Ubuntu 25.04 is out of beta at present and prepared for prime time as the most recent Linux distro launch from Canonical. Whereas it is solely an interim launch, there’s loads right here to unpack.

Nicknamed “Plucky Puffin”, this version of Ubuntu will be especially helpful to gamers as a result of it by default permits NVIDIA Dynamic Increase. When your laptop computer has a discrete GPU (that means one which is not built-in with CPU), your PC’s particular person utilization the CPU or the GPU’s capabilities fluctuates always, relying on the wants of the functions you are operating. Dynamic Increase manages the ability for each of these items, frequently allocating and reallocating energy so that every unit at all times has the optimum quantity of energy it must do its job.

This optimization operate operates through the nvidia-powerd daemon and naturally solely works with NVIDIA GPUs. So except you’ve a laptop computer with a discrete NVIDIA GPU, not an integrated GPU, then it will not be related to you.

Additionally exhibiting up with Ubuntu 25.04 is the the Linux kernel version 6.14. As at all times, the kernel launch brings its personal upgrades, together with the ntsync primitive driver that makes Wine and different Home windows compatibility layers handle assets extra effectively. There’s additionally higher help of AMD’s XDNA neural processing unit structure, and plus help for extra gaming controllers and different peripherals.

GNOME 48 is one other huge arrival. It contains a new “Wellbeing” part within the settings app, letting you observe and restrict your display screen time. The settings app additionally now permits you to handle HDR configuration when you’ve got an HDR-compatible monitor. There’s improved dual-booting with Bitlocker-encrypted Home windows installations too.

There are a number of utility updates too, together with GIMP 3.0, LibreOffice 25.2, Thunderbird 128 “Supernova,” and Firefox 137. There are library and toolchain enhancements too, together with:

• GCC 14.2
• binutils 2.44
• glibc 2.41
• Qt 6.8.2
• systemd v257.4
• OpenSSL 3.4.1
• Python 3.13 by default
• LLVM 20 by default
• Rust 1.84 by default

To study extra, try the Ubuntu 25.04 launch notes. Bear in mind this is not an LTS (Long-Term Support) Ubuntu release, so it would solely get updates for 9 months. At that time, should you’re utilizing Ubuntu 25.04, you may need to improve to what will probably be Ubuntu 25.10 to maintain getting updates.

If you wish to give Ubuntu 25.04 a attempt, you will get it from the Ubuntu download page. You will have to boot the ISO with a USB drive or launch it as a virtual machine together with your most popular virtualization software.

In some circumstances, you possibly can improve an present model of Ubuntu to Ubuntu 25.04. To verify, launch the Software program & Updates app, go to the Updates tab, and search for the choice labeled “Notify Me of a New Ubuntu Model.” Change the drop-down menu choice to “For Any New Model” to ensure you get invited to improve to 25.04. It will not occur instantly except you open Software program Updater and power an replace verify. If you wish to proceed with an improve, ensure you again up your information earlier than continuing, simply in case.

Alternatively, you possibly can run this command which is able to verify for a brand new launch of Ubuntu:

sudo do-release-upgrade -c

If it tells you an improve is feasible, then run this command and comply with the prompts:

sudo do-release-upgrade

If Ubuntu correct is not your cup of tea, maintain an eye fixed out too for model 25.04 of a number of of Ubuntu’s “flavors” debuting at present. They embrace Kubuntu, which is my most popular Ubuntu taste, and others like Lubuntu, Xubuntu, Ubuntu Studio, Ubuntu Unity, Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu Kylin, and Edubuntu.