The KDE Project has released KDE Gear 25.12, the latest stable version of its open-source applications for the KDE Plasma desktop and GNU/Linux systems. This update brings targeted improvements to several popular tools, including file management, text editing, and travel assistance. Users can expect refinements that enhance usability across desktop and mobile environments.
On December 11, 2025, the KDE Project announced the availability of KDE Gear 25.12, a collection of open-source software designed to complement the KDE Plasma desktop environment on GNU/Linux distributions. This release focuses on refining existing applications rather than introducing entirely new ones, addressing user feedback through incremental updates and bug fixes.
Dolphin, the default file manager, now prevents trashed temporary folders from cluttering the home trash bin. It also adds an option to hide files and folders directly from the context menu, streamlining organization tasks.
The Itinerary travel assistant sees expansions in data extraction capabilities, supporting more railway companies and events. Journey planning has been simplified, with automatic detection of the user's location as the starting point. Additional features include displaying altitude on maps and integrating a currency converter for practical use during trips.
Kate, the advanced text editor, enhances Git integration by showing the latest activity on branches in the list view. It supports navigation to specific lines and columns through the Quick Open dialog and enables bracketed paste for terminal piping.
Web-related tools receive attention too: Konqueror improves PDF export quality, while Falkon adds a toggle button for its adblocker. KJournald Browser now loads user units, aiding system log analysis.
NeoChat, a Matrix-based chat client, introduces a settings page for keyboard shortcuts, support for Matrix extensions, and a Jitsi meeting indicator to show active calls.
The Photos viewer gains a crop tool and intuitive gestures: pinch to zoom, drag to pan zoomed images, and swipe to navigate galleries. These changes apply to both desktop and mobile versions.
KDE Gear 25.12 includes numerous smaller tweaks, detailed in the full changelog. Packages will soon appear in stable repositories of major GNU/Linux distributions, allowing users to update seamlessly.
