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Kagi is ending its development of Orion for Linux and Windows and says it plans to open-source both projects. The Linux beta will continue to work but will no longer receive Kagi updates after October 2, 2026; the planned Windows release will not be made by Kagi.
Kagi is ending development of its Orion browser for Linux and Windows and says it will release both projects’ source code so the community can carry them forward. The move leaves the Linux beta without Kagi updates after October 2, 2026, while the planned Windows release will not be delivered by Kagi.
Kagi said the decision is intended to let its small browser team focus on Orion for macOS and iOS. The company said those Apple versions are not being discontinued and that staff and resources previously divided among platforms will be directed toward making them faster, more stable and more capable.
For Linux users, the existing beta will keep working, according to Kagi, but the company will stop providing updates after October 2, 2026. Kagi said it does not recommend using the beta as a primary browser. The company did not announce a successor release or a support plan from another maintainer.
Kagi had planned to launch Orion for Windows in late 2026. That launch will not come from Kagi; instead, the company says the code will be made available for community development. Kagi said it is considering how to release the code and expects to share details within 30 days. It has contacted open-source foundations and organizations about possible long-term stewardship, but says it will not serve as the projects’ core maintainer.
A Community Must Take Over Orion
The change shifts the future of Orion on Linux and Windows from a company-led effort to a potential community-maintained project. Releasing source code could give outside developers a basis to continue work, but source availability by itself does not provide ongoing updates, security fixes, testing or releases. Those depend on maintainers and contributors taking responsibility.
For people using the Linux beta, the end date gives a clear limit to Kagi’s update commitment. Since the company advises against relying on it as a main browser, users who need ongoing maintenance will have to consider other options unless a community team takes over. Windows users, meanwhile, should not expect the late-2026 launch previously planned by Kagi.
Kagi framed the decision as a focus choice by a small, user-funded company, rather than a change to its Apple browser plans. Whether Orion for Linux and Windows continues in a practical form will depend on details still to come: the code release, its licensing and the availability of people or organizations willing to maintain it.
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A Small Team Ends Its Cross-Platform Bet
Kagi said Orion is built by a handful of developers and funded entirely by its users. The company described expansion beyond Apple devices as a substantial commitment for an independent team, and said members had asked it to concentrate its effort.
Orion’s technical approach also shaped the company’s reasoning. Kagi said it chose not to fork Chromium, arguing that the web benefits from having more than one browser engine and more than one company influencing browser development. Its Linux announcement had drawn interest from users seeking a privacy-focused browser based on WebKit, according to Kagi. The company thanked people who tested early builds and submitted bug reports, but that support did not change the resource limits it cited.
The decision sets different near-term outcomes for the two non-Apple projects: a Linux beta with a stated end date for Kagi updates, and a Windows project that will not reach its planned Kagi launch. In both cases, Kagi’s stated path is to make code available rather than continue as developer and maintainer.
“We are ending development of Orion for Linux and Windows, and we’re open-sourcing both so the community can carry them forward.”
— Kagi
Windows browser alternative open source
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Code Release and Stewardship Remain Open
Kagi has not yet published the source code, license terms or release process for either project. It says further details are expected within 30 days, but has not named a maintainer or organization that will take over. Its outreach to open-source groups is described as ongoing, not as a completed stewardship agreement.
It is also unclear whether community developers will produce usable updates or a Windows release, and on what schedule. Kagi’s announcement does not specify what level of support, if any, will be available during the Linux beta’s remaining period or after Kagi updates stop. Until the handoff details are released, the projects’ longer-term status remains unsettled.
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Kagi Plans Handoff Details Soon
Kagi says it will share details about the open-source release within the next 30 days and is seeking organizations or developers interested in stewardship. It has invited prospective maintainers to contact the company at support@kagi.com. The announcement does not give a specific calendar date for the code release.
Linux users should watch for Kagi’s release and support details ahead of October 2, 2026, when the company says its updates will end. Windows users should treat the late-2026 Kagi launch as canceled and look for any future community project announcements rather than a Kagi release.
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Key Questions
Is Orion for Linux being shut down immediately?
No. Kagi says the current Linux beta will keep working, but Kagi updates are scheduled to stop after October 2, 2026. The company does not recommend using it as a primary browser.
Will Kagi release Orion for Windows?
No. Kagi says the Windows launch it had planned for late 2026 will not come from the company. It plans to release the code for the community to build on.
Who will maintain Orion for Linux and Windows?
No maintainer has been announced. Kagi says it has contacted open-source organizations and will not be the core maintainer; it is seeking developers, maintainers or organizations to take on that role.
Are Orion for macOS and iOS affected?
Kagi says development of Orion for macOS and iOS will continue, with the team and resources shifting toward those versions.
When will the Linux and Windows source code be available?
Kagi says it expects to share open-source details within 30 days. It has not provided a specific code-release date or published the licensing and stewardship arrangements yet.
Source: hn
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