Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I run commands as root?

A. Yes, use sudo before a command to run it as root. Be cautious, as this gives full system access.

Q. Can I upgrade from one version of RefreshOS to another?

A. No, not at this time. While you can keep your system up to date through regular upstream updates, you won't be able to upgrade directly from version 2.5 to 3.0 when it's released. However, future versions of RefreshOS will support full distribution upgrades.

Q. Can I use RefreshOS on older hardware?

A. Yes, RefreshOS is optimized for performance and can run well on many older computers.

Q. Can I use RefreshOS without an internet connection?

A. Yes, you can use most offline apps like text editors, media players, and office tools. However, updates and software installs require internet access.

Q. Does RefreshOS collect user data?

A. No, RefreshOS does not collect any user data related to system usage, behavior, or activity. We believe in respecting your privacy and giving you full control over your operating system.

The only information collected by eXybit Technologies is basic analytics related to our websites (such as visitor counts and page views), and email addresses, but only when someone voluntarily subscribes to our newsletter. This helps us understand interest in our projects and keep subscribers informed about updates.

None of this is tied back to specific RefreshOS installations or devices.

If you have any other questions about privacy or how RefreshOS works, feel free to reach out. We're happy to help.

Q. Does RefreshOS have a warranty?

A. No it doesn't

RefreshOS™ is based on Debian and inherits it's warranty structure as well. For more information you may read the EULA below, or visit the About / Support page.

End-user License Agreement

RefreshOS™, a Linux-based operating system developed by eXybit Technologies™, is built on the foundation of Debian and is distributed as free software. As such, RefreshOS is provided "as-is" without any express or implied warranties. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

By using RefreshOS, you acknowledge that the software is provided without any guarantees regarding its performance, reliability, or suitability for any specific task. eXybit Technologies™ and its contributors shall not be held liable for any damages or losses arising from the use or inability to use RefreshOS.

We encourage users to contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of RefreshOS, but please do so with the understanding that the software is used at your own risk.

Thank you for choosing RefreshOS and supporting open-source software.

Q. Does WINE come preinstalled?

A. No, WINE does not come preinstalled in RefreshOS but it can be set up using the same processes as setting up WINE on Debian.

RefreshOS lives on a native by default philosophy and while this doesn't come with containerization and compatibility layers, it does come with full drive support and a starting point for anyone to add what they need, without having to sift through bloat.

RefreshOS is designed to be debian for everyone, on install. A pre-configured environment that you can add anything else onto.

Q. How do I fix Wi-Fi adapter issues?

A. RefreshOS 2.5 follows Debian Stable’s upstream approach to maintain long-term stability and security, which means we use the same core components, including the Linux kernel 6.1. While 6.1 is reliable and well-tested, its age may limit support for newer hardware.

Future versions of RefreshOS will include newer kernels with broader hardware support, but in the meantime, here are a few options that may help get your Wi-Fi adapter working. For any of these, you'll need a temporary internet connection via Ethernet or a USB Wi-Fi adapter.

• Option 1: Install a Newer Kernel from Backports
  
  
  • Installing a newer kernel using backports could help fix the issue:
    
    
    Command (bash)

    echo 'deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-backports main contrib non-free non-free-firmware' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/backports.list

    
    
    Command (bash)

    sudo apt update

    
    
    Command (bash)

    sudo apt -t bookworm-backports install linux-image-amd64 linux-headers-amd64

    
    
  • Reboot the system
    
    After rebooting, you can check your kernel version with:
    
    
    Command (bash)

    uname -r

    
    This should show kernel 6.12 or newer.
  
  
  
• Option 2: Send Us Your Wi-Fi Adapter Info
  
  If you are unable to find a solution, please send us your Wi-Fi adapter details so we can take a closer look. Run the following command and email us the output:
  
  
  Command (bash)

  sudo lspci -nnk | grep -A3 -i network; lsusb; rfkill list; uname -r

Q. How do I install .deb files?

A. You can double-click the .deb file to install it with the package manager, or run sudo dpkg -i filename.deb in the terminal.

Q. How do I put RefreshOS on a USB flash drive?

A. To put RefreshOS 2.5 on a USB flash drive we recommend using Ventoy. Some other flashing tools don't want to work with this release...

Ventoy is an official testing tool in the development of RefreshOS.

Q. How do I take a screenshot?

A. Press the PrtSc key for a full-screen capture, or use the Spectacle tool (search for “Screenshot” in the menu).

Q. How do I update RefreshOS?

A. There are a couple of ways to update RefreshOS 2.5:

• Open Discover, check for updates in the lower left-hand corner of the window.


• Use the terminal:
  
  
  Command (bash)

  sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

  
  

Q. How old is RefreshOS?

A. RefreshOS™ made it's debut appearance on March 10^th, 2022 with the release candidate version 0.22.1.29_rc

Q. What are the minimum hardware requirements?

A. For the best experience we recommend minimum hardware specs of:

• 2 GHz dual-core processor
• 4 GB system memory
• 20 GB free hard drive space
• (Internet access is helpful, but not required!)

Q. What are your plans for RefreshOS?

A. Our plans for RefreshOS is to stick to the philosophy that we've adopted to be a full featured, stable, secure, and most of all native. RefreshOS is designed to be Debian for everyone, an alternative to Ubuntu, with similar user preferences, power settings, and sudo ready.

The objective is to promote more native development in Linux to build more consistency and secure the environment itself instead of containerizing everything. This doesn't mean RefreshOS isn't capable, it means it's free of deeply rooted package managers that are hard to switch from if you wanted to. We have a solid foundation for anyone to expand into what they need.

Q. What is the default package manager?

A. RefreshOS uses APT (Advanced Package Tool), the same one used by Debian.

Q. What is the password for the Live environment?

A. The password for the Live environment is "password".

Q. What’s the difference between apt, apt-get, and dpkg?

A. apt is a simplified front-end for package management. apt-get is older but still works. dpkg is lower-level and installs .deb files manually.

Q. What’s the difference between RefreshOS and Debian?

A. RefreshOS is based on Debian Stable but includes custom branding, themes, tools, and user-friendly enhancements for everyday users.

Q. When is the next release of RefreshOS?

A. The next major stable release, RefreshOS™ 3.0, is scheduled for the spring of 2026, though an official release date has not yet been announced.

Q. Where is the app store in RefreshOS?

A. RefreshOS uses Discover as its app store. You can find it in the menu or pinned to the taskbar by default.

Q. Why do I need a password for system changes?

A. For security reasons, RefreshOS requires your password to install software or change important settings.