# Arch Linux iptables now defaults to the nft backend

- Product: Arch Linux (https://whatsnew.fyi/product/arch-linux)
- Vendor: Arch Linux
- Date: 2026-04-05
- Original notes: https://archlinux.org/news/iptables-now-defaults-to-the-nft-backend/
- Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/arch-linux/releases/2026-04-05-iptables-now-defaults-to-the-nft-backend

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The old iptables-nft package name is replaced by iptables, and the legacy backend is available as iptables-legacy. When switching packages (among iptables-nft, iptables, iptables-legacy), check for .p…

- **changed** — iptables now defaults to the nft backend instead of the legacy backend
- **changed** — iptables-nft package is renamed to iptables
- **added** — iptables-legacy package provides the legacy backend for backwards compatibility