.0) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- apparmor (5.0.0)
apt (3.3.0) 3.0.3 2.6.1 2.2.4 1.8.2.2 1.4.9 1.4.8 1.0.9.8.4 apt (3.3.0)
bash (5.3) 5.2.37 5.2.15 5.1 5.0 4.4 4.4 4.3 bash (5.3)
bind (9.20.22) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- bind (9.20.22)
chromium (148.0.7778.167) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- chromium (148.0.7778.167)
cinnamon (6.6.8) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- cinnamon (6.6.8)
cups (2.4.19) 2.4.10 2.4.2 2.3.3 2.2.10 2.2.1 2.2.1 1.7.5 cups (2.4.19)
e2fsprogs (1.47.4) 1.47.2 1.47.0 1.46.2 1.44.5 1.43.4 1.43.4 1.42.12 e2fsprogs (1.47.4)
ffmpeg (8.1.1) -- 5.1.6 -- -- 3.3.4 3.3.4 -- ffmpeg (8.1.1)
firefox (150.0.3) 147.0 137.0.1 108.0.2 87.0 66.0.2 58.0.2 53.0.3 firefox (150.0.3)
flatpak (1.16.6) 1.16.2 1.14.10 1.10.7 1.2.5 1.0.1 -- -- flatpak (1.16.6)
freetype (2.14.3) 2.13.3 2.12.1 2.10.4 2.9.1 2.8.1 2.6.3 2.7 freetype (2.14.3)
gcc (16.1.0) 14.2.0 12.2.0 10.2.1 8.3.0 6.3.0 6.3.0 4.9.2 gcc (16.1.0)
gimp (3.2.4) 3.0.4 2.10.34 2.10.28 2.10.12 2.10.8 2.8.22 2.8.18 gimp (3.2.4)
git (2.54.0) 2.47.3 2.39.5 2.30.2 2.20.1 2.11.0 2.11.0 2.1.4 git (2.54.0)
glibc (2.43) 2.41 2.36 2.31 2.28 2.24 2.24 2.19 glibc (2.43)
gnome-shell (50.1) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- gnome-shell (50.1)
grub (2.14) 2.12 2.06 2.06 2.04 2.02beta3 2.02beta3 2.02beta2 grub (2.14)
gtk (4.22.4) 4.18.6 4.8.3 3.24.24 3.24.5 3.22.11 3.22.11 2.24.25 gtk (4.22.4)
httpd (2.4.67) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- httpd (2.4.67)
inkscape (1.4.4) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- inkscape (1.4.4)
kmod (34.2) 34.2 30 28 26 23 23 18 kmod (34.2)
krita (6.0.1) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- krita (6.0.1)
LibreOffice (26.2.3) 25.2.3 7.4.7 7.0.4 6.1.5 6.0.1 6.0.1 5.2.6 LibreOffice (26.2.3)
Package 25.1
infinity
23.6
libretto
21.3
wildflower
19.4 18.3 17.1 16.1 Package
libselinux (3.10) 3.8.1 3.4 3.1 2.8 2.6 2.6 2.3 libselinux (3.10)
linux (7.0.9) 6.18.4 6.1.133 5.10.158 4.19.181 4.19.37 4.15.4 4.7.8 linux (7.0.9)
mariadb (12.2.2) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- mariadb (12.2.2)
mate-desktop (1.28.2) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- mate-desktop (1.28.2)
mesa (26.0.7) 25.3.3 24.2.8 22.0.5 20.3.4 18.2.6 13.0.6 12.0.3 mesa (26.0.7)
mysql (9.7.0) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- mysql (9.7.0)
nautilus (50.1) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- nautilus (50.1)
NVIDIA (595.71.05) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- NVIDIA (595.71.05)
openjdk (26.0.1) 21.0.9 17.0.14 11.0.16 11.0.9.1 8u212 8u151 8u121 openjdk (26.0.1)
openssh (10.3p1) 10.0p1 9.2p1 8.4p1 7.9p1 7.4p1 7.4p1 6.7p1 openssh (10.3p1)
openssl (4.0.0) 3.5.4 3.0.15 1.1.1n 1.1.1d 1.1.0j 1.0.2l 1.0.1t openssl (4.0.0)
perl (5.42.2) 5.40.1 5.36.0 5.32.1 5.28.1 5.24.1 5.24.1 5.20.2 perl (5.42.2)
php (8.5.6) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- php (8.5.6)
plasma-desktop (6.6.5) 6.3.6 5.27.5 5.20.5 5.14.5 -- -- -- plasma-desktop (6.6.5)
postfix (3.11.3) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- postfix (3.11.3)
postgresql (18.4) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- postgresql (18.4)
Python (3.14.5) 3.13.5 3.11.2 3.9.2 3.7.3 2.7.13 2.7.13 2.7.9 Python (3.14.5)
qt (6.11.1) 6.8.2 6.4.2 5.15.2 5.11.3 5.7.1 5.7.1 4.8.6 qt (6.11.1)
samba (4.24.2) 4.22.6 4.17.12 4.13.13 4.9.5 4.5.16 4.5.12 4.2.14 samba (4.24.2)
systemd (260.1) 257.9 252.6 247.3 241 232 232 215 systemd (260.1)
thunderbird (150.0.2) 140.4.0 128.9.0 78.13.0 68.12.0 52.9.1 52.6.0 52.1.1 thunderbird (150.0.2)
vim (9.2) 9.1 9.0 8.2 8.1 8.0 8.0 7.4 vim (9.2)
vlc (3.0.23) 3.0.23 3.0.21 3.0.18 3.0.12 3.0.6 2.2.8 2.2.5 vlc (3.0.23)
wayland (1.25.0) 1.23.1 1.21.0 1.18.0 1.16.0 1.16.0 1.12.0 1.6.0 wayland (1.25.0)
xfdesktop (4.20.2) 4.20.1 4.20.0 4.18.0 4.14.2 4.12.3 4.12.3 4.12.2 xfdesktop (4.20.2)
xorg-server (21.1.22) 21.1.16 21.1.7 1.20.14 1.20.10 1.19.2 1.19.2 1.16.4 xorg-server (21.1.22)

