{"id":20908,"date":"2026-03-06T12:45:43","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T12:45:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/?p=20908"},"modified":"2026-03-06T12:45:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T12:45:43","slug":"ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/","title":{"rendered":"5 ways to check your ubuntu version (GUI &#038; Command Line)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<div class=\"kk-star-ratings kksr-auto kksr-align-left kksr-valign-top\"\n    data-payload='{&quot;align&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;20908&quot;,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;valign&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;ignore&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;reference&quot;:&quot;auto&quot;,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;count&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;legendonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;readonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;score&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;starsonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;best&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;gap&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;greet&quot;:&quot;Votre note nous aide \u00e0 am\u00e9liorer nos contenus ! Partagez\u00a0votre\u00a0avis.&quot;,&quot;legend&quot;:&quot;0\\\/5 - (0 votes)&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;23&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;5 ways to check your ubuntu version (GUI \\u0026amp; Command Line)&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;_legend&quot;:&quot;{score}\\\/{best} - ({count} {votes})&quot;,&quot;font_factor&quot;:&quot;1.25&quot;}'>\n            \n<div class=\"kksr-stars\">\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-inactive\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"1\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 23px; height: 23px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"2\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 23px; height: 23px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"3\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 23px; height: 23px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"4\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 23px; height: 23px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"5\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 23px; height: 23px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-active\" style=\"width: 0px;\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 23px; height: 23px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 23px; height: 23px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 23px; height: 23px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 23px; height: 23px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 23px; height: 23px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n                \n\n<div class=\"kksr-legend\" style=\"font-size: 18.4px;\">\n            <span class=\"kksr-muted\">Votre note nous aide \u00e0 am\u00e9liorer nos contenus ! Partagez\u00a0votre\u00a0avis.<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Knowing which version of Ubuntu you&#8217;re running is one of those small details that can make a big difference. Whether you&#8217;re troubleshooting a stubborn error, verifying software compatibility, or planning your next system upgrade, having that version number on hand saves time and eliminates guesswork.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Ubuntu releases a new version every six months, each with its own codename and version number. Long-term support (LTS) releases\u2014like Ubuntu 24.04 LTS &#8220;Noble Numbat,&#8221; which was released on April 25, 2024\u2014receive five years of standard security maintenance from Canonical. Interim releases, on the other hand, come with nine months of updates before they reach end-of-life. That distinction matters. Running an unsupported version means missing out on critical security patches, which can leave your system exposed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">The good news? Checking your Ubuntu version takes less than a minute. This guide walks you through five reliable methods\u2014from a simple point-and-click in the GUI to a handful of terminal commands\u2014so you can find the one that works best for you.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">R\u00e9cap \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #515151;color:#515151\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #515151;color:#515151\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#Why_it_matters_When_youll_need_your_ubuntu_version\" >Why it matters: When you&#8217;ll need your ubuntu version<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#Understanding_ubuntus_version_numbering_system\" >Understanding ubuntu&#8217;s version numbering system<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#Method_1_Check_your_ubuntu_version_via_the_GUI\" >Method 1: Check your ubuntu version via the GUI<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#Method_2_Use_the_lsb_release_-a_command\" >Method 2: Use the lsb_release -a command<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#Method_3_Read_the_etcos-release_file\" >Method 3: Read the \/etc\/os-release file<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#Method_4_Check_the_etcissue_file\" >Method 4: Check the \/etc\/issue file<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#Method_5_Use_the_hostnamectl_command\" >Method 5: Use the hostnamectl command<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#Quick_comparison_Which_method_should_you_use\" >Quick comparison: Which method should you use ?