Aurora OS Documentation latest
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Documentation › Getting started

Introduction

What Aurora OS is, what this documentation covers and how it is organized

Aurora OS is a desktop Linux distribution built on Debian 13 “trixie”. It runs its own desktop, written for Aurora in Python with GTK 4 and libadwaita, on the Wayfire Wayland compositor (with labwc as a compatibility session). It ships as a live ISO that you can try without installing and install with a graphical installer.

What this documentation covers

Everything a user or administrator can see or change in Aurora OS:

  • Getting started: requirements, the live USB, the boot menu, installation and the first boot.
  • Sessions and login: the login screen, the two desktop sessions, what happens when a session starts, locking, idle and power.
  • The desktop: the top bar, the Aurora menu, the Control Center, notifications, the dock, Spotlight, Launchpad, the overview, workspaces, hot corners, gestures, desktop icons and widgets.
  • Windows: moving and resizing, snapping, Snap Layouts, Always on Top, animations.
  • Apps: the apps written for Aurora (Files, Task Manager, Settings, Dev Hub, Game Hub, the Assistant) and the ones included.
  • Settings reference: every page of Settings and every option on it.
  • System: updates and restarts, snapshots, backups, storage, screen time, security, networking, sharing, devices, accessibility and languages.
  • Aurora AI: the assistant, writing tools, dictation, read aloud and where answers come from.
  • Virtual machines and Troubleshooting.
  • Reference: keyboard shortcuts, shell commands, command-line tools, configuration files, GSettings keys, environment variables and file locations.

The reference pages (shortcuts, settings keys, Settings options, widgets, catalogs) are generated from Aurora's source code each time this documentation is built, so they match the release you are reading about.

Conventions

Super
The key with the Windows logo (or ⌘ on Apple keyboards). Tapping it alone opens Spotlight.
Settings → Page → Option
A path in the Settings app. Open Settings with Super+I, from the Aurora menu or from the Control Center.
monospace
Commands to type in a terminal (Super+Enter opens one), file names and settings keys.
Compatibility session
Something that only exists in the Aurora Compatibility (labwc) session.

Versions

This documentation describes the latest Aurora OS release. Aurora follows Debian trixie for the base system and the Linux 6.12 LTS kernel; Aurora's own desktop is updated through the aurora-desktop and aurora-artwork packages. See Updates and restarts.