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CachyOS January 2026

C

ChadD

[H]F Junkie
Joined
Feb 8, 2016
Messages
8,407
New Jan update from Cachy devs.

https://discuss.cachyos.org/t/cachyos-january-2026-release-changelog/21783
https://www.reddit.com/r/cachyos/comments/1qltbmm/announcement_cachyos_january_2026_release/

Hello CachyOS Enthusiasts,

This is our first release of the year, bringing a host of improvements to the installer, the new display manager (Plasma Login Manager), and much more!

First, we have significantly reworked the installer and added many quality-of-life improvements. The bootloader selection has been moved directly into the installer, featuring a description for each option; Limine is now selected as the default bootloader. Architecture detection now happens at the very beginning of the installation process, which reduces the download size by around 1 Gigabyte. Additionally, we now pass the --needed flag to pacman to avoid reinstalling up-to-date packages. The mount options for NVMes have also been improved when BTRFS is selected, now defaulting to compression level 1.

Next, the ISO has been switched to Plasma Login Manager, and the Live ISO now uses Wayland instead of X11. The ISO now contains a Stable Kernel alongside an LTS Kernel to improve compatibility for newer devices and hardware.

For desktop environments, the Plasma installation now uses Plasma Login Manager instead of SDDM. The Niri settings have been reworked, and we are now using Noctalia. The GNOME installation has been massively cleaned up, and a dedicated subgroup has been added for GNOME applications.

We are also introducing a new service that shows the syncing status of our mirrors. This helps provide visibility into whether the mirror you are using is synchronized. You can check it at: https://packages.cachyos.org/mirrors.

Regarding other key changes, the NVIDIA module now includes the new option EnableAggressiveVblank, which reduces interrupt time for low-latency displays. In terms of hardware detection, CachyOS now installs nouveau-fw for older NVIDIA cards, enabling VA-API support for Kepler-family cards. The “AI-SDK” has received support for newer AMD GPUs, and handheld device detection has switched from “HHD” to steamos-manager with inputplumber. Furthermore, Proton-CachyOS now supports FSR4 ML Frame Generation on RDNA4 and RDNA3 cards. We have added d7vk to proton-cachyos along with DualSense haptic feedback patches. We also removed a patch that was degrading 1% low FPS performance, and protonfixes now better handles DLSS/XeSS/FSR preset selection.

On the bug fixing side, we have resolved installation issues on Framework laptops with Zen 5 CPUs. We also fixed a long-standing issue where users could proceed with the installation even if the EFI partition was too small; this will now be blocked, and the user will be notified. Additionally, support for several controllers has been fixed by updating udev rules to the latest versions. Finally, in CachyOS-Hello, we fixed an issue where it incorrectly showed cachy-update as disabled when it was actually enabled.

Features:
  • Installer:
    • Moved bootloader selection to Calamares; management is now consolidated into a single package.
    • Architecture detection is now performed before the base system installation to reduce download size.
    • GRUB now uses LUKS2 for encryption.
    • Pass --needed to pacman to avoid installing packages twice.
    • Use single-level compression on NVMe for Btrfs
    • Removed xorg dependecies on Wayland desktops environments
  • ISO:
    • Switched to plasma-login-manager for the ISO environment.
    • The ISO now contains both Stable and LTS kernels. The Stable kernel is selected by default.
    • Switched the ISO session from X11 to Wayland.
  • Netinstall:
    • Plasma installations now use plasma-login-manager instead of SDDM.
    • Niri now uses noctalia-shell and updated dotfiles.
    • Cleaned up the GNOME installation process.
  • Slides: Fixed typos in the Calamares slides and added a new slide showcasing the Wiki.
  • Mirrors: The mirror status page (https://packages.cachyos.org/mirrors) now displays the syncing state of CachyOS mirrors.
  • cachyos-settings: Enabled EnableAggressiveVblank for the NVIDIA module. This reduces time spent in the interrupt top half for low-latency display interrupts.
  • chwd:
    • Installs nouveau-fw to enable VA-API support in Nouveau for NVIDIA Kepler-family cards.
    • Added AI-SDK support for several new AMD GPUs.
    • Replaced HHD with steamos-manager and inputplumber.
  • Proton-CachyOS:
    • Added FSR4 MLFG (Machine Learning Frame Generation) support; automatically enabled when using PROTON_FSR4_[RDNA3_]UPGRADE
    • Added d7vk module support. This can be enabled via PROTON_DXVK_DDRAW=1
    • Imported DualSense haptic feedback patches
    • Added WINE_BLOCK_HOSTS to prevent Wine from connecting to specific domains
    • Automatically enable ENABLE_HDR_WSI=1 when using winewayland on NVIDIA dGPUs
    • Fixed keyboard layout issues when using winewayland.drv
    • Removed a long-standing patch that was causing degraded 1% low FPS
    • Patched protonfixes to better handle DLSS preset selection and libxess_dx11.dll redirection
    • proton-cachyos-slr is now used as default in the “gaming-meta”. The native version will be still supported.
Fixes:
  • Limine: Increased boot partition size to 4192MB to accommodate high requirements from limine-snapper-sync.
  • Installer:
    • The installer now blocks/prevents proceeding if the EFI partition is too small when using “alongside” or “replace partition” options.
    • Fixed an issue, when selected a desktop and go a step further, then going back again and selecting a different desktop it would result that both are selected.
  • chwd: Removed the environment variable forcing libva-nvidia-driver, as it caused issues on dual-GPU systems.
  • cachyos-hello: Fixed an issue that cachy-update shows being disabled, while its enabled.
  • Controller: Fixed several controllers input due updating the input rules to the latest.
  • Framework 16 (Zen5): Fixed an issue that the session freeze, when writing into calamares
Manual changes for existing users:

