Shotwell 33 is out, the first stable version of the photo manager for GNOME desktops to use GTK4.
A GTK4 port of Shotwell has been in the works since 2025. It’s the first big toolkit port the image tool has since since it migrated to GTK3 in 2012 (v0.12.0).
Yet despite the leap, the user-facing result is just a plain port; it’s not as visually transformative as gThumb’s GTK4/libadwaita port (which looks like an entirely new app)
A more substantive visual revamp using GTK4/libadwaita may follow.
For now, Shotwell 33 looks like Shotwell v32 – the benefit is more in the underlying technologies and packages that help it work on modern GNOME desktops are in sync. Linux distributions are trying to drop vestigial GTK3 dependencies where possible.
Shotwell 33 GTK4 port is now stable
There are other change in Shotwell v33, albeit nothing that’ll have non-users rushing to try it. Printing got improved, memory leaks patched, old code cleaned out and a slew of bugs were fixed – including quirks in toolbars, dialog spacing and face detection.
Desktop photo managers are not as widely used as they once were, but Shotwell is Ubuntu’s default photo manager and image editor on the live image and extended installs (it’s not included on minimal installs). It’s had that role since Ubuntu 10.10.
It’s not clear if Ubuntu 26.10 will manage to package and ship Shotwell v33 in time – it’s released rather late in the stonking development cycle. If not, no fear; lookout for this update on its Flathub or Snap Store listings, as this update is sure to land there soon.
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