The open-source video editor Kdenlive has released version 25.12 as part of the KDE Gear 25.12 suite, introducing a flexible docking system and a new welcome screen. This update enhances usability for users across Linux, BSD, macOS, and Windows platforms. Key improvements include better audio editing tools and menu reorganization for a more intuitive experience.
Kdenlive 25.12, announced on December 19, 2025, brings significant enhancements to this non-linear video editor. The update features a new docking system that allows users to group widgets flexibly, show or hide them as needed, and save layouts either in separate files for sharing or within project files to resume editing seamlessly.
A welcome screen has been added to simplify setup for newcomers. For editing vertical videos in 9:16 format, the release includes a vertical layout option and safe areas. Audio track monitoring has been redesigned with a minimap overlay for intuitive zooming into specific parts.
Menus have been reorganized to align with professional software standards, grouping file-related actions like rendering and project settings under the File menu. On the timeline, 'Guides' are now called 'Markers' for clarity; these can have durations shown on the timeline and be dragged directly from the Markers list.
Bug fixes address critical issues, including project corruption during copy-pasting between sequences or projects, rendering failures on Windows with usernames containing special characters, and over 15 crash reports. VA-API support in the AppImage bundle has been restored, enabling faster decoding and rendering. Internally, it incorporates FFmpeg 8.0 and Qt 6.10.1.
Users can download Kdenlive 25.12 as an AppImage for any GNU/Linux distribution or as a Flatpak from the official site, making it accessible without complex installation.
