FAQ

Is Arkyn OS free?

Yes. No ads, no tracking, no paywall. If it’s useful to you, a donation keeps it going.

Who makes it?

DatSov, a ProSolve Ltd brand. “Powered by DatSov · Developed by DatSov.”

Is it Ubuntu?

Underneath, yes: Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS — same archive, same kernel, same security updates. Arkyn changes the defaults, the desktop and the apps. It isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by Canonical.

What is “Sov”?

Arkyn’s name for the COSMIC desktop by System76. It’s a name, not a fork.

Can I get the ISO?

It’s in private beta: ask for access. There is no public download link yet — don’t trust one you find elsewhere.

Will it run on my laptop?

Probably, if it’s a 64-bit PC with 24 GB of disk. Try the live session from the USB stick first: what works live works installed. Real-hardware testing so far is a ThinkPad L14 Gen 2.

Do I have to encrypt the disk?

No, but you should. It’s ticked by default, and the installer explains what you’d lose by turning it off.

Can I use snaps?

No. Snap is removed and pinned so it can’t return. Use Flatpaks from the Store, or Ubuntu’s archive.

Does Arkyn collect any data?

No. There’s no telemetry, and Ubuntu’s reporting tools are removed. Software you install yourself may have its own policies.

Why are the donation addresses in Arkyn 2.1.0 different from the website?

Arkyn 2.1.0 shows an earlier set of addresses. They still reach us, but please use the ones on the donate page — they’re the permanent set, and newer releases show them too.

Is Arkyn open source?

Not yet. Arkyn is built almost entirely from open-source software (Ubuntu, COSMIC and the apps it ships, each under its own licence), but Arkyn’s own build tooling is closed source during the beta. We intend to publish it at public release. See Licences & credits.

Is there a community chat?

Not yet — a public channel will open at release. For now, email Arkyn@datsov.com.