Tails 7.4 adds new language-saving feature, drops BitTorrent, updates core apps, and more

Tails 7.4 is now available, furthering its mission to deliver a portable, privacy-focused Linux operating system that counters surveillance and censorship. The update introduces a feature letting users save their language, keyboard layout, and formatting preferences directly from the Welcome screen to a USB stick. These preferences are applied automatically on subsequent restarts.

When opting for this setting, language and format choices are stored unencrypted on the USB drive. This approach is designed to simplify passphrase entry for Persistent Storage. While this helps many users, it comes with a privacy consideration for those handling particularly sensitive environments.

Alongside usability enhancements, Tails 7.4 ships with the Linux 6.12.63 kernel, and provides updated versions of Tor Browser and Thunderbird. However, support for BitTorrent downloads is now discontinued due to security concerns related to BitTorrent version 1. Users are encouraged to use direct downloads from project mirrors, which are often faster and safer.

Several bug fixes are included as well. These address the failure to open .gpg encrypted files in Kleopatra through normal workflows, and resolve desktop crashes when unlocking VeraCrypt volumes using the wrong password. Tails also now enforces a consistent 24-hour time format across the top navigation bar and lock screen.