Ubuntu puts out a new release every six months, and the number sitting on your machine decides which packages install cleanly and how long security patches keep arriving.
Finding that number takes about ten seconds. Below are the terminal commands, the desktop route, and the kernel number that people keep mistaking for the release.
How to Check Ubuntu Version From the Terminal
Press Ctrl + Alt + T on a desktop to open a terminal. On a server, log in over SSH instead. None of these commands need root.
lsb_release -a
This is the standard way to pull distribution details, and it ships with almost every build.
$ lsb_release -a
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS
Release: 24.04
Codename: nobleWant less output? Use lsb_release -r for just the number and lsb_release -c for just the codename. If the tool is missing, install it with sudo apt install lsb-release -y.
cat /etc/os-release
This file exists on 16.04 and newer. It prints the release, the codename, and the Canonical support URLs in one go, which makes it the safest fallback when scripting.
$ cat /etc/os-release
NAME="Ubuntu"
VERSION="24.04.2 LTS (Noble Numbat)"
VERSION_ID="24.04"
UBUNTU_CODENAME=nobleSkip /etc/debian_version. It reports the Debian base your system tracks, not the Ubuntu release.
hostnamectl and neofetch
The hostnamectl command normally sets machine names, but its summary block answers the version question on the Operating System line, along with kernel and architecture.
Neofetch prints a colour panel with the logo, release, memory, and shell. Install it with sudo apt install neofetch -y. Handy if you plan to capture the output as a screenshot for a bug report.
| Command | What it returns |
|---|---|
| lsb_release -a | Distributor, description, release number, codename |
| cat /etc/os-release | Full metadata plus support links |
| cat /etc/issue | Bare release line, nothing else |
| hostnamectl | Release, kernel, architecture, virtualisation type |
| neofetch | Visual panel with release, kernel, hardware |
How to Check Ubuntu Version on the Desktop
No typing needed. This works on every build from 18.04 onward.
- Click Show Applications, the nine-dot square at the lower left.
- Search for Settings and open it.
- Scroll to the bottom of the left column and pick About.
- Read the OS Name line, for example Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.
The same panel shows OS Type, so you can confirm 32-bit or 64-bit without a second lookup.
Ubuntu Version vs Kernel Version
These two get confused constantly. Run uname -r and you get something like 6.8.0-65-generic. That is the kernel, not the release.
Think of a phone. Android 14 is the release. The engine underneath is the kernel.
| Release | Kernel | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Desktop, bundled apps, package pool, Canonical support | The layer between software and hardware |
| Support | Five years standard on LTS builds | Follows its own upstream schedule |
| Changes | New release every six months | Can be swapped without touching the release |
A kernel upgrade only takes effect after a restart, so keep the reboot command for Ubuntu within reach.
How Long Your Ubuntu Version Keeps Getting Updates
This is the practical reason to check. Canonical gives LTS builds five years of standard maintenance, extendable to ten through Expanded Security Maintenance. Interim releases stop after nine months.
Support windows per release type, based on Canonical’s published lifecycle.
If lsb_release -r returns 24.04 or 22.04, you are on an LTS build and patches keep landing. An interim number such as 25.10 means the clock runs out fast.
Which Ubuntu Version Do Most People Run
Ubuntu holds the largest share of any Linux distribution, and the LTS builds carry most of that weight. Canonical has reported that more than 60% of public cloud Linux instances run Ubuntu.
Distribution share among identifiable Linux deployments, per Linux desktop market share data.
What to Do After You Check Your Ubuntu Version
Save the typing. Add alias ubuver='lsb_release -a' to ~/.bashrc, run source ~/.bashrc, and the shortcut is yours. If the shell still feels unfamiliar, start with the basics before automating anything.
Sitting on an old interim build? Back up first, then run sudo do-release-upgrade. Routine patching stays simple with sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y.
FAQs
What is the fastest way to check Ubuntu version?
Open a terminal with Ctrl + Alt + T and run lsb_release -a. The Description line shows the full release, such as Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS.
How do I check Ubuntu version without a terminal?
Open Settings, scroll to About in the left sidebar, and read the OS Name field. It works on Ubuntu 18.04 and every later desktop release.
Is uname -r the same as my Ubuntu version?
No. uname -r prints the kernel release, like 6.8.0-65-generic. The distribution version comes from lsb_release -a or /etc/os-release.
How can I tell if I have a 32-bit or 64-bit Ubuntu?
Run uname -m. Output of x86_64 means 64-bit, while i686 or i386 means 32-bit. On the desktop, check OS Type under Settings then About.
Can I check the Ubuntu version on a server with no display?
Yes. Connect over SSH and run any of the commands above. All of them work on headless servers, containers, and cloud instances without a graphical session.
