# [Test the new Persistent Storage and Wayland
support](
https://tails.boum.org/news/test_5.8-beta1/)
We are extremelly proud to present you a beta of 2 new major features of
Tails: a complete redesign of the Persistent Storage and the migration to
Wayland, which brings a better _Unsafe Browser_.
This beta also includes an easier way to enter Tor bridges in Tails by
scanning a QR code.
This work has been made possible by donations from users like you. If you like
these changes and want more, [donate now to fund our work in
2023](
https://tails.boum.org/donate/index.en.html).
We will only release these features officially in Tails 5.8 (December 20), but
you can try Tails 5.8~beta1 already!
# New Persistent Storage
Since January 2021, we have been working on a complete redesign of the
Persistent Storage.
The Persistent Storage hasn't changed much since its first release in 2012
because the code was hard to modify and improve. But, we learned from users
that the Persistent Storage could do a lot more for you if it had more
features and was easier to use.
We've worked hard since 2021 to implement a [new
design](
https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/blueprints/-/wikis/Persistent-
Storage-redesign) and completely rewrite the code in Python.
The new Persistent Storage doesn't require restarting after creating it or
each time you activate a new feature.
It will also make it easier for us to persist more settings in the future.
And finally, it's looks so much better!
# Wayland and better Unsafe Browser
Tails 5.8~beta1 replaces the deprecated X.Org display system with Wayland.
Wayland brings more security in depth to Tails by making it harder for a
compromised application in Tails to compromise or misuse another application.
For example, since [Tails
4.8](
https://tails.boum.org/news/version_4.8/index.en.html), the _Unsafe
Browser_ is disabled by default because a security vulnerability in another
application in Tails could start an invisible _Unsafe Browser_ , reveal your
IP address, and [deanonymize
you](
https://tails.boum.org/doc/anonymous_internet/unsafe_browser/index.en.html#security).
Wayland fixes this vulnerability and makes it safe to reenable the _Unsafe
Browser_ by default.
Wayland also brings in other features that were not working yet in the _Unsafe
Browser_ :
* Sound
* Uploads and downloads
* Alternative input methods for Chinese and other non-Latin languages
* Accessibility features like the screen reader and virtual keyboard
Enjoy!
# QR code scanning for Tor bridges
Tails 5.8~beta1 makes it easier to enter new Tor bridges in Tails by scanning
a QR code.
To get a QR code, you can either:
* Send an empty email to [bridges@???](
mailto:bridges@torproject.org) from a Gmail or Riseup email address.
* Get bridges from <
https://bridges.torproject.org/> and print the QR code on paper.
We are aware that the QR codes that are currently provided are too big to be
easy to scan. We are [working with
Tor](
https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/anti-
censorship/bridgedb/-/issues/40052) to make them smaller and easier to scan.
# How to test Tails 5.8~beta1?
You can either install Tails 5.8~beta1 on a new USB stick or upgrade your
Tails USB stick with an existing Persistent Storage to Tails 5.8~beta1.
Keep in mind that this is a test image. We tested that it is not broken in
obvious ways, but it might still contain undiscovered issues.
Please, report any new problem to [tails-testers@???](mailto:tails-
testers@???) (public mailing list).
# Get Tails 5.8~beta1
## To download 5.8~beta1
### Direct download
* [For USB sticks (USB image)](
http://dl.amnesia.boum.org/tails/alpha/tails-amd64-5.8~beta1/tails-amd64-5.8~beta1.img) ([OpenPGP signature](
https://tails.boum.org/torrents/files/tails-amd64-5.8~beta1.img.sig))
* [For DVDs and virtual machines (ISO image)](
http://dl.amnesia.boum.org/tails/alpha/tails-amd64-5.8~beta1/tails-amd64-5.8~beta1.iso) ([OpenPGP signature](
https://tails.boum.org/torrents/files/tails-amd64-5.8~beta1.iso.sig))
### BitTorrent download
* [For USB sticks (USB image)](
https://tails.boum.org/torrents/files/tails-amd64-5.8~beta1.img.torrent)
* [For DVDs and virtual machines (ISO image)](
https://tails.boum.org/torrents/files/tails-amd64-5.8~beta1.iso.torrent)
## To install Tails on a new USB stick
Follow our installation instructions:
* [Install from Windows](
https://tails.boum.org/install/windows/index.en.html)
* [Install from macOS](
https://tails.boum.org/install/mac/index.en.html)
* [Install from Linux](
https://tails.boum.org/install/linux/index.en.html)
* [Install from Debian or Ubuntu using the command line and GnuPG](
https://tails.boum.org/install/expert/index.en.html)
The Persistent Storage on the USB stick will be lost if you install instead of
upgrading.
## To upgrade your Tails USB stick and keep your persistent storage
1. [Make a backup](
https://tails.boum.org/doc/first_steps/persistence/backup/index.en.html) a your current Persistent Storage in case something goes wrong.
2. We don't provide automatic an update to 5.8~beta1, but you can do a [manual upgrade](
https://tails.boum.org/doc/upgrade/index.en.html#manual) to 5.8~beta1 and keep your current Persistent Storage.
3. If you want to stop using 5.8~beta1, you can do a manual upgrade to [Tails 5.6](
https://tails.boum.org/news/version_5.6/index.en.html).
Once Tails 5.7 is out on November 22, you will have to do a manual upgrade
from Tails 5.8~beta1 to 5.7.
This work has been made possible by donations from users like you. If you like
these changes and want more, donate now to fund our work in 2023.
[Donate](
https://tails.boum.org/donate/index.en.html)
URL: <
https://tails.boum.org/news/test_5.8-beta1/>
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