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Kagi says it is ending its own development of Orion for Linux and will not release its planned Windows version. The company plans to publish both projects’ source code and share more details within 30 days; the Linux beta is due to stop receiving Kagi updates after October 2, 2026.
Kagi is ending its development of Orion for Linux and Windows and plans to release both projects’ source code so other developers can carry them forward. The company says the move will let its small team focus on Orion for macOS and iOS; it will not act as the core maintainer of the Linux or Windows projects.
The change has different immediate effects for the two platforms. Kagi says the existing Linux beta will continue to work, but the company will stop providing updates after October 2, 2026. It advises users not to rely on that beta as their main browser. Kagi has not announced a replacement release or a community-supported update schedule.
For Windows, the company had planned a launch in late 2026. That release will not come from Kagi. Instead, the company plans to make the Windows code available to community developers. People who signed up for the Windows newsletter will receive no further updates from that list, according to Kagi.
Kagi says it will publish more information about the open-source release within 30 days. It has contacted open-source foundations and other organizations about long-term stewardship, but says it will not serve as the projects’ core maintainer. Developers, maintainers and organizations interested in taking responsibility can contact the company at support@kagi.com.
Linux Users Face an Update Deadline
The decision leaves Linux beta users with a defined support cutoff and an uncertain path to future fixes. The browser is expected to keep working after Kagi stops updates, but without a new maintainer, users may not receive security patches, compatibility changes or bug fixes from the project. Kagi’s warning against using it as a primary browser reflects that support gap.
For Windows users, the change means the announced late-2026 launch is no longer a Kagi product release. Whether a community group can turn the code into a usable browser, maintain it and distribute updates will depend on volunteers or an organization taking ownership. The source-code release creates that possibility, but it does not itself guarantee an ongoing project.
The shift also concentrates Kagi’s browser-development effort on Apple devices. The company says Orion for macOS and iOS will continue and that staff and resources previously divided among platforms will focus on improving those versions. Users should distinguish that stated plan from a guarantee about the pace or scope of future improvements.
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A Small Team Narrows Orion’s Scope
Kagi describes Orion as a browser developed by a handful of developers and funded by Kagi users. The company says it chose not to build Orion by forking Chromium, and argues that an independent browser engine matters to the web. That technical approach and the company’s limited resources form the backdrop to its decision to stop work on platforms beyond Apple’s ecosystem.
When Kagi announced Orion for Linux, it says the response included users testing early builds and submitting bug reports. The company now says that work should be made available to the broader community. The announcement does not detail the code’s current readiness, what parts will be included, or whether the Linux beta and planned Windows build will be released under identical terms.
Kagi’s stated plan is to focus its direct development on macOS and iOS, while inviting outside developers to take over Linux and Windows. It has not named a foundation or maintainer. The company says discussions with potential stewardship organizations are under way, with release details due in the next 30 days.
“We are ending development of Orion for Linux and Windows, and we’re open-sourcing both so the community can carry them forward.”
— Kagi
Open-Source Handoff Details Pending
Kagi has not yet published the source code or specified the license, repository locations, release schedule or build instructions. It also has not named a foundation or community group that will maintain either platform. The company says it is considering long-term stewardship and expects to provide details within 30 days, but that timetable is a stated plan.
It is also unclear whether the Linux beta will remain available for download after Kagi stops updates, whether community members will continue distributing it, or how quickly any future security issues could be addressed. For Windows, Kagi has not said how complete the code is or whether it can support a public release without substantial additional work. Until those details are available, an open-source handoff should not be treated as confirmation that either browser will remain actively maintained.
Kagi’s Planned Code Release
Kagi says it will share details about releasing the Linux and Windows source code within 30 days and is contacting organizations about stewardship. Developers or groups interested in maintaining either project can contact the company at support@kagi.com. The next substantive milestone will be the publication of the code and the terms for using and developing it.
Linux users should plan for Kagi updates to end after October 2, 2026, and follow any later announcements about community maintenance. Windows users should wait for the code-release details rather than assume the previously planned late-2026 Kagi launch is still proceeding. Kagi says Orion for macOS and iOS will continue to receive the company’s attention.
Key Questions
Is Kagi ending Orion for Linux and Windows?
Kagi is ending its own development of both platform versions. It plans to release their source code so a community or other organization can continue the work, but no successor maintainer has been announced.
Will the Orion Linux beta stop working on October 2, 2026?
Kagi says the existing beta will keep working, but it will stop receiving updates from Kagi after October 2, 2026. The company advises against using it as a main browser. Whether another group will maintain or distribute it is not yet clear.
Will Orion for Windows launch in late 2026?
Not as a Kagi release, according to the company. Kagi says the planned late-2026 launch will not come from it and that the code will instead be made available for community development.
When will the source code be available?
Kagi says it will provide details about the open-source release within 30 days. It has not yet published the code, license or a firm release date.
Is Orion for macOS and iOS also ending?
No such change was announced. Kagi says development for macOS and iOS will continue, with its team and resources focused on those versions.
Source: hn
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