The Omarchy project has released Omarchy 4.5, a major update to its Arch Linux-based operating system that introduces traditional floating desktop workspaces, native Apple Silicon installation, expanded ARM hardware support, and extensive customization improvements. Released on November 5, 2026, the update marks one of the distribution's most significant developments since the introduction of Omarchy 4.0.

Known internally as Quattro RS, the release incorporates more than 740 merged pull requests from over 180 contributors during a twelve-week development period. Its most visible addition is a floating desktop mode that allows users to work with overlapping windows and a conventional application dock without abandoning Omarchy's existing tiling and scrolling layouts. The change makes the distribution more accessible to users familiar with Windows and macOS while preserving its keyboard-driven workflow.

Omarchy 4.5 also expands beyond traditional x86-64 computers with native installation support for selected Apple Silicon Macs and preliminary compatibility with NVIDIA ARM-based systems. Additional improvements include localization for 50 languages, new productivity applications, expanded AI agent integration, video wallpapers, updated desktop themes, and numerous fixes affecting graphics, displays, networking, and hardware compatibility.

Floating Workspaces Introduce a Traditional Desktop Experience

Omarchy has traditionally emphasized tiling window management through the Hyprland Wayland compositor. In a tiling environment, application windows are arranged automatically within the available screen space, reducing the need to drag, resize, and manually position each window.

This approach can be highly efficient for developers and experienced Linux users who prefer keyboard navigation. However, it can also feel unfamiliar to people accustomed to conventional desktops, where windows overlap freely and applications are launched or minimized through a dock or taskbar.

Omarchy 4.5 addresses this difference by introducing floating workspaces with an integrated application dock. Users can now switch individual workspaces between tiling, scrolling, and floating layouts without changing the entire desktop configuration.

The Super + L keyboard shortcut cycles through these three layout modes. When floating mode is active, application windows receive themed title bars and can be positioned independently, creating an experience closer to a conventional desktop.

The dock displays pinned applications, running programs, and an application grid. Users can rearrange applications through dragging, pin frequently used programs, and access additional actions through context menus. Pressing Super + M minimizes the active window to the dock.

This is an important architectural improvement because floating mode is not implemented as a separate desktop environment. It operates within the same Hyprland-based session, allowing users to combine different window-management styles.

Tiling, Scrolling, and Floating Can Coexist

One of the most useful aspects of the new layout system is that each workspace can use a different window-management mode. Users do not need to choose between a permanently tiled desktop and a permanently floating environment.

For example, a developer could configure one workspace for tiled terminal windows and a code editor, another for scrolling through multiple application windows, and a third for floating applications such as messaging clients, file managers, or graphical utilities.

The desktop bar identifies the active layout, helping users understand which window-management behavior applies to the current workspace. This becomes especially useful when moving between several workspaces or monitors.

Omarchy 4.5 also improves multi-monitor handling by assigning independent workspaces to each display. The Super + 1 through Super + 0 shortcuts now navigate workspaces associated with the currently focused monitor, while Super + Arrow shortcuts allow movement between displays.

These changes make the desktop more flexible without abandoning its keyboard-oriented design. Users can continue relying on shortcuts for efficient navigation while taking advantage of conventional window placement when an application or workflow benefits from it.

Apple Silicon Support Expands Omarchy Beyond x86-64

Another major milestone in Omarchy 4.5 is the introduction of native installation support for selected Apple Silicon Macs. The release supports MacBooks based on Apple's M1, M2, and M3 processors, along with the MacBook Neo.

This represents a significant expansion for a distribution originally associated with conventional x86-64 PCs. Apple Silicon uses the ARM64 architecture, which differs substantially from the instruction set and hardware platform used by most traditional desktop Linux computers.

Running Linux on Apple Silicon also requires more than compiling applications for ARM. Apple's hardware includes specialized graphics processors, storage controllers, power-management systems, and other components that require dedicated Linux support.

Omarchy's Apple Silicon implementation builds on the work of the Asahi Linux ecosystem and other contributors who have developed the drivers and infrastructure needed to run Linux on supported Apple hardware.

