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Kagi says it will stop developing Orion for Linux and will not release its planned Windows version. It plans to open-source both projects, with more details expected within 30 days; the Linux beta is set to stop receiving Kagi updates after October 2, 2026.
Kagi is ending direct development of Orion for Linux and Windows and says it will release both projects’ source code so the community can decide whether to continue them. The change leaves the Linux beta without Kagi updates after October 2, 2026 and cancels Kagi’s planned Windows release, while the company redirects its small development team toward Orion for macOS and iOS.
Kagi said it will release the source code for Orion on both platforms, but has not yet published the release details. The company said it is considering how to handle the handoff and has contacted open-source foundations and organizations about long-term stewardship. It expects to share more information within 30 days.
Kagi also made clear that it will not act as core maintainer of the projects. It is seeking developers, maintainers or organizations willing to take responsibility, and invited interested parties to contact the company at support@kagi.com. Open-sourcing the code is the stated plan; a new maintainer or ongoing community development has not been confirmed.
For current Linux users, the existing beta is expected to keep working, but Kagi says it will stop providing updates after October 2, 2026. The company advises against relying on it as a main browser. Orion for Windows, which Kagi had planned to launch in late 2026, will not be released by Kagi. The company says Windows newsletter subscribers will receive no further updates from that mailing list.
A Community Handoff, Not a Launch
The decision changes the near-term outlook for people who wanted an independently developed, WebKit-based browser beyond Apple devices. Linux users can continue using the beta for now, but the end of Kagi updates means they should not assume it will receive fixes or improvements from the company after the stated date. Kagi specifically advises users not to make the beta their main browser.
For Windows users, the immediate consequence is that the planned late-2026 Kagi release will not happen. Whether a community group can turn the source code into a maintained browser remains an open question. The code release could give interested developers a starting point, but Kagi’s announcement does not promise a successor product, a support team or a release schedule under new stewardship.
Kagi says the shift will let its small team concentrate on Orion for macOS and iOS. That may reduce the number of platforms the company supports directly while concentrating its resources on the Apple versions. The company says those versions are not changing beyond continued improvement, but it has not attached specific features or dates to that work.
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Why Kagi Is Refocusing Orion
Orion is Kagi’s browser, built around Apple’s WebKit engine rather than a Chromium codebase. Kagi says it chose to build the browser without forking Chromium and argues that maintaining multiple browser engines matters for web diversity. That is the company’s rationale; the announcement does not provide comparative performance or market data.
Kagi described Orion as the work of a small team funded by its users. It said extending development beyond Apple platforms was a significant commitment for a company without the scale of a large technology firm or a large open-source community. The company cited feedback from members asking it to focus its efforts as part of the decision.
The Linux project had attracted early testers who submitted bug reports and expressed interest in a privacy-focused, WebKit-based browser, according to Kagi. Windows development had not reached a public launch: Kagi had described a late-2026 release plan, which this announcement now replaces with an intention to make the code available to others.
“Kagi won’t be the core maintainer.”
— Kagi, in its announcement
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Stewardship and Code Release Details
Kagi has not yet said when the Linux and Windows source code will be published, what license will apply, or how the projects will be packaged for outside contributors. It said it is working through the release details and expects to provide an update within 30 days.
No foundation or organization has been named as a future steward, and Kagi says it will not be the core maintainer. It is not clear whether a volunteer group will take over, how frequently either project might receive updates, or whether the code will be developed into usable releases. The announcement also does not specify what technical support or security maintenance will be available for Linux after October 2, 2026.
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The Planned Handoff and Support End
The next stated milestone is Kagi’s promised update on the open-source process, expected within 30 days of the announcement. That update should clarify how the code will be released and may identify organizations or people interested in long-term stewardship; Kagi has not guaranteed that a maintainer will be found.
Linux users should note the announced end of Kagi updates on October 2, 2026, and weigh the company’s advice not to rely on the beta as their main browser. Windows users should not expect the previously planned Kagi release in late 2026. The future of both projects depends on the code release and whether outside developers choose to take them forward.
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Key Questions
Is Kagi discontinuing Orion for macOS and iOS?
No. Kagi says Orion for macOS and iOS will continue, with the team and resources refocused on those versions. The company did not announce a specific feature schedule.
When will Orion for Linux stop receiving Kagi updates?
Kagi says the current Linux beta will stop receiving its updates after October 2, 2026. The company says the beta will keep working in the meantime but advises against using it as a main browser.
Will Orion for Windows launch in late 2026?
No. Kagi says it will not release the Windows version it had planned for late 2026. Instead, it intends to make the code available for community development.
Who will maintain the Linux and Windows projects?
No future maintainer has been announced. Kagi says it will not be the core maintainer and has contacted open-source organizations about long-term stewardship.
When will the source code be available?
Kagi has not given a publication date. It says it is working through the release details and expects to share more information within 30 days.
Source: hn
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