Tails 7.11 is now available as a new update for this privacy- and anonymity-focused Linux distribution. The new version fixes an issue that could prevent persistent storage from working correctly on some computers and updates Tor Browser to version 15.0.20.
Tails is based on Debian and was designed primarily for use from a USB device, routing connections through the Tor network and striving to leave as few traces as possible on the computer being used. Update 7.11 maintains this approach but addresses a particularly relevant issue for those who use one of the features that allows certain data to be saved between sessions.
The main new feature of Tails 7.11 is Persistent Storage
The most significant change in Tails 7.11 fixes a problem that could prevent Persistent Storage from enabling on some computers. This feature allows certain data and settings to be preserved between sessions using an encrypted storage area, which is especially useful in an operating system designed to run temporarily from a USB drive.
By default, Tails is designed so that session data disappears when the computer is shut down. Persistent Storage provides a controlled exception to this behavior: the user can persistently store certain files, settings, and other data without converting the entire installation into a conventional disk-based system.
The bug fixed in this version could prevent that storage area from activating on certain computers. For users who rely on Persistent Storage, this is therefore a much more significant fix than the version number might suggest.
Persistent Storage maintains data between sessions
One of the features that distinguishes Tails from a conventional Linux distribution is that the system is designed to minimize the traces it leaves on the host computer. The user can boot Tails from a USB drive, perform their tasks, and shut down the computer without the session being saved in the same way as with a permanently installed operating system.
Persistent Storage allows you to combine that philosophy with the practical need to retain certain data. The space is encrypted and can be used to store information that the user needs to keep available when they restart Tails.
The fix included in Tails 7.11 ensures that this feature can be successfully enabled on affected systems. The project recommends that users with an existing Persistent Storage installation upgrade rather than creating a new installation.
Tor Browser is updated to version 15.0.20
The other notable new feature in Tails 7.11 is the update to the included browser. Tor Browser has been updated to version 15.0.20 , providing users with a more recent version of the browser used to access the internet through the Tor network.
The integration of Tor Browser is a fundamental part of the Tails experience. The distribution is not simply a portable Linux desktop; it is built around tools designed to protect user privacy and make it difficult to link user activity to the computer they are connecting from.
Keeping your browser up to date is especially important in this context, as the browser is one of the components that most directly interacts with content from the internet. Tails incorporates the necessary updates into its own versions so users don't have to manually configure these components.
Tails users can update directly
Users who already have any version of Tails 7.0 or later installed can upgrade directly to Tails 7.11 using the automatic upgrade mechanism. This process allows them to preserve their existing Persistent Storage.
This recommendation is especially important for those who have persistently stored data. If the automatic update doesn't work or the system fails to boot after performing it, the project also includes the option of a manual update.
In case an automatic update fails, using the manual procedure allows you to recover the system without necessarily having to resort to a completely new installation.
It is not advisable to reinstall Tails if you use Persistent Storage
The project includes an important warning for users with a Tails USB drive containing persistent storage : if you already have a working installation, you should upgrade it instead of performing a fresh installation. A reinstallation can erase existing persistent storage.
This recommendation is especially relevant because Tails' usual behavior might lead one to believe that creating a new USB drive with the latest image is always the simplest solution. However, when there is persistent data that needs to be preserved, the upgrade procedure is the appropriate option.
For those who simply want to start from scratch, Tails 7.11 is also available as a new USB image. The project also provides an ISO image for other scenarios, such as using Tails with a DVD or within a virtual machine.
A small but important update for Tails
Tails 7.11 doesn't introduce a radical change to the distribution. Its objective is more specific: to fix a problem affecting Persistent Storage and keep one of the system's fundamental components up to date with the arrival of Tor Browser 15.0.20.
Precisely because of the role Persistent Storage plays within Tails, the first fix is ​​especially important. The system is designed to be temporary, but users may need to retain certain data and configurations from one session to another. When that function fails, a significant part of the distribution's practical utility is lost.
The update also maintains Tails' development model, which combines a Debian base with tools specifically selected and configured to offer privacy and anonymity. The new versions incorporate necessary fixes without turning the system into a conventional, permanently installed Linux distribution.
Tails 7.11 is now available
Tails 7.11 can now be used either by upgrading existing installations or by installing a new image. For those already using Tails 7.0 or later, the automatic upgrade allows you to move to the new version while preserving Persistent Storage.
The update is especially recommended for users affected by the persistent storage activation issue. Additionally, having Tor Browser 15.0.20 provides a more up-to-date foundation for browsing through Tor.
With this version, Tails continues to focus on its original goal: to provide a privacy-oriented portable Linux environment that can be used without installing the system on the computer and that allows explicit control over what information is retained between sessions.