Rather than attempting to replace that underlying hardware-enablement work, Omarchy adds its own installation process, desktop configuration, applications, and system integration on top of the available Linux support.

The result is a new installation option for users who want Omarchy's desktop experience on compatible Mac hardware.

A Native macOS Installer Simplifies Dual-Boot Setup

Installing Linux on Apple Silicon has historically involved specialized procedures because the platform's boot architecture differs from conventional PCs. Omarchy 4.5 introduces a dedicated Mac installer designed to make the process more approachable.

Users can download the installer as a macOS application and use it to install Omarchy alongside their existing macOS installation. The process does not require preparing a conventional USB installation device.

For users who prefer command-line package management on macOS, the project also provides a Homebrew installation method:

brew install omacom/mac/omarchy

This command installs the Omarchy Mac installer through the project's Homebrew tap. It is intended to be run on a supported macOS system with Homebrew already installed.

The installer simplifies access to Omarchy, but hardware compatibility remains model-dependent. Apple Silicon systems do not all provide identical Linux driver support, and features such as external displays, cameras, power management, and peripheral compatibility can vary.

The developers are also working toward support for additional Apple Silicon generations, including M4, M5, and M6 hardware. Those models should not be treated as universally supported by the stable release simply because development work is underway.

For users considering installation on a Mac, verifying the exact model and current hardware support remains essential.

NVIDIA ARM Systems Receive Preliminary Support

Omarchy 4.5 also introduces its first ARM installation ISO, extending the distribution to selected systems built around NVIDIA ARM processors.

The initial targets include the NVIDIA DGX Spark desktop and laptops using NVIDIA's N1X platform, including supported configurations of the Dell XPS 16 Creator Edition and ASUS ProArt P14.

These devices represent a different segment of the ARM ecosystem from Apple Silicon. NVIDIA's ARM platforms combine general-purpose computing with graphics and AI acceleration capabilities, making them relevant to developers working with machine learning, multimedia processing, and GPU-intensive applications.

The new ARM image allows Omarchy to begin supporting these systems through its standard installation and configuration framework. However, the project describes this support as preliminary, and users should expect some hardware-specific limitations.

The release includes several related fixes, including improved desktop responsiveness on NVIDIA GB10 systems such as the DGX Spark, audio corrections for N1X laptops, and adjustments to lock-screen input after resume.

Support for Snapdragon ARM laptops is also under development, but the broader Snapdragon device lineup is not yet presented as fully supported.

Localization Expands to 50 Languages

Omarchy 4.5 significantly expands international accessibility by introducing support for 50 languages across its desktop interface, menus, and notifications.

Users can select a language through the graphical setup interface or configure it from the terminal. For example, the following command selects German:

omarchy language de

The selected language is applied immediately to supported Omarchy interface components, while the system locale is updated during the next login.

The release also improves keyboard input for languages that require specialized input methods. Supported configurations include Japanese Mozc, Korean Hangul, Simplified Chinese Pinyin, Taiwanese Zhuyin, and Hong Kong Cangjie.

These input methods are integrated into the installation and keyboard setup process, reducing the amount of manual configuration required. Omarchy also installs appropriate fonts and adjusts input-method candidate windows to match the selected desktop theme.

The Super + I shortcut allows users to switch between configured input languages.

This improvement is particularly important for a distribution whose original configuration and keyboard-driven interface were heavily oriented toward English-speaking users. Expanding localization makes Omarchy more practical for international developers and multilingual desktop environments.

Captive Wi-Fi Portals Become Easier to Access

Wireless networking receives a practical improvement with automatic detection of captive portals. These are login or acceptance pages commonly encountered on hotel, airport, university, and public Wi-Fi networks.

Captive portals can be inconvenient on Linux desktops because a wireless connection may appear active even though internet access remains restricted until the user completes an authentication or terms-of-service page.

Omarchy 4.5 now detects when a connected network requires additional authentication. The network indicator displays a warning, and the network panel provides an option to open the captive portal directly.