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#How_often_should_I_check_my_ubuntu_version\" >How often should I check my ubuntu version?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#Whats_the_difference_between_LTS_and_non-LTS_versions\" >What&#8217;s the difference between LTS and non-LTS versions?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#Do_I_need_admin_sudo_privileges_to_check_my_Ubuntu_version\" >Do I need admin (sudo) privileges to check my Ubuntu version?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#What_if_lsb_release_isnt_available_on_my_system\" >What if lsb_release isn&#8217;t available on my system?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#How_do_I_check_the_Linux_kernel_version_separately_from_the_Ubuntu_version\" >How do I check the Linux kernel version separately from the Ubuntu version?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#How_do_I_upgrade_to_a_newer_Ubuntu_version\" >How do I upgrade to a newer Ubuntu version?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#The_version_number_is_just_the_beginning\" >The version number is just the beginning<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"font-semibold pdf-heading-class-replace pb-xxs text-xl leading-[40px] [&amp;:not(:first-child)]:pt-[21px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px]\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_it_matters_When_youll_need_your_ubuntu_version\"><\/span>Why it matters: When you&#8217;ll need your ubuntu version<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Before diving into the how, it&#8217;s worth being clear about the why. Here are the situations where knowing your Ubuntu version makes a real difference:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"pb-xxs pt-[9px] list-disc pl-5xl pt-[5px]\">\n<li class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0\" value=\"1\"><b><strong class=\"font-semibold\">Software compatibility:<\/strong><\/b> Many applications specify which Ubuntu versions they support. Installing software on an incompatible release can result in errors, missing dependencies, or broken functionality.<\/li>\n<li class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0\" value=\"2\"><b><strong class=\"font-semibold\">Security updates:<\/strong><\/b> Ubuntu regularly patches vulnerabilities. Knowing your version helps you confirm you&#8217;re still within the supported window\u2014and prompts action if you&#8217;re not.<\/li>\n<li class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0\" value=\"3\"><b><strong class=\"font-semibold\">Troubleshooting:<\/strong><\/b> When you reach out for technical support, version information is almost always the first thing asked for. Having it ready speeds up every support interaction.<\/li>\n<li class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0\" value=\"4\"><b><strong class=\"font-semibold\">Upgrade planning:<\/strong><\/b> Not all hardware handles the jump to a new Ubuntu release equally well. Checking your current version is the natural first step before planning any upgrade.<\/li>\n<li class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0\" value=\"5\"><b><strong class=\"font-semibold\">System administration:<\/strong><\/b> Managing multiple Ubuntu machines? Version numbers are essential for keeping software, configurations, and security policies consistent across environments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"font-semibold pdf-heading-class-replace pb-xxs text-xl leading-[40px] [&amp;:not(:first-child)]:pt-[21px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px]\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Understanding_ubuntus_version_numbering_system\"><\/span>Understanding ubuntu&#8217;s version numbering system<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Each Ubuntu release follows a <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">YY.MM<\/span><\/code> format, where <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">YY<\/span><\/code> is the two-digit year and <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">MM<\/span><\/code> is the release month. Ubuntu ships new versions in April and October, which is why you&#8217;ll always see version numbers ending in <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">.04<\/span><\/code> or <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">.10<\/span><\/code>. Ubuntu 24.04, for example, was released in April 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Alongside the version number, every release carries an alliterative codename\u2014an adjective paired with an animal, both starting with the same letter. The list progresses through the alphabet with each new release. Ubuntu 24.04 is &#8220;Noble Numbat.&#8221; Ubuntu 22.04 is &#8220;Jammy Jellyfish.&#8221; These codenames are more than just memorable nicknames; they appear in system files, package repositories, and terminal output, so you&#8217;ll encounter them regularly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Now, let&#8217;s get to it.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"font-semibold pdf-heading-class-replace pb-xxs text-xl leading-[40px] [&amp;:not(:first-child)]:pt-[21px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px]\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_1_Check_your_ubuntu_version_via_the_GUI\"><\/span>Method 1: Check your ubuntu version via the GUI<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">If you prefer working without the terminal, the graphical interface has you covered. This method works well on Ubuntu&#8217;s default GNOME desktop.