Pull the party poppers and unpack the cake because today marks the release of Ubuntu 25.04, codenamed Plucky Puffin! This version is celebrated as one of the most polished and performant releases to date, offering ongoing support until January 2026. With plans for Ubuntu 25.10 in October, users can easily upgrade from 25.04.
Over the past six months, a dedicated team of engineers, developers, and community contributors have worked hard to incorporate numerous improvements, making this release arguably the finest yet.
For those seeking a detailed overview of what’s new, you can check the rundown of the best features in Ubuntu 25.04. If you’re short on time, you can simply head to the download section to grab the ISO.
Ubuntu 25.04 Overview
This release introduces significant enhancements starting with the installer, which now allows users to ‘replace’ an existing Ubuntu installation, manage disk partitions more effectively, and handle dual-boot scenarios better, particularly in cases where Windows BitLocker is activated.
A substantial user experience upgrade comes with GNOME 48, featuring HDR support, new well-being controls, and app notification grouping, which will certainly please users who often leave chat applications open in the background.
At its core, Ubuntu 25.04 operates on the latest Linux kernel, 6.14, paired with Mesa 25.0.x graphics drivers. Notable support is included for new Intel Arc Xe integrated GPUs and Battlemage discrete GPUs, enhancing usability for gamers and performance enthusiasts.
Key highlights of Ubuntu 25.04 include:
- Linux Kernel 6.14 – brings various enhancements
- Enhanced Installer – improved dual-boot options, ‘replace Ubuntu’ functionality
- GNOME 48 – introduces features like HDR support and grouped notifications
- Visual Updates – new icons, enhanced contrast, and new wallpapers
- New Document Viewer App – replacing Evince with upstream Papers
- BeaconDB geolocation – enhancing Night Light & timezone capabilities
- Updated Graphics Drivers – including Mesa 25.0.x and support for Intel GPUs
- NVIDIA Dynamic Boost Support – pre-enabled for compatible hardware
- Improved Security – through AppArmor profile updates
- Unified ARM64 ISO – compatible with Snapdragon X Elite laptops
- JPEG-XL Support – available out of the box
Though there are plenty of minor fixes and updates throughout, the most noticeable changes are in speed, fluidity, and overall performance.
Downloading Ubuntu 25.04
You can download the 64-bit Intel/AMD ISO from the official release server. The desktop image is over 6GB, so ensure you have a USB drive of at least 8GB.
For ARM64 devices, you can find the installer on the Ubuntu cdimage server, which also offers pre-installed IMG for Raspberry Pi devices and server images for RISC-V SBCs.
Kudos to all the engineers, developers, and community members who contributed to making this release a success! As Ubuntu continues to be the world’s most popular desktop Linux distribution, it’s exciting to see what Ubuntu 25.10, dubbed the ‘Questing Quokka,’ will bring in October!