After the user completes the required steps, the interface returns to its normal connected state.

This removes the need for workarounds such as manually opening an unencrypted website to trigger the login page. It is especially useful for laptop users who regularly connect to unfamiliar networks while traveling.

Captive portal detection does not make public Wi-Fi inherently secure. Users should still rely on HTTPS and other appropriate protections when transmitting sensitive information over networks they do not control.

Five New Applications Expand the Default Software Collection

Omarchy 4.5 introduces five applications focused on productivity, system maintenance, recording, and remote access. The additions reflect the distribution's preference for lightweight tools that integrate closely with its desktop workflow.

Hype provides a presentation editor built around Markdown. Users can write slide content in a text file while previewing the presentation through a graphical interface. Presentations can be exported to PDF or PowerPoint, making the application useful for developers who prefer text-based authoring but still need conventional presentation formats.

Signed replaces Xournal++ as the default tool for handling document signatures and basic PDF paperwork. It allows users to place signatures, text, and dates onto documents before saving the completed PDF.

Disktree provides a graphical treemap of disk usage. Rather than requiring users to navigate directories manually, it visualizes which files and folders consume storage space and highlights caches that may be safe to regenerate.

Monologue offers a simple webcam recording interface designed to match Omarchy's visual style. It is intended for quick recordings without the complexity of a full video production application.

Gliff introduces remote desktop access over SSH, allowing users to control another Omarchy desktop through a graphical window.

The release also adds Elsewhen, a world clock integrated into the desktop bar, providing a convenient way to track times across multiple locations.

Markdown Presentations Offer a Developer-Friendly Workflow

The inclusion of Hype is particularly relevant to Omarchy's developer-focused audience. Markdown allows presentations to be written using ordinary text files, making slide content easier to edit, version, and maintain alongside project documentation.

A simple Markdown presentation might begin with content such as:

# Linux Infrastructure Review

## Current Environment

- Containerized applications
- Automated system updates
- Centralized monitoring

---

## Next Steps

- Improve deployment testing
- Review backup procedures
- Reduce configuration drift

This example illustrates the general idea of writing presentation content in Markdown. Hype provides its own editing and presentation workflow, so users should follow the application's supported syntax for specific slide layouts and formatting.

Text-based presentations can be particularly useful when documentation and slides share information. Developers can store the source in Git, review changes through ordinary diffs, and collaborate without depending entirely on a binary presentation file.

Hype's graphical editor and export capabilities help bridge the gap between text-oriented workflows and traditional presentation software.

Gliff Introduces Remote Desktop Access Through SSH

Gliff is another notable addition because it provides remote graphical access without requiring users to configure a separate internet-facing remote desktop service.

The application establishes remote desktop connections over SSH, allowing users to interact with another Omarchy machine through a graphical window. Multiple remote systems can be organized into separate tabs.

SSH is widely used for encrypted remote administration and supports authentication through passwords or cryptographic keys. By building on this existing infrastructure, Gliff reduces the need to introduce an additional network service solely for desktop access.

The remote machine also displays an indicator in its desktop bar when a remote session is active, making the connection visible to the person using the host.

Users can inspect the SSH client installed on their system with:

ssh -V

They can also test ordinary SSH connectivity to a remote host with:

ssh username@hostname

The second command is a general SSH example, not a command for launching Gliff. It illustrates the underlying remote-access technology used by the application.

Remote desktop access still requires appropriate authentication and network configuration. SSH encryption protects the connection, but administrators should continue using strong credentials, trusted keys, and suitable access controls.

AI Agent Integration Becomes More Comprehensive

Omarchy 4.5 substantially expands its built-in AI agent management capabilities. The desktop's agent panel now recognizes 23 agents and providers, compared with six in the previous implementation.

Supported integrations include tools and services such as Claude, Codex, Cursor, OpenCode, GitHub Copilot, Hermes, Ollama, DeepSeek, Qwen, OpenRouter, and Grok.

