# Fedora 46 proposal targets transition to RPM v6 package format

> **Key takeaway:** Fedora is considering a move from the 25-year-old RPM v4 format to the more modern RPM v6 format starting with Fedora 46.

**Published:** 2026-10-16T13:03:26+00:00 
**Source:** Phoronix Benchmarks & Drivers 
**Category:** kernel-os 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/fedora-46-proposal-targets-transition-to-rpm-v6-package-form.html 

## Summary
A change proposal has been submitted to move the entire Fedora Linux distribution from the aging RPM v4 format to native RPM v6 packaging. The transition is intended to modernize the ecosystem by addressing obsolete cryptography and size limitations. If adopted, this change would likely influence Red Hat Enterprise Linux 11, which is expected to align with the state of Fedora 46.

## Technical improvements in RPM v6
- Support for **modern cryptographic algorithms**
- Implementation of **64-bit size tags**
- Mandatory **UTF-8 encoded strings**
- Removal of design quirks and limitations found in the v4 format

## Why it matters
This transition would future-proof the packaging ecosystem for Fedora and RHEL, providing a more robust foundation for modern software distribution.