KDE Plasma users with SDDM can now migrate to Plasma-Login-Manager. Please run:

sudo pacman -Syu plasma-login-manager
sudo systemctl disable sddm
sudo systemctl enable plasmalogin
sudo pacman -R sddm-kcm cachyos-themes-sddm sddm

outside of this the usual:

sudo pacman -Syu

Download:
Desktop Edition:

Grab your copy of the latest ISO from our mirrors on SourceForge:
Support Us:

Your contributions help us maintain our servers. Consider supporting CachyOS through:
Thank you for your continued support!
The CachyOS Team
 
Before I swap to the new login manager, has anyone actually tried it? Last thing I want is a system I can't log into...
 
Mazzspeed said:
Before I swap to the new login manager, has anyone actually tried it? Last thing I want is a system I can't log into...
Click to expand...
Works fine.
Basically just a fork of SDDM that will hopefully be properly maintained. SDDM hasn't gotten an update in a couple years.

I don't think it works with all the old SDDM theming if you use any of that. It does have an option in KDE settings though to apply all your current KDE theming... Fonts Font size and so on, and change the back ground at least. (and I think for now you can turn the clock on or off)

Just swapped to it today. Seems alright. I used it to log KDE, Cosmic, Niri all worked fine.
 
ChadD said:
Works fine.
Basically just a fork of SDDM that will hopefully be properly maintained. SDDM hasn't gotten an update in a couple years.

I don't think it works with all the old SDDM theming if you use any of that. It does have an option in KDE settings though to apply all your current KDE theming... Fonts Font size and so on, and change the back ground at least. (and I think for now you can turn the clock on or off)

Just swapped to it today. Seems alright. I used it to log KDE, Cosmic, Niri all worked fine.
Click to expand...
Just updated to it, everything seems to be working fine. I never really paid much attention to SDDM settings, so I'm not too sure how it compares.
 
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lol I just installed it yesterday but was 3 day old ver. I had to redo grub to see all my OS's. dang.

DL the new ISO. this is the difference.
OLD
Grub.jpg

New-install
Limine-install.jpg

New boot screen
Limine.jpg
 
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Mazzspeed said:
That's odd. I did the upgrade and upgraded to the new login manager, and I'm still using Grub.
Click to expand...
Cachy changed the default boot loader from SystemD to Limine. You can still use grub if its what. I assume mullet just used the new ISO and accepted the default suggestion of Limine.
 
ChadD said:
Cachy changed the default boot loader from SystemD to Limine. You can still use grub if its what. I assume mullet just used the new ISO and accepted the default suggestion of Limine.
Click to expand...

Ah, I mistook install for update. I think Limine was the default back when I installed CachyOS.
 
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Mazzspeed said:
Ah, I mistook install for update. I think Limine was the default back when I installed CachyOS.
Click to expand...
Possible. I think they just said in this January update they just changed it but... it might go back further not sure. I haven't fresh (re)installed cachy on anything in awhile.
 
I had just installed the older version, so I just wiped the drive and installed the new ISO. I had to edit the config file to get the system to see Mint, then I edited the names of the OS's. Cachyos will be my experimental drive. I actually got Photoshop running for a while. If I really knew what I was doing I wouldn't need this drive.

I like Limine because what ever OS/Drive you pick on the load screen, stays on that choice after a boot.
 
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PLM works really well after the package was updated to a non-git version.
 
After a long break, I decided to give Linux another chance.

I was surprised by the easy installation and package manager of CachyOS, especially Gaming mode, which installs Steam with one button.

I'm not sure which part of the system is cached in RAM with mkinitcpio, but everything works very fast, I'll probably just need to install something like PrimoCache for my HDD game library. ZRAM puts the whole tempo in RAM, which is very good.

Plasma seems easier to use than Gnome.

The Nvidia driver does not recognize my 9800x3D, it shows it as Unknown, overclocking the card does not work, I write how much to add to the core/memory, but nothing happens.

I'm not sure how to check if Mangohud includes Frame Generation, but it was nice to see that it was installed by default.