The updated panel provides more detailed information about usage limits and reset periods, allowing developers to monitor multiple AI subscriptions from a single interface.

Users can also configure multiple accounts for supported providers. Omarchy includes an account-management command:

omarchy agent account

This allows users to manage supported agent accounts and select which account should be used when starting new sessions.

The functionality is particularly useful for developers who work with different AI coding assistants across projects or maintain separate accounts for personal and professional use.

The integrations do not mean that every listed AI service runs locally. Some agents use remote services, while others can operate with local models depending on their configuration.

A Quake-Style Console Keeps AI Agents Accessible

Omarchy 4.5 introduces a dropdown terminal designed for quickly accessing an AI agent without switching workspaces or opening a separate application window.

The console uses a Quake-style interface, appearing over the current desktop while dimming the background. Pressing Super + ~ opens the console, and pressing the shortcut again hides it.

On its first launch, the console starts the user's configured default agent. Subsequent activations restore the existing session, allowing users to continue their work without restarting the tool.

This approach makes AI assistance part of the desktop workflow rather than requiring a permanently visible terminal or browser window. Developers can summon an agent while editing code, reviewing documentation, or working in another application.

The feature also fits Omarchy's keyboard-driven philosophy. Instead of navigating through application menus, users can access their agent through a single shortcut and return to the previous task immediately afterward.

As with any agent capable of interacting with local tools or files, users should review permissions and understand which operations require confirmation.

Video Wallpapers and Theme Introductions Expand Customization

Desktop appearance receives several improvements in Omarchy 4.5, including support for video wallpapers. Users can now configure moving backgrounds rather than relying exclusively on static images.

The lock screen displays a still frame from the selected video, avoiding the need to continue full video playback while the session is locked.

The release also introduces optional animated theme introductions. Themes can display a short silent animation when the user logs in or switches between themes, adding a more distinctive visual transition.

These animations can be disabled through the Appearance settings for users who prefer a quieter desktop or want to reduce unnecessary visual effects.

Omarchy also introduces new window transparency options. Users can choose between Opaque, Transparent, and Glassy window styles, along with different corner treatments such as sharp, rounded, or theme-defined corners.

These settings are consolidated under a new Appearance menu, replacing the previous Style menu and bringing together themes, wallpapers, fonts, window behavior, dock settings, animations, and other visual options.

Jade Horse and Starship Join the Default Themes

Omarchy 4.5 refreshes its bundled visual themes with the addition of Jade Horse and Starship.

Jade Horse uses green tones and visual elements inspired by carved jade and traditional scroll painting. It replaces Osaka Jade among the default bundled themes, although existing users who already have Osaka Jade installed can continue using it.

Starship joins the default collection as another visual option, expanding the range of available desktop appearances.

The update also introduces Liftoff as the new default background for the Tokyo Night theme. The image features a dramatic launch scene at sunset and replaces the previous default background on new installations.

These changes are primarily cosmetic, but visual consistency is an important part of Omarchy's identity. The distribution combines applications, terminal configurations, window decorations, and desktop components into coordinated themes rather than treating wallpaper selection as an isolated setting.

Faster Booting Reduces the Default Boot Menu Delay

Omarchy 4.5 changes how the Limine bootloader behaves during startup. Previously, the boot menu remained visible for approximately six seconds, giving users time to select another boot entry or restore an earlier system snapshot.

The new default timeout is one second, allowing most systems to proceed through the boot menu more quickly.

Users who need to access another boot entry can press a key during startup to keep the menu visible. Those who prefer a longer delay can configure it manually through /boot/limine.conf.

For example, the following setting requests a five-second timeout:

timeout: 5

The project states that updates preserve a user-configured timeout, so administrators can customize the behavior without expecting routine updates to overwrite their preference.

Reducing the boot menu delay does not change the underlying kernel initialization or application startup process. It simply removes several seconds of waiting from the bootloader stage for users who rarely interact with the menu.

Display Scaling and HDR Receive Important Fixes

Omarchy 4.5 includes numerous graphics and display corrections, particularly for systems using multiple monitors or fractional scaling.

