The CachyOS team has announced its April 2026 release, the third release of the year. As detailed in the official release announcement, this update introduces a new default package manager, DNS-over-HTTPS support, fingerprint-based sudo, and multiple improvements to the installer and hardware detection.

One of the most notable changes is the introduction of Shelly as the default graphical package manager, replacing Octopi. The installer now also creates a clean system snapshot immediately after installation and keeps it as a permanent restore point.

CachyOS April 2026 Release Image

GRUB os-prober is now enabled by default, allowing the installer to detect other operating systems automatically—useful for dual-boot setups.

The installer has also been updated with a new MangoWM desktop option (including dotfiles), and an option to install MangoWM with the DMS shell. The UKUI desktop has been removed, while the GNOME package selection has been streamlined and modernised.

For AMD GPU users, CachyOS now uses a different Plymouth theme, as the previous one had rendering issues with the amdgpu driver on some multi-monitor laptop setups.

DNS-over-HTTPS and Welcome App Improvements

CachyOS-Welcome now includes DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) support using blocky. The updated DNS configuration page allows users to test latency, automatically select the fastest server, or configure custom DNS providers.

Additional improvements include:

  • Displaying DNS server metadata such as region and filtering
  • A VRAM management toggle (dmemcg-booster)
  • KDE-specific foreground booster support
  • Full keyboard navigation for accessibility
  • Updated SVG icons for better HiDPI support
  • Integration of wezterm in the terminal helper

Fingerprint sudo and Hardware Enhancements

The chwd hardware detection tool now supports fingerprint authentication for sudo prompts via fprint, enabling automatic setup on supported devices.

Other improvements include:

  • Native USB device detection via libusb and sysfs
  • CPU detection enhancements for better Intel power management
  • Improved handheld device detection (including ROG Ally)
  • New Wi-Fi profile support for Marvell AVASTAR hardware (Surface Pro 4)

Storage and Performance Tweaks

CachyOS has switched the default NVMe I/O scheduler from none to kyber, aiming to improve system responsiveness under mixed workloads.

Bug Fixes and Stability Improvements

This release includes several fixes across core components:

  • Installer now logs selected partition methods
  • Old microcode packages are removed when reusing boot partitions
  • Improved NVIDIA profile handling in chwd
  • Removal of forced Xorg sessions in legacy NVIDIA profiles
  • Fixes for incorrect handheld detection cases

Some features were also removed or adjusted due to compatibility issues, including:

  • Dropping S01x power management (NVIDIA 595 issues)
  • Disabling AggressiveVblank due to VR-related problems

Updating Existing Systems

No manual intervention is required for existing users. You can update your system with:

sudo pacman -Syu

Download

The latest CachyOS April 2026 release is available in both Desktop and Handheld editions via official mirrors and SourceForge links provided in the official release announcement.