The Raspberry Pi team has just dropped a fresh version of Raspberry Pi OS — the go-to operating system for Raspberry Pi enthusiasts around the world. This update is especially noteworthy, as it’s expected to be the final release based on Debian “Bookworm” before the transition to Debian “Trixie” later this year.
So, what’s new in this release? Quite a lot, actually. From improved security features to better touchscreen support and performance optimizations, this update packs plenty of useful tweaks and enhancements. Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to know.
Smarter Screen Locking
Security has gotten a boost with a revamped screen locking system. Raspberry Pi OS now includes a customized version of the swaylock application, replacing the previously minimal (and confusing) white screen with a much clearer password prompt. You can now lock your screen by pressing Ctrl + Alt + L or via the main menu under Shutdown > Lock Screen.
Console Auto Login Decoupled from Desktop
Previously, enabling auto login for the desktop also enabled auto login for the terminal (TTY), creating a potential loophole. The new update separates these two settings, allowing users to disable console auto login while keeping desktop auto login active. You’ll find these controls in both Raspberry Pi Configuration and raspi-config tools.
This is an important step forward in locking down physical access vulnerabilities for Raspberry Pi devices used in shared or public environments.
All-New Printers App
Managing printers is now more intuitive. The old system-config-printer tool has been replaced by a redesigned Printers app, ported from GNOME and cleaned up for better usability. You’ll find it under Preferences > Printers in the main menu.
Improved Touchscreen Experience
Touchscreen support under Wayland has been a work in progress — until now. With this update, users can finally choose between mouse emulation (for double-tap functionality) and native touchscreen behavior (for gestures like swipe-to-scroll).
This is a huge win for anyone using Raspberry Pi with touchscreen displays, offering a more flexible and functional experience. You can configure this in the Screen Configuration > Touchscreen menu.
Under-the-Hood Improvements
Here are a few more highlights from the update:
-
Window Manager: Now running labwc 0.8.1 — stable and well-tested.
-
Kernel: Upgraded to Linux kernel 6.12 for better hardware compatibility and performance.
-
Virtual Keyboard: Squeekboard can now be assigned to specific displays in multi-monitor setups.
-
Ad Blocking: Due to changes in Chromium, the full-featured uBlock Origin can no longer be pre-installed. The lightweight uBlock Origin Lite is now included instead.
-
Performance Gains: The wf-panel-pi taskbar app now loads faster, thanks to optimizations.
-
New Dialog Tool: Zenity has been replaced with a more efficient in-house tool, zenoty, improving startup times and reducing bloat.
Of course, the update also includes dozens of minor bug fixes, UI tweaks, translation updates, and general polish.
How to Get the Update
Updating is simple! Just open a terminal and run:
sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade
Follow the prompts, and you'll be running the latest version in no time.
Prefer a fresh start? Head over to the Raspberry Pi Downloads page and grab the Raspberry Pi Imager or download the OS manually.
Say Goodbye to Bookworm
This release marks the end of the Bookworm era. Debian Trixie is just around the corner, and we can expect even more exciting developments in the months to come. Until then, make the most of this refined and stable Bookworm release.
Have feedback or discovered something cool in this update? Let us know in the comments — and stay tuned for more Raspberry Pi news soon!
