The LibreOffice suite, developed by The Document Foundation, has recently released version 25.2. This update brings significant improvements in compatibility, security, and user experience. It thus strengthens LibreOffice's position as a reliable alternative to proprietary office suites.
Throughout 2025, several maintenance updates will further enhance this version, with bug fixes and optimizations scheduled at regular intervals. The release calendar includes interim versions, with the final update of the 25.2 series planned for the end of October 2025. These adjustments ensure increased stability and better support for file formats and features.
Extended Compatibility with OpenDocument Format 1.4
LibreOffice 25.2 now supports reading and writing of the OpenDocument Format (ODF) version 1.4. This advancement ensures better interoperability with other applications using this open standard. Users can exchange documents more easily, without fearing the loss of formatting elements or content.
User Interface Improvements
The user interface of LibreOffice 25.2 has been optimized to provide a more intuitive and customizable experience.
Application Theme Customization
Users can now customize the application theme independently of the system or desktop environment. This feature, accessible via the Tools > Options > LibreOffice > Appearance menu, allows tailoring the suite's aesthetics to personal preferences.
Improved Touchscreen Handling on Windows
On Windows, panning and zooming on touchscreen devices now work correctly. This improvement facilitates navigation and document editing on touchscreen-enabled devices, providing a smoother user experience.
Filtering Recent Documents
The recent files list, accessible via File > Recent Documents, has been enhanced with a "[x] Current Module Only" checkbox. This option filters the list to show only the documents from the currently used module, simplifying access to relevant files.
Hyphenation Control from the Properties Panel
It is now possible to control hyphenation directly from the Properties panel in the sidebar. This feature offers quick access to hyphenation options, allowing users to easily adjust the layout of their documents.
Improved Linked Image Insertion
The choice to "Link" when inserting an image is now retained for the duration of the session. This improvement makes working with linked images easier, preventing users from having to repeat this selection for each insertion.
Updated Visio Support
The libvisio library has been updated to version 0.1.8, enhancing support for Microsoft Visio files. Notable improvements include:
- Support for Visio5: the Type cell is now provided to the collector in readTextField.
- Added support for simple solid fill styles.
- Improved appearance of arrowheads.
- Fixed reading of FillStyleLst and TextBkgnd of shapes.
- Added support for DrawingUnits types.
- Support for opening .vstx files in LibreOffice.
These improvements strengthen LibreOffice's compatibility with Visio files, providing better support for complex graphic elements.
Support for Rich HTML Format
LibreOffice 25.2 enhances the import of HTML tags, including:
- Inserted text labels () are now imported as underlined text.
This improvement ensures better fidelity when importing HTML content, thus preserving the original formatting of documents.
Platform Compatibility
Windows 7 and 8/8.1 platforms are now obsolete. The Extended Security Updates program for Windows Embedded POSReady 7 expired on October 8, 2024. General support for Windows 8 Embedded Standard has ended on July 10, 2028, and extended support ceased on July 11, 2023.
Extensions and features relying on Python will not work on Windows 7 due to the update to Python 3.9, which has no official support on Windows 7. There are unofficial ways to run Python 3.9 and above on Windows 7.
Starting with LibreOffice 25.2, there can be no guarantee that LibreOffice will operate on Windows 7 or 8/8.1. Support will not be intentionally dropped at that time, and fixes for issues affecting only these platforms will still be accepted.
On non-Windows platforms, a random device (/dev/urandom) must now exist and be readable by LibreOffice.
Upcoming LibreOffice Release Schedule for 2025
LibreOffice follows a regular update cycle to ensure bug fixes, compatibility improvements, and feature additions. Here are the expected dates for the maintenance releases of LibreOffice 25.2 throughout the year 2025.
| Version | Expected Release Date | Type of Update |
|---|---|---|
| 25.2.2 | Week 13 (March 24 - March 30, 2025) | Fixes and stability |
| 25.2.3 | Week 18 (April 28 - May 4, 2025) | Minor improvements |
| 25.2.4 | Week 23 (June 2 - June 8, 2025) | Bug fixes |
| 25.2.5 | Week 29 (July 14 - July 20, 2025) | Optimization and stability |
| 25.2.6 | Week 36 (September 1 - September 7, 2025) | Advanced maintenance |
| 25.2.7 | Week 44 (October 27 - November 2, 2025) | Last update for the 25.2 series |
Conclusion
These updates ensure an optimized experience for users throughout the year. As LibreOffice is a constantly evolving open-source project, it is advisable to follow official announcements on The Document Foundation's website to stay informed about any scheduling adjustments and upcoming features.
LibreOffice 25.2 marks an important milestone in the evolution of the free office suite.
