OS 8 FAQ

Thank you for your interest in elementary OS 8! We’ve been compiling some of the most frequently-asked questions about the release here.

Can I upgrade from OS 7?

If you’re coming from an older version of elementary OS (e.g. OS 7.1 or older), we recommend backing up your data and reinstalling. For more details, please see Release Upgrades.

Where’s the secret Dock settings?

OS 7.1 and before used Plank which came with a lot of extra options in a hidden dialog. These extra options aren’t supported by the new Dock which was written specifically for elementary OS and the secure session.

If you relied on one of these hidden options, please use the Feedback app to let us know so we can consider this feature in future updates!

You can still install Plank (or another dock program) via Terminal and use it instead of the new Dock, but it will only work in the Classic Session. Alternative docks will not work in the Secure Session.

Where are the cross platform apps I'm used to?

In this release Flathub is included as a Flatpak remote in AppCenter by default. This is the largest Flatpak store available and contains many popular cross platform apps. If you can't find an app you're looking for, check the app developer's website and look for a Flatpak ref or Flatpak bundle file. These are app files that can be installed by double-clicking to open with Sideload.

Ubuntu repository packages remain available e.g. for developers via apt in the Terminal.

Can I install in a virtual machine?

Yes, but we don't recommend installing in a virtual machine, as it won't perform as well as a full install. We've heard that GNOME Boxes offers a better default virtual machine experience with elementary OS than other virtual machine software, but your experience may vary.

Some virtual machines require proprietary drivers that can be optionally included during installation.

Where can I report an issue or feedback I have?

elementary OS is developed 100% in the open on our GitHub organization. If you're on elementary OS, we recommend using the built-in Feedback app to ensure your issue or feedback goes to the right place:

1. Open the Applications Menu and select the Feedback app
2. Select what you think is the closest match from the list provided
3. Follow the instructions in your web browser to file an issue

A detailed issue reporting guide is available here.

If you're not on elementary OS:

1. Visit our GitHub organization to view a list of all repositories
2. Use the “Find a repository…” search to search for the closest match for where you're seeing an issue
3. On a specific repository, select the “Issues” tab
4. Search the list for key words from your issue; try a few different ways of phrasing it
5. If you find your issue has already been reported, use the built-in 👍 reaction on the issue to mark it as affecting you, otherwise select the “New issue” button and follow the directions

In either case, we may transfer your issue to the correct repository or mark it as a duplicate to keep the list of issues as organized as possible.

Where can I get help?

Support for elementary OS is provided for free by the community. You can find useful guides and links to community help pages on our website.

If you're still unable to find the information you're looking for, consider joining our Discord community chat to ask a community volunteer for help.