<\/p>\n<ol class=\"pb-xxs pt-[9px] pl-5xl list-decimal\">\n<li class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0\" value=\"1\">Open <b><strong class=\"font-semibold\">Settings<\/strong><\/b> by clicking the gear icon in your app launcher or system menu.<\/li>\n<li class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0\" value=\"2\">Scroll to the bottom of the left-hand panel and click <b><strong class=\"font-semibold\">About<\/strong><\/b>.<\/li>\n<li class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0\" value=\"3\">Your Ubuntu version is displayed prominently on the right\u2014alongside your device name, memory, and other system details.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">That&#8217;s it. No commands, no configuration. For casual users or anyone who just needs a quick glance, this is the most straightforward route.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"AItAR23BZL\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/vps\/\">VPS or Virtual Private Server : Complete Guide (2026)<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;VPS or Virtual Private Server : Complete Guide (2026)&#8221; &#8212; Systalink\" src=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/vps\/embed\/#?secret=ky0Y73IVjp#?secret=AItAR23BZL\" data-secret=\"AItAR23BZL\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"font-semibold pdf-heading-class-replace pb-xxs text-xl leading-[40px] [&amp;:not(:first-child)]:pt-[21px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px]\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_2_Use_the_lsb_release_-a_command\"><\/span>Method 2: Use the <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">lsb_release -a<\/span><\/code> command<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">The <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">lsb_release<\/span><\/code> command is purpose-built for this task. According to the Ubuntu man page, it &#8220;provides certain LSB (Linux Standard Base) and distribution-specific information&#8221;\u2014which is exactly what you need.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Open your terminal with <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">Ctrl + Alt + T<\/span><\/code>, then run:<\/p>\n<pre class=\"relative block overflow-x-auto rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest p-3\" spellcheck=\"false\">lsb_release -a<\/pre>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">You&#8217;ll see output similar to this:<\/p>\n<pre class=\"relative block overflow-x-auto rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest p-3\" spellcheck=\"false\">No LSB modules are available.\r\nDistributor ID: Ubuntu\r\nDescription:    Ubuntu 24.04 LTS\r\nRelease:        24.04\r\nCodename:       noble<\/pre>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">The <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">-a<\/span><\/code> flag stands for &#8220;all&#8221; and displays the distributor ID, description, release number, and codename in one shot. If you only want the version number, use <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">lsb_release -r<\/span><\/code>. For just the codename, <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">lsb_release -c<\/span><\/code> does the job.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">This is arguably the most user-friendly terminal method\u2014clean output, easy to read, and widely supported across Ubuntu versions.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"font-semibold pdf-heading-class-replace pb-xxs text-xl leading-[40px] [&amp;:not(:first-child)]:pt-[21px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px]\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_3_Read_the_etcos-release_file\"><\/span>Method 3: Read the <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">\/etc\/os-release<\/span><\/code> file<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Every Ubuntu installation includes a file called <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">\/etc\/os-release<\/span><\/code> that stores operating system identification data. According to the freedesktop.org specification, this file contains &#8220;a newline-separated list of environment-like shell-compatible variable assignments&#8221; describing your OS in detail.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">To read it, open your terminal and run:<\/p>\n<pre class=\"relative block overflow-x-auto rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest p-3\" spellcheck=\"false\">cat \/etc\/os-release<\/pre>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">The output will look something like this:<\/p>\n<pre class=\"relative block overflow-x-auto rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest p-3\" spellcheck=\"false\">PRETTY_NAME=\"Ubuntu 24.04 LTS\"\r\nNAME=\"Ubuntu\"\r\nVERSION_ID=\"24.04\"\r\nVERSION=\"24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat)\"\r\nVERSION_CODENAME=noble\r\nID=ubuntu\r\nID_LIKE=debian<\/pre>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">A few fields worth knowing:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"pb-xxs pt-[9px] list-disc pl-5xl pt-[5px]\">\n<li class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0\" value=\"1\"><b><code spellcheck=\"false\"><strong class=\"font-semibold rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">PRETTY_NAME<\/strong><\/code><\/b> \u2014 a human-readable name, suitable for displaying to users<\/li>\n<li