# Manjaro 27.0 Caldonia preview adds Linux 7.4-rc1, COSMIC 1.11.0, retires Plasma X11

> **Key takeaway:** Manjaro's testing channel delivers a major preview of its next release with Linux 7.4-rc1, COSMIC Epoch 1.11.0, NVIDIA 620.70.06, and ends X11 session support in KDE Plasma 6.8.

**Published:** 2026-11-08T17:06:57+00:00 
**Source:** Manjaro Linux System Updates 
**Category:** distro-news 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/manjaro-270-caldonia-preview-adds-linux-74-rc1-cosmic-1110-r.html 

## Summary
Manjaro Linux has published its 8 November 2026 testing update, serving as a preview for the upcoming Manjaro 27.0 'Caldonia' release. The update delivers kernel choices spanning from Linux 6.1.192 LTS through Linux 7.3.3 to the first release candidate of Linux 7.4, alongside real-time variants for three LTS series. Desktop environments receive substantial refreshes with GNOME 51, KDE Plasma 6.8, and COSMIC Epoch 1.11.0. Several security-critical updates are bundled, including ca-certificates-mozilla 3.131.1-1 to block compromised eMudhra intermediate CA certificates, PHP 8.5.12/8.3.36 to patch remote code execution vulnerabilities, and NVIDIA driver 620.70.06.

The update carries notable breaking changes. KDE Plasma 6.8 drops support for launching X11 sessions entirely, requiring affected users to migrate to Wayland before upgrading. The mkinitcpio 42 update alters TPM2 PCR measurements for LUKS unlocking, mandating manual re-enrollment for systems using systemd-based decryption. Both the Linux 7.1 and 7.2 series have reached end-of-life, leaving 7.3 and LTS branches 6.12 and 6.18 as the recommended stable paths.

## Kernel, desktop, and security changes in Manjaro testing
- **Linux 7.4-rc1 debut:** The testing branch introduces linux74 7.4-rc1 alongside maintained LTS kernels linux61 (6.1.192), linux66 (6.6.162), linux612 (6.12.116), linux618 (6.18.62), and linux73 (7.3.3); real-time kernels are available for 6.1, 6.6, and 6.12 series.
- **COSMIC Epoch 1.11.0:** System76's Rust-based desktop environment receives its 1.11.0 update as Manjaro continues dual-tracking it alongside GNOME 51 and KDE Plasma 6.8.
- **Plasma 6.8 X11 removal:** KDE Plasma 6.8 in this update no longer supports starting X11 sessions, forcing a pre-upgrade switch to Wayland or a virtual console for affected configurations.
- **Security patches:** ca-certificates-mozilla 3.131.1-1 invalidates compromised eMudhra intermediate CA certificates; PHP updates to 8.5.12 and php-legacy 8.3.36 address CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619 for remote code execution prevention.
- **mkinitcpio 42 TPM2 breakage:** The systemd hook now includes systemd-pcrosseparator.service as intended by systemd v261, changing PCR measurements for values 0-7, 9, and 12-14 and requiring manual TPM2 re-enrollment for LUKS devices using pinned policies.

## Why it matters
This testing update signals Manjaro's alignment with upstream Arch's aggressive security posture and kernel tracking, while its early adoption of COSMIC 1.11.0 provides a non-Ubuntu distribution path for evaluating System76's desktop environment. The forced Plasma X11 retirement accelerates Wayland migration for Manjaro's substantial KDE user base, a transition that other distributions will likely mirror as Plasma 6.x matures. The bundled security fixes for certificate validation and PHP execution vulnerabilities, combined with the TPM2 LUKS re-enrollment requirement, underscore the operational complexity that rolling-release users must manage for full-disk encryption and web application hosting.