Support for Ubuntu 25.04 ‘Plucky Puffin’ officially concludes on January 15, 2026. This short-term support release, which launched in April 2025, provided nine months of updates. Following its End of Life (EoL), the version will no longer receive security patches or updates, leaving users potentially vulnerable as no critical updates will be issued.
Although there is no immediate consequence for those who continue using Ubuntu 25.04 past its support date, it is strongly advised to consider transitioning to a newer version. Remaining on an unsupported release poses risks, as third-party software developers and repositories will also cease updates, complicating installations and app management.
For those affected, upgrading to Ubuntu 25.10, known as the ‘Questing Quokka’, is a straightforward solution and advisable unless reliant on the X11/Xorg display server. Ubuntu 25.10 features improvements such as GNOME 49, the Linux 6.17 kernel, newer graphics drivers, and introduces new applications and tools for enhanced security.
Users can easily perform an in-place upgrade using the Software Updater or terminal commands, ensuring all existing files and settings remain intact. However, be aware that any extra PPAs or third-party repositories will need manual re-enabling after the upgrade.
Ubuntu 25.10 will continue to receive security updates for six months, until around July 2026. In the future, users can look forward to upgrading to the Long Term Support (LTS) release, Ubuntu 26.04, available in April 2026, which will be supported for up to 15 years on desktops.
If you’re still on Ubuntu 25.04, consider your plans moving forward.