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Download Qubes OS: official images and preparation

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English edition published on .

Historical Qubes OS 4.0 screenshot with blue and red borders around application windows.
Historical Qubes OS 4.0 screenshot supplied by the project.
Download Qubes OS
Project resources — opens a new tab

The button opens the official Qubes OS download page. On 2 November 2026, the recommended stable release was Qubes OS 4.3.2, published on 2 October. Obtain the x86_64 installation image and its signature there; the project hosts the files.

Check your computer before downloading

  • Processor: 64-bit Intel or AMD with VT-x and EPT, or AMD-V and RVI.
  • Device isolation: VT-d or AMD-Vi (IOMMU). Also check virtualisation options in the computer’s firmware.
  • Memory: 6 GB minimum; the project recommends 16 GB.
  • Storage: at least 32 GB free; 128 GB free on an SSD is recommended.

These are official requirements, not test results for your machine. Read the full requirements and reports in the hardware compatibility list. Qubes is designed for direct installation on compatible hardware; running it inside another virtual machine is not a supported installation method.

Verify the ISO signature

The official verification procedure explains the OpenPGP chain of trust. Download the ISO, its detached signature and the release signing key. First authenticate the Qubes master key through an independent source, then the release key it certifies, before verifying the ISO.

A familiar key name or a checksum downloaded from the same location does not replace that authentication. If the signature is invalid or the key is uncertain, stop preparing the installation and return to the guide’s checks.

Prepare the media and installation

  1. Back up your documents to separate media and check that you can read them.
  2. After verifying the image, follow the official installation guide to create USB media. Writing it erases the selected device’s contents.
  3. Boot the installer on compatible hardware and identify the target disk carefully before changing partitions.
  4. After installation, apply updates and learn about templates, working qubes and trust boundaries before transferring your activities.

Already using Qubes?

For an installation on the 4.3 branch, start with normal updates: the 4.3.2 image alone does not justify reinstalling. For an earlier branch, read the upgrade path and known issues in the release announcement. Keep an independent backup before upgrading.

Information checked on . Sharing illustration adapted from the official Qubes OS logo under CC BY-SA 4.0.