Does Frame Generation automatically activate when using PROTON for Nvidia, as FSR4?

But yes, everything is ready for gaming with a few clicks, some of the games on Steam work. Judging by 3DMark, those that are DX11. I couldn't get OpenVPN to work, it doesn't send a code, instead it asks for a second password. The dual boot after a few restarts no longer shows the Windows partition, I tried to add it again, it finds it, but then it's not there again.
 
AVATARAT said:
After a long break, I decided to give Linux another chance.

I was surprised by the easy installation and package manager of CachyOS, especially Gaming mode, which installs Steam with one button.

I'm not sure which part of the system is cached in RAM with mkinitcpio, but everything works very fast, I'll probably just need to install something like PrimoCache for my HDD game library. ZRAM puts the whole tempo in RAM, which is very good.

Plasma seems easier to use than Gnome.

The Nvidia driver does not recognize my 9800x3D, it shows it as Unknown, overclocking the card does not work, I write how much to add to the core/memory, but nothing happens.

I'm not sure how to check if Mangohud includes Frame Generation, but it was nice to see that it was installed by default.

Does Frame Generation automatically activate when using PROTON for Nvidia, as FSR4?

But yes, everything is ready for gaming with a few clicks, some of the games on Steam work. Judging by 3DMark, those that are DX11. I couldn't get OpenVPN to work, it doesn't send a code, instead it asks for a second password. The dual boot after a few restarts no longer shows the Windows partition, I tried to add it again, it finds it, but then it's not there again.
Click to expand...
Why would the NVIDIA driver be needing to detect your AMD CPU? Do you mean your 5090?

https://wiki.cachyos.org/features/chwd/chwd/

Frame generation only works when you have it turned on in a game. DLSS works fine within Proton & there's no need for FSR4.

https://wiki.cachyos.org/configuration/gaming/
https://wiki.cachyos.org/configuration/gaming/#environment-variables
https://wiki.cachyos.org/configuration/gaming/#forcing-the-latest-dlss-preset

Mangohud
There's no such indicator for frame gen like Steam Overlay at this time
https://github.com/flightlessmango/MangoHud/issues/1732

OpenVPN
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/OpenVPN - this page explains various clients & methods

Limine (if left as default)
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Limine
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Limine#Windows_entry_(UEFI)
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Limine#Commands
limine-scan detects active EFI boot entries (dual boot) and allows you to easily add them to Limine.
Click to expand...
 
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AVATARAT said:
The Nvidia driver does not recognize my 9800x3D, it shows it as Unknown, overclocking the card does not work, I write how much to add to the core/memory, but nothing happens.
Click to expand...
What? Is this a typo? Why would the Nvidia driver not recognize your CPU when it's supposed to recognize your GPU?

AVATARAT said:
Does Frame Generation automatically activate when using PROTON for Nvidia, as FSR4?
Click to expand...
When using Proton, the API for DLSS as well as FG is automatically active when launching a game capable of such features, meaning the toggles for DLSS and FG should be available in game provided the Nvidia drivers are loaded correctly (which could be an issue regarding your first post, but I'm not sure?).

AVATARAT said:
I'm not sure how to check if Mangohud includes Frame Generation, but it was nice to see that it was installed by default.
Click to expand...
MangoHud reports performance statistics as an overlay. Unless it's something that's been added recently, ManguHud doesn't report if DLSS and/or FG are active.

AVATARAT said:
The dual boot after a few restarts no longer shows the Windows partition, I tried to add it again, it finds it, but then it's not there again.
Click to expand...
Disable Fastboot under Windows power settings.
 
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After updating nvidia-settings, there is no longer CPU: Unknown, but this :D

1770396047714.png

About the overclock I found that I need to start nvidia-settings though console with sudo and then the fields works.

1770472564739.png

My VPN is now working, as are RDP and SIP.
I'm using Grub to boot, not Limine, but I may change that in the future.
After using prober in root, dual boot is now working again.

Mazzspeed said:
When using Proton, the API for DLSS as well as FG is automatically active when launching a game capable of such features, meaning the toggles for DLSS and FG should be available in game provided the Nvidia drivers are loaded correctly (which could be an issue regarding your first post, but I'm not sure?).

MangoHud reports performance statistics as an overlay. Unless it's something that's been added recently, ManguHud doesn't report if DLSS and/or FG are active.
Click to expand...
Good to know, thanks.

So, CrimsonKnight13, Mazzspeed, thank you for your help.​

 
AVATARAT said:
After updating nvidia-settings, there is no longer CPU: Unknown, but this :D
Click to expand...

That's quite normal.

AVATARAT said:
I'm using Grub to boot, not Limine, but I may change that in the future.
Click to expand...

I use Grub and it works perfectly here under CachyOS, it even has btrfs snapshot support. Don't feel like you have to run Limine, if Grub works use what best suits your use case.
 
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