ML4W OS 2.17 Adds Wallpaper Carousel
Stephan Raabe's Arch-based Hyprland distribution update introduces a new carousel, window modes and audio controls.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Remote Work
Stephan Raabe has released ML4W OS 2.17, an Arch-based Linux distribution with a customised Hyprland tiling window manager. The update adds a wallpaper carousel, a Tiling or Floating window mode switch, a sidebar mute toggle and an audio output menu in the status bar.
Why it matters
The release refines the desktop experience for users of Hyprland-based Linux setups, adding controls for window layout and audio. Changes to default package handling also give users more freedom to swap preinstalled applications.
The ML4W OS 2.17 ISO file measures 2,781MB, and toggling floating mode for all workspace windows (SUPER + SHIFT + T) arranges them in a grid with a 16px gap. No comparator to earlier release sizes or user adoption figures is available in the source.
The players
Stephan Raabe
Stephan Raabe is the developer behind ML4W OS, an Arch-based Linux distribution built around a customised Hyprland tiling window manager.
The details
Version 2.17 adds a wallpaper carousel opened with SUPER + W or a new button beside the wallpaper selector's search field. A 'Window Mode' switch in the sidebar sets Tiling as the default with Floating as the alternative. Default packages such as Kitty, Neovim, Nautilus, GNOME Text Editor and Firefox are installed only during initial installation and not with updates.
Timeline
• November 4, 2026: ML4W OS 2.17 release reported by DistroWatch.
Market Landscape
ML4W OS builds on the Hyprland tiling window manager, a Wayland compositor that has drawn a niche following among Linux users who prefer keyboard-driven tiling. Version 2.17 extends that customised base with a Tiling and Floating mode switch, positioning the distribution among other Arch-based desktop projects built around Hyprland.
Users can now choose between Tiling and Floating window modes and open a wallpaper carousel with SUPER + W. Because default apps install only during initial setup, people can replace Kitty, Firefox or other preinstalled software without it being restored by later updates.
The takeaway
Changes to how default packages are handled give Linux users greater control over their own software choices after installation.
Further reading
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