class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0\" value=\"2\"><b><code spellcheck=\"false\"><strong class=\"font-semibold rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">VERSION_ID<\/strong><\/code><\/b> \u2014 the version number in a clean, script-friendly format<\/li>\n<li class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0\" value=\"3\"><b><code spellcheck=\"false\"><strong class=\"font-semibold rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">VERSION_CODENAME<\/strong><\/code><\/b> \u2014 the release codename in lowercase<\/li>\n<li class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0\" value=\"4\"><b><code spellcheck=\"false\"><strong class=\"font-semibold rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">ID<\/strong><\/code><\/b> \u2014 identifies the OS as <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">ubuntu<\/span><\/code>, useful for scripts that need to detect the distribution<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">This method is particularly valuable for developers and system administrators who want to parse version data programmatically. The <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">VERSION_ID<\/span><\/code> field, for instance, returns a clean numeric value with no surrounding text\u2014ideal for use in shell scripts or automation workflows.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"font-semibold pdf-heading-class-replace pb-xxs text-xl leading-[40px] [&amp;:not(:first-child)]:pt-[21px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px]\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_4_Check_the_etcissue_file\"><\/span>Method 4: Check the <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">\/etc\/issue<\/span><\/code> file<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">The <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">\/etc\/issue<\/span><\/code> file is one of the simplest places Ubuntu stores version information. It&#8217;s a plain text file, typically containing just one or two lines.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Run the following command in your terminal:<\/p>\n<pre class=\"relative block overflow-x-auto rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest p-3\" spellcheck=\"false\">cat \/etc\/issue<\/pre>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">You&#8217;ll get a concise response like:<\/p>\n<pre class=\"relative block overflow-x-auto rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest p-3\" spellcheck=\"false\">Ubuntu 24.04 LTS \\n \\l<\/pre>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">The <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">\\n<\/span><\/code> and <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">\\l<\/span><\/code> are escape sequences used when displaying the file at a login prompt\u2014they represent the hostname and terminal line. For your purposes, the Ubuntu version is right there in plain sight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">This method is fast and works even on minimal or headless Ubuntu installations where other tools might not be available. It&#8217;s not the most detailed output, but when you just need the version number quickly, it delivers.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"font-semibold pdf-heading-class-replace pb-xxs text-xl leading-[40px] [&amp;:not(:first-child)]:pt-[21px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px]\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_5_Use_the_hostnamectl_command\"><\/span>Method 5: Use the <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">hostnamectl<\/span><\/code> command<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\"><code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">hostnamectl<\/span><\/code> is a systemd utility designed to query and manage your system&#8217;s hostname. But it surfaces something extra: a snapshot of key system information, including your Ubuntu version.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Run it with:<\/p>\n<pre class=\"relative block overflow-x-auto rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest p-3\" spellcheck=\"false\">hostnamectl<\/pre>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">The output will include several fields:<\/p>\n<pre class=\"relative block overflow-x-auto rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest p-3\" spellcheck=\"false\"> Static hostname: your-hostname\r\n       Icon name: computer-vm\r\n         Chassis: vm\r\n      Machine ID: [machine id]\r\n         Boot ID: [boot id]\r\n  Virtualization: [type]\r\nOperating System: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS\r\n          Kernel: Linux 6.8.0-xx-generic\r\n    Architecture: x86-64<\/pre>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">The <b><strong class=\"font-semibold\">Operating System<\/strong><\/b> line tells you the Ubuntu version at a glance. The <b><strong class=\"font-semibold\">Kernel<\/strong><\/b> line is a bonus\u2014it shows the Linux kernel version your system is running, which is separate from the Ubuntu version but equally useful when troubleshooting hardware or driver issues.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">This method is especially handy in server environments, where it gives you a quick system overview without digging through multiple files.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"font-semibold pdf-heading-class-replace pb-xxs text-xl leading-[40px] [&amp;:not(:first-child)]:pt-[21px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px]\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Quick_comparison_Which_method_should_you_use\"><\/span>Quick comparison: Which method should you use ?