Reader Ratings
Reader supplied reviews for MX Linux

Average rating
8.1
from 815 review(s)



What are your thoughts on MX Linux?
Please include a few pros and a few cons, along with your overall impression of the operating system.
Our FAQ page has tips on writing a good mini-review.

Version:

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Past reviews - sort by:

Version: 25.1
Rating: 10
Date: 2026-05-17
Country: Germany
Votes: 1


Toll!
Wir haben mit etwas KI-Hilfe ein altes Mini-convertible Asus T103HAF mit MX Linux 25.1 Xfce AHS als Systemd reaktiviert - und wir sind Laien! Sogar der noch ältere Wlan-Drucker, der von W..11 fast verweigert wird, unser Brother MFC-J415W war installierbar.
Ich bin sehr dankbar, sage "Weiter so!" und werde noch weitere alte Schätzchen hier herüberziehen. Ich möchte jedem Mut machen, den Amerikanischen Riesen hinter sich zu lassen.



Fantastic!
We—complete novices—have successfully revived an old Asus T103HAF mini-convertible, setting it up with MX Linux 25.1 Xfce AHS (Systemd). AI helped us a bit. We were even able to install our Brother MFC-J415W—an even older wireless printer that W..11 practically refuses to support!
I am incredibly grateful; keep up the great work! I’ll definitely be migrating a few more of my old "treasures" over to this platform. I recommend to everyone you can go the step and leave behind the old American Legend.


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 25.1
Rating: 10
Date: 2026-05-15
Country: Iceland
Votes: 13


MX Linux: A Stable, Secure, and Surprisingly Refined Debian Experience

MX Linux continues to impress as one of the most dependable Debian-based distributions available today. It offers something rare in the modern Linux world: real choice. Users can install either the SysVinit ISO or a systemd-based ISO, with both editions fully supported. For those who prefer the classic Unix-style init system, the SysVinit version feels clean, responsive, and refreshingly lightweight.

