Ubuntu 25.10 Marks the End of an Era: GNOME on Xorg Officially Discontinued as Wayland Becomes Default

The Linux desktop landscape has reached a pivotal moment. Ubuntu 25.10, set for release in October 2025, will quietly but definitively end support for GNOME on Xorg, marking Wayland's complete takeover as the default display server protocol. This transition represents one of the most significant changes in Linux desktop computing in over two decades.

The Silent Revolution

While Ubuntu has been gradually pushing Wayland as the default since version 21.04, the upcoming 25.10 release will be the first to completely remove the GNOME on Xorg session option from the login screen. This move affects millions of Ubuntu users worldwide and signals the broader Linux ecosystem's confidence in Wayland's maturity.

"We've reached a point where Wayland provides a superior experience for the vast majority of our users," explained a Canonical spokesperson in a recent developer meeting. "The maintenance overhead of supporting both display servers no longer justifies keeping Xorg as an option for GNOME sessions."

Why This Matters Now

The transition to Wayland addresses fundamental limitations that have plagued X11 for years. Unlike the aging Xorg system, which dates back to the 1980s, Wayland offers:

  • Enhanced Security: Applications can't spy on each other or inject keystrokes across the system
  • Better Performance: More efficient rendering and reduced input lag
  • Modern Hardware Support: Native support for high-DPI displays, mixed refresh rates, and advanced graphics features
  • Improved Power Management: Better battery life on laptops through more efficient rendering

The Technical Landscape

Ubuntu's decision comes as Wayland adoption has accelerated across major Linux distributions. Fedora made Wayland default in 2016, and even traditionally conservative distributions like Debian have followed suit. Recent surveys indicate that over 60% of Linux desktop users now run Wayland by default, with compatibility issues becoming increasingly rare.

The remaining holdouts primarily include users with NVIDIA graphics cards using proprietary drivers, though even this barrier has largely disappeared with recent driver updates supporting GBM (Generic Buffer Management) and explicit sync protocols.

What Changes for Users

For most Ubuntu users, this transition will be largely invisible. Wayland has been the default for several releases, and applications have steadily improved their compatibility. However, some specific use cases will be affected:

Applications Still Requiring Xorg

  • Certain screen recording tools
  • Some remote desktop solutions
  • Legacy applications with hardcoded X11 dependencies
  • Specialized accessibility tools

These applications will need to run through XWayland, a compatibility layer that translates X11 calls to Wayland protocols. While this adds a small performance overhead, it ensures continued functionality for most legacy software.

The Broader Industry Impact

Ubuntu's move reflects a broader industry shift. Major desktop environments including GNOME, KDE Plasma, and even traditionally X11-focused environments like Xfce are prioritizing Wayland development. Graphics driver vendors from NVIDIA to Intel have invested heavily in Wayland support.

This transition also impacts enterprise environments, where Ubuntu's Long Term Support (LTS) releases are widely deployed. The upcoming Ubuntu 26.04 LTS will likely ship with Wayland as the sole GNOME option, forcing enterprise IT departments to plan their migration strategies accordingly.

Looking Ahead

The discontinuation of GNOME on Xorg in Ubuntu 25.10 doesn't spell the immediate end of X11 support entirely. Users requiring Xorg can still install alternative desktop environments or use the compatibility layer. However, this represents a clear signal that the Linux desktop's future lies with Wayland.

For developers, this transition means prioritizing Wayland-native implementations and ensuring applications work seamlessly with the new display protocol. For users, it promises a more secure, efficient, and modern desktop experience.

The Bottom Line

Ubuntu 25.10's quiet retirement of GNOME on Xorg marks the end of a transitional period that began nearly a decade ago. While change can be challenging, this evolution represents the Linux desktop's maturation into a more secure and capable platform. The days of choosing between display servers are ending—Wayland has won through superior technology and broad industry adoption.

As we approach this milestone, the Linux community can celebrate not just technological progress, but the successful coordination of a massive ecosystem-wide transition that will benefit users for years to come.

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