GNOME 47 Desktop

GNOME 47 Released: Performance Improvements & New Features

January 29, 2026 5 min read
TL;DR
  • GNOME 47 released with 10% performance improvements
  • Redesigned Settings app with better organization
  • Files (Nautilus) GTK4 port complete
  • Improved Wayland support with HDR and VRR
  • Better fractional scaling on multi-monitor setups
  • Console replaces GNOME Terminal as default
  • Available in Fedora 41, Ubuntu 26.04, Arch Linux now

What's New in GNOME 47

Performance Improvements

  • 10% lower RAM usage - Better memory management
  • Smoother animations - Improved frame pacing
  • Faster startup - 2-3 second improvement
  • Better power efficiency - Extended laptop battery life

Redesigned Applications

Settings

  • Reorganized panels for better discoverability
  • New Privacy & Sharing sections
  • Improved mouse & touchpad settings
  • Better network configuration

Files (Nautilus)

  • Complete GTK4/libadwaita port
  • Improved grid view with better spacing
  • Faster file operations
  • Better search functionality

Console

Replaces GNOME Terminal as the default terminal emulator:

  • Modern libadwaita design
  • Better touch support
  • Improved search and copy/paste
  • Tabbed interface with better keyboard shortcuts

Wayland Improvements

  • HDR support - Partial implementation for compatible displays
  • Variable refresh rate - Better gaming experience
  • Per-monitor fractional scaling - Works reliably now
  • Screen recording - Native support without pipewire hacks

Getting GNOME 47

Fedora 41

sudo dnf upgrade

Arch Linux

sudo pacman -Syu gnome

Ubuntu 26.04

Will be included in Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (April 2026)

Resources

GNOME Resources
✅ Key Takeaways
  • GNOME 47 brings significant performance improvements
  • Redesigned Settings and Files apps improve usability
  • Better Wayland support with HDR and VRR
  • Available now in rolling release distributions