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table class=\"w-max table-auto border border-neutral\">\n<colgroup>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/><\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"min-w-[48px] max-w-[400px] border border-neutral p-2 bg-neutral-100 text-left\">\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Method<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th class=\"min-w-[48px] max-w-[400px] border border-neutral p-2 bg-neutral-100 text-left\">\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Interface<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th class=\"min-w-[48px] max-w-[400px] border border-neutral p-2 bg-neutral-100 text-left\">\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Best For<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"min-w-[48px] max-w-[400px] border border-neutral p-2\">\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">GUI Settings<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"min-w-[48px] max-w-[400px] border border-neutral p-2\">\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Graphical<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"min-w-[48px] max-w-[400px] border border-neutral p-2\">\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Non-technical users, quick visual check<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"min-w-[48px] max-w-[400px] border border-neutral p-2\">\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\"><code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">lsb_release -a<\/span><\/code><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"min-w-[48px] max-w-[400px] border border-neutral p-2\">\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Terminal<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"min-w-[48px] max-w-[400px] border border-neutral p-2\">\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Clean, readable output for most users<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"min-w-[48px] max-w-[400px] border border-neutral p-2\">\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\"><code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">cat \/etc\/os-release<\/span><\/code><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"min-w-[48px] max-w-[400px] border border-neutral p-2\">\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Terminal<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"min-w-[48px] max-w-[400px] border border-neutral p-2\">\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Scripting, automation, and parsing<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"min-w-[48px] max-w-[400px] border border-neutral p-2\">\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\"><code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">cat \/etc\/issue<\/span><\/code><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"min-w-[48px] max-w-[400px] border border-neutral p-2\">\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Terminal<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"min-w-[48px] max-w-[400px] border border-neutral p-2\">\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Minimal installs, fast single-line output<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"min-w-[48px] max-w-[400px] border border-neutral p-2\">\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\"><code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">hostnamectl<\/span><\/code><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"min-w-[48px] max-w-[400px] border border-neutral p-2\">\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Terminal<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"min-w-[48px] max-w-[400px] border border-neutral p-2\">\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Server environments, kernel info included<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 class=\"font-semibold pdf-heading-class-replace pb-xxs text-xl leading-[40px] [&amp;:not(:first-child)]:pt-[21px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px]\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"font-semibold pdf-heading-class-replace pb-xxs text-lg leading-[30px] [&amp;:not(:first-child)]:pt-[15px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px]\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_often_should_I_check_my_ubuntu_version\"><\/span>How often should I check my ubuntu version?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">There&#8217;s no set schedule. Check it when you&#8217;re installing new software, seeking technical support, planning a system upgrade, or verifying that your system is still within its support window. LTS releases are supported for five years; interim releases receive just nine months of updates.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"font-semibold pdf-heading-class-replace pb-xxs text-lg leading-[30px] [&amp;:not(:first-child)]:pt-[15px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px]\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_the_difference_between_LTS_and_non-LTS_versions\"><\/span>What&#8217;s the difference between LTS and non-LTS versions?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">LTS (Long-Term Support) releases come out every two years\u2014in April of even-numbered years\u2014and receive five years of standard security maintenance from Canonical. Non-LTS, or interim, releases ship every six months and are supported for nine months. For most users and organizations that need a stable, reliable environment, LTS is the recommended choice. Interim releases are better suited for those who want early access to the latest features and toolchains.