Running MX Linux with XFS on the root filesystem and ext4 on /boot and /home delivers excellent overall performance. XFS handles heavier workloads smoothly, while ext4 provides predictable stability for boot and user data. The combination has proven exceptionally reliable in daily use.

Security-focused setups also work extremely well. Tools such as Lynis, nftables, squid, and unbound integrate cleanly without dependency headaches or unnecessary complexity.

Another major strength is the MX Tools suite. The included USB utilities — for formatting, imaging, and managing live systems — are among the best available on Linux. They are polished, practical, and significantly more convenient than most third-party alternatives.

The only aspect that may initially confuse experienced Debian or Devuan users is the installer’s partition formatting logic. MX uses a reversed workflow compared to Debian: partitions are formatted by default unless you explicitly select the option to exclude them from formatting. In other words, if you want to preserve an existing partition, you must manually tick the checkbox telling the installer not to format it. Once understood, the behavior is perfectly logical, but it can catch first-time users off guard.

Pros
Choice of SysVinit or systemd ISO
Extremely stable and resource-efficient
XFS + ext4 layout performs flawlessly
Strong security stack (Lynis, nftables, squid, unbound)
Outstanding USB tools
Large and dependable repositories

Cons
Installer formatting logic differs from Debian/Devuan conventions

Verdict

MX Linux is a polished, secure, and remarkably stable distribution that prioritizes reliability over hype. For users who value flexibility, SysVinit support, and practical system tools, it remains one of the strongest Debian-based options available.




Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 25.1
Rating: 10
Date: 2026-05-09
Country: United States
Votes: 32


# MX Linux: The Distro That Finally Got Everything Right

I've spent years hopping between Linux distributions — Ubuntu, Fedora, Manjaro, Mint, openSUSE, you name it. Each one had something to love and something to frustrate. Then I found MX Linux, and I genuinely stopped looking. Not because I gave up, but because I finally arrived somewhere that felt like home.

From the very first boot, MX Linux makes an impression. The installer is clean, straightforward, and refreshingly fast. There's no unnecessary hand-holding, but nothing is cryptic either. Within minutes I had a fully functioning system up and running, complete with a polished Xfce desktop that looked like it had been thoughtfully curated rather than thrown together. It struck the perfect balance between lightweight efficiency and genuine visual appeal.

What truly sets MX Linux apart is its tools. The MX Tools suite is an absolute game-changer. Whether I'm managing packages, creating a live USB snapshot of my system, tweaking boot options, or managing repositories, there's a purpose-built GUI tool for it. These aren't afterthoughts — they're polished, reliable, and deeply integrated. As someone who appreciates power without unnecessary complexity, this suite feels like it was designed specifically for people like me.

Performance is another area where MX Linux shines brilliantly. Based on Debian Stable with antiX components, it runs with remarkable speed even on older hardware. My aging laptop, which groaned under other distributions, boots up snappy and runs everything buttery smooth. RAM usage at idle is impressively low, leaving plenty of headroom for actual work.

The package ecosystem is also a massive win. With access to Debian repositories, backports, and Flatpak support built right in, I never feel limited in what I can install. The MX Package Installer makes finding and installing software a genuine pleasure — even community-sourced apps are just a couple of clicks away.

Stability deserves special mention. In over two years of daily use, I have not experienced a single system-breaking update or catastrophic failure. That's not luck — that's the result of a disciplined development philosophy that prioritizes reliability above all else. Knowing my system will be in the same solid shape tomorrow as it is today gives me enormous peace of mind.

The MX Linux community rounds out the experience beautifully. The forums are active, welcoming, and staffed with knowledgeable volunteers who genuinely want to help. Questions get answered quickly and without condescension. It's one of the friendliest Linux communities I've ever encountered.

MX Linux isn't just another distribution — it's a masterclass in what community-driven Linux development can achieve when done right. It respects the user's intelligence, values stability, and delivers an experience that is both powerful and accessible. For me, it's simply the best Linux distribution available today, and I recommend it without hesitation to anyone looking for their forever distro.


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