One fix addresses XWayland applications appearing too large when connected monitors use different scaling factors. XWayland provides compatibility for applications built around the older X11 display system, allowing them to run within a Wayland session.

Mixed-DPI environments can be challenging because different displays may require different scaling behavior. A laptop screen might use 150% scaling while an external monitor uses 100%, creating situations where application windows appear at inconsistent sizes.

The update improves how these applications behave across mixed-scale configurations.

Another correction addresses HDR displays that could switch to a washed-out image when an application entered fullscreen mode. The release also fixes blurry menus and selection interfaces on fractionally scaled displays.

These improvements are particularly relevant for modern laptops and high-resolution monitors, where fractional scaling and advanced display capabilities are increasingly common.

Multi-Monitor Workflows Become More Reliable

Several fixes address problems that occur when displays are connected, disconnected, or reconfigured.

Omarchy 4.5 corrects an issue where a laptop's internal screen could remain disabled after an external monitor was unplugged. It also prevents display settings such as position, resolution, and scaling from being reset when a monitor is re-enabled.

Additional corrections improve the behavior of menus and pickers after monitor disconnection, prevent workspaces from moving unexpectedly between displays, and address problems involving windows transferred between monitors.

These fixes complement the new per-monitor workspace model. When each display maintains its own workspace collection, the desktop must carefully preserve the relationship between windows, layouts, and physical monitors.

Users can inspect their current monitor configuration through Hyprland's command-line interface:

hyprctl monitors

For structured output suitable for scripts, Hyprland also supports JSON formatting:

hyprctl -j monitors

These commands provide information about connected displays, including their resolution, position, scaling, and workspace assignments.

They are useful when troubleshooting display configuration problems or building scripts that respond to changes in connected monitors.

NVIDIA and ARM Hardware Compatibility Continue Improving

Beyond the new Apple Silicon and NVIDIA ARM installation options, Omarchy 4.5 includes hardware-specific fixes for several existing configurations.

On NVIDIA systems, the update corrects problems involving lock-screen input after resume and improves behavior when the display wakes from sleep. It also addresses sluggish desktop performance on NVIDIA GB10 machines such as the DGX Spark.

N1X laptops receive audio fixes for missing internal speakers and microphones, while installation compatibility improves on certain Lenovo systems.

The release also corrects graphics driver selection during Lutris and Battle.net installation, preventing the wrong GPU's 32-bit Vulkan driver from being selected.

For Intel hardware, Omarchy enables hardware video decoding on Wildcat Lake systems and addresses live installation crashes affecting some Arrow Lake-H laptops.

These changes demonstrate the complexity of supporting a broad range of Linux hardware. Graphics, audio, suspend behavior, and installation compatibility often depend on device-specific drivers and firmware rather than a single universal configuration.

Screenshots, Recording, and Notifications Become More Useful

Omarchy 4.5 improves several everyday desktop tools, including screenshot capture, screen recording, and notification handling.

Screenshot notifications now provide actions for opening or editing captured images. Screen recording notifications similarly offer options to open or trim recordings, reducing the number of steps required to work with captured media.

The release also fixes problems involving scrolling screenshots, stale image thumbnails, and recording notifications that incorrectly reported empty output.

Notification behavior receives broader refinements. Users can interact with notification cards through keyboard shortcuts, while improvements to focus handling ensure that clicking a notification brings the appropriate application to the foreground.

The desktop bar also receives layout and interaction improvements, including better icon alignment, more predictable tooltips, and improved handling of hidden widgets.

These refinements are important because Omarchy relies heavily on custom desktop components. Small inconsistencies in notifications, menus, and panel behavior can affect the overall experience even when the underlying operating system remains stable.

New Installations Use a Leaner Application Selection

Omarchy 4.5 also changes its default application collection. New installations no longer include OBS Studio and Kdenlive by default, with Monologue and Omacut providing simpler tools for basic recording and trimming workflows.

Lazydocker is also removed from the default application selection, although Docker and Docker Compose remain available.

