The latest release of KDE Plasma 5.27 is now available for Kubuntu 22.10 users through the Kubuntu backports PPA. The Kubuntu developers have made efforts to package the new Plasma release for Kubuntu 22.10, but users must add the PPA manually to receive the update, as it is entirely optional.

KDE Plasma 5.27 offers a range of new features, including an exciting new window tiling experience that allows users to create custom layouts and snap them using the Shift key. The Flatpak setting options are now available in System Settings, and there are more informative tooltips on the desktop. Users can also launch a web search from KRunner, and there are significant improvements to multi-monitor handling.

Before adding the Kubuntu Backports PPA, users must ensure that any pending updates are installed. They should also understand that the packages within the PPA are not subject to the same level of testing as regular repo updates. To upgrade to KDE Plasma 5.27, users can open a new Konsole window and run the command “sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports,” followed by “sudo apt full-upgrade” to trigger the upgrade. After giving the upgrade enough time to complete, users should reboot their system to ensure all changes are correctly implemented.

Users who wish to downgrade to the repo version of KDE Plasma 5.25 can do so using the ppa-purge tool after installing it with the command “sudo apt install ppa:purge.” To remove the Kubuntu Backports PPA and downgrade any package updates made available through it, users can run “sudo ppa-purge ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports” and then reboot their system.