{"id":48175,"date":"2024-07-24T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-24T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhblog.dream.press\/blog\/?p=48175"},"modified":"2026-08-06T15:46:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T22:46:37","slug":"check-ubuntu-version","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/check-ubuntu-version\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Easy Ways To Check Your Ubuntu Version (GUI & Command Line)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ever needed to know which version of Linux you\u2019re working with?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To check your Ubuntu version, open a terminal with Ctrl+Alt+T and run lsb_release -a<\/code> \u2014 the Release line shows your version number.<\/strong> Prefer point-and-click? Open Settings, select System, then About. The five methods below walk through every option step by step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing your version helps you troubleshoot issues, avoid compatibility problems, plan hardware upgrades, and maintain good security<\/a>. This guide is written for Ubuntu, but most of these methods work on other Linux distributions, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ubuntu versions in 2026: current releases and support dates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As of August 2026, the current Ubuntu LTS release is 26.04 \u201cResolute Raccoon,\u201d released in April 2026, per Canonical\u2019s release cycle page<\/a>. Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04 LTS remain in standard support, and the latest interim release, 25.10 \u201cQuesting Quokka,\u201d reached end of life in July 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each version of Ubuntu is basically an update to the operating system. New versions come along every six months on average, and every release has its own code name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the releases you\u2019re most likely to see today:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Version<\/th>Codename<\/th>Type<\/th>Released<\/th>Standard support ends<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
26.04 LTS<\/td>Resolute Raccoon<\/td>LTS<\/td>April 2026<\/td>May 2031 (ESM to May 2036)<\/td><\/tr>
25.10<\/td>Questing Quokka<\/td>Interim<\/td>October 2025<\/td>July 2026 (end of life)<\/td><\/tr>
24.04 LTS (currently 24.04.4)<\/td>Noble Numbat<\/td>LTS<\/td>April 2024<\/td>May 2029 (ESM to May 2034)<\/td><\/tr>
22.04 LTS (currently 22.04.5)<\/td>Jammy Jellyfish<\/td>LTS<\/td>April 2022<\/td>May 2027 (ESM to May 2032)<\/td><\/tr>
20.04 LTS (currently 20.04.6)<\/td>Focal Fossa<\/td>LTS<\/td>April 2020<\/td>May 2025 (ESM to May 2030)<\/td><\/tr>
18.04 LTS<\/td>Bionic Beaver<\/td>LTS<\/td>April 2018<\/td>May 2023 (ESM to May 2028)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The \u201ccurrently\u201d numbers are point releases, which roll new patches into refreshed install media \u2014 so the third digit climbs over time (more on reading them in the FAQ below). Ubuntu 26.04\u2019s first point release, 26.04.1, is due August 27, 2026, per Canonical\u2019s release schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ubuntu 20.04 and 18.04 have left standard support and are only covered through Ubuntu Pro\u2019s Expanded Security Maintenance (ESM). Even older LTS releases, like 16.04 and 14.04, have exhausted ESM too and are now covered only by Canonical\u2019s paid Legacy add-on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike some other desktop operating systems<\/a>, Ubuntu also comes in official flavors that swap out the desktop environment: Kubuntu uses KDE Plasma, Xubuntu uses Xfce, and Lubuntu uses the lightweight LXQt, to name three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the hood, though, every flavor is the same Ubuntu base system with the same Linux kernel. That matters here for one practical reason: the Settings path in Method 2 looks different on each flavor, while the terminal commands below work identically on all of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This underlying system is what we need to investigate to find that all-important version number.<\/p>\n\n

Why you might need to check your Ubuntu version<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRemind me why I need to know my Ubuntu version again?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We hear you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several good reasons to look up your version number.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the highlights:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Checking software compatibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You might not be able to run new software on older releases, and the same goes for new updates of existing apps. A compatibility check on the Ubuntu version of your device can help you avoid any potential problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Security updates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

New versions of Ubuntu often seek to patch security weaknesses. If you\u2019re worried about a specific vulnerability, you might want to ensure you\u2019re up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Troubleshooting issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re trying to resolve problems on your device, it really helps to know your Ubuntu version number. Some problems are specific to certain releases, so almost every tech support<\/a> person asks for this information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Planning for upgrades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you plan to update your system, make sure you check whether your device can actually handle the update. There\u2019s a possibility that older devices may not meet the technical requirements for the latest Ubuntu versions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may also need a newer Ubuntu release to support newer hardware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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