The Tails project has released Tails 7.9, the new stable version of its privacy- and anonymity-focused operating system. It landed on June 18, 2026 and, as always with this project, immediately replaces the previous version. Tails only supports the latest available release, so you’ll want to upgrade as soon as you can.
What’s new in Tails 7.9
This is a maintenance release, with the focus on security and hardware compatibility. Here’s what changes, according to the official release notes:
- Tor Browser 15.0.16: the bundled browser moves to the latest version, which ships the security and privacy improvements published by the Tor Project.
- Updated firmware: several firmware packages have been refreshed so newer hardware works better, graphics and Wi-Fi included.
- Secure Boot notification fix: a rare bug is fixed where the system would warn you about outdated Secure Boot certificates even when they were actually current.
If you’re already running Tails 7.0 or later, you can upgrade automatically from within the system. And if that method doesn’t work for you, there are manual upgrade instructions, plus the option to do a fresh install from USB or ISO. Watch out with that last one: a clean install erases your Persistent Storage.
What Tails is and who it’s for
Tails (The Amnesic Incognito Live System) is a Debian-based live operating system that boots from a USB stick without leaving any trace on the computer. The point is to preserve privacy and anonymity: all internet traffic goes through the Tor network without exception, and when you shut the machine down nothing remains except what you saved on purpose in the encrypted Persistent Storage.
It’s the reference tool for journalists, activists, human rights defenders and anyone who needs to work securely without leaving traces on the device they use. That “amnesia by design” approach makes it ideal for hostile environments or shared machines.
You’ll find all the details, requirements and download links on its Tails page on LinuxGratis.