These changes do not automatically remove the affected applications from existing installations. Users who already have OBS Studio, Kdenlive, or Lazydocker installed can continue using them.

The distinction matters because Omarchy aims to provide a curated desktop rather than an exhaustive collection of software. The developers are adjusting the default application selection to emphasize tools that match the distribution's preferred workflows.

Users who require more advanced video editing, streaming, or container-management capabilities can still install the applications they prefer through Arch Linux's package ecosystem.

For example, a full system package update can be performed with:

sudo pacman -Syu

However, Omarchy users should follow the distribution's recommended update workflow when applying release-specific configuration changes, since ordinary package updates do not necessarily perform every Omarchy migration.

Updating to Omarchy 4.5

Existing Omarchy users can upgrade through the distribution's built-in update interface by selecting Update > Omarchy. This process applies the release's supported package changes, configuration updates, and migration steps.

Users should save their work before upgrading, especially because the release modifies desktop shortcuts, workspace behavior, themes, application defaults, and several underlying system components.

Some keyboard shortcuts have changed to accommodate the new floating workspace mode and additional desktop features. Users with heavily customized Hyprland configurations should review these changes before assuming that existing shortcuts will continue behaving identically.

The update also introduces an improved mechanism for replacing Hyprland keybindings through o.rebind, making it easier to customize shortcuts without relying entirely on direct configuration-file modifications.

New users can install Omarchy through the appropriate installation method for their hardware. Conventional PCs use the supported installation images, while selected Apple Silicon Macs can use the new macOS installer.

ARM support remains more hardware-specific, so users should confirm that their exact device is supported before beginning an installation.

What Omarchy 4.5 Means for Linux Desktop Users

Omarchy 4.5 represents a meaningful shift in the distribution's approach to desktop flexibility. Earlier releases emphasized a highly opinionated tiling workflow, which appealed to users comfortable with keyboard-driven window management but could discourage those accustomed to traditional desktops.

Floating workspaces change that balance. Users can now adopt Omarchy gradually, beginning with familiar overlapping windows and a dock before experimenting with tiling and scrolling layouts.

The Apple Silicon expansion is equally significant. By supporting selected Macs through a dedicated installer, Omarchy reaches users who previously needed a conventional x86-64 computer to experience the distribution.

For developers, the expanded AI agent panel, dropdown console, Markdown presentation editor, and container-friendly application environment provide additional workflow options. Meanwhile, localization support for 50 languages and improved input methods make the desktop more accessible internationally.

The numerous display, graphics, networking, and hardware fixes also contribute to a more dependable experience. Although these changes may be less visible than the new floating mode, they address practical problems that can determine whether a Linux desktop is comfortable to use every day.

Conclusion

Omarchy 4.5 is one of the distribution's most ambitious updates, combining a more accessible desktop layout with major hardware expansion and a broader collection of integrated tools. Released on November 5, 2026, the update introduces floating workspaces, a conventional application dock, native Apple Silicon installation, and preliminary support for NVIDIA ARM-based systems.

The new floating mode is particularly important because it allows users to combine traditional window management with Omarchy's existing tiling and scrolling layouts. Instead of requiring a permanent commitment to one workflow, the desktop now supports different arrangements across individual workspaces.

Apple Silicon compatibility extends Omarchy to supported M1, M2, M3, and MacBook Neo systems, while the new ARM installation image opens the door to additional hardware platforms. Localization for 50 languages, integrated input methods, and captive portal detection further improve accessibility and everyday usability.

The release also expands AI agent management, introduces new productivity applications, adds video wallpapers and updated themes, and improves remote desktop access through SSH. Extensive fixes to multi-monitor behavior, HDR, fractional scaling, NVIDIA hardware, and desktop components strengthen the operating system's reliability.

With more than 740 merged pull requests from over 180 contributors, Omarchy 4.5 demonstrates how quickly the project is evolving. Its most important achievement is making a previously specialized, tiling-focused Linux environment more adaptable without abandoning the efficiency and customization that originally defined it.