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"font-semibold pdf-heading-class-replace pb-xxs text-lg leading-[30px] [&amp;:not(:first-child)]:pt-[15px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px]\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_I_need_admin_sudo_privileges_to_check_my_Ubuntu_version\"><\/span>Do I need admin (sudo) privileges to check my Ubuntu version?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">No. All five methods covered in this guide work without elevated privileges. You don&#8217;t need <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">sudo<\/span><\/code> to run <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">lsb_release<\/span><\/code>, read <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">\/etc\/os-release<\/span><\/code>, or open your GUI settings.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"font-semibold pdf-heading-class-replace pb-xxs text-lg leading-[30px] [&amp;:not(:first-child)]:pt-[15px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px]\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_if_lsb_release_isnt_available_on_my_system\"><\/span>What if <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">lsb_release<\/span><\/code> isn&#8217;t available on my system?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">On minimal or server installations, the <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">lsb-release<\/span><\/code> package may not be installed by default. In that case, use <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">cat \/etc\/os-release<\/span><\/code> or <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">cat \/etc\/issue<\/span><\/code> as reliable alternatives\u2014these files are present on virtually all Ubuntu installations.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"font-semibold pdf-heading-class-replace pb-xxs text-lg leading-[30px] [&amp;:not(:first-child)]:pt-[15px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px]\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_check_the_Linux_kernel_version_separately_from_the_Ubuntu_version\"><\/span>How do I check the Linux kernel version separately from the Ubuntu version?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">The <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">hostnamectl<\/span><\/code> command displays your kernel version alongside your Ubuntu version. Alternatively, run <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">uname -r<\/span><\/code> in your terminal to get just the kernel version number.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"font-semibold pdf-heading-class-replace pb-xxs text-lg leading-[30px] [&amp;:not(:first-child)]:pt-[15px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px]\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_upgrade_to_a_newer_Ubuntu_version\"><\/span>How do I upgrade to a newer Ubuntu version?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">You can upgrade using the <b><strong class=\"font-semibold\">Software Updater<\/strong><\/b> application, or via the terminal with <code spellcheck=\"false\"><span class=\"rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">do-release-upgrade<\/span><\/code>. It&#8217;s good practice to back up your data before any major upgrade and to review the release notes for the target version beforehand.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"font-semibold pdf-heading-class-replace pb-xxs text-xl leading-[40px] [&amp;:not(:first-child)]:pt-[21px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px]\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_version_number_is_just_the_beginning\"><\/span>The version number is just the beginning<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Finding your Ubuntu version is a small task\u2014but it&#8217;s the foundation for making informed decisions about your system. Security, compatibility, performance optimization: they all start with knowing exactly what you&#8217;re working with.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">To recap, here are the five methods covered in this guide:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"pb-xxs pt-[9px] pl-5xl list-decimal\">\n<li class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0\" value=\"1\"><b><strong class=\"font-semibold\">GUI Settings<\/strong><\/b> \u2014 navigate to About in your system settings<\/li>\n<li class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0\" value=\"2\"><b><code spellcheck=\"false\"><strong class=\"font-semibold rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">lsb_release -a<\/strong><\/code><\/b> \u2014 the go-to terminal command for distribution info<\/li>\n<li class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0\" value=\"3\"><b><code spellcheck=\"false\"><strong class=\"font-semibold rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">cat \/etc\/os-release<\/strong><\/code><\/b> \u2014 detailed file-based output, ideal for scripting<\/li>\n<li class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0\" value=\"4\"><b><code spellcheck=\"false\"><strong class=\"font-semibold rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">cat \/etc\/issue<\/strong><\/code><\/b> \u2014 a fast, minimal single-line check<\/li>\n<li class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0\" value=\"5\"><b><code spellcheck=\"false\"><strong class=\"font-semibold rounded-xl bg-surface-subtlest px-2 py-1\">hostnamectl<\/strong><\/code><\/b> \u2014 system overview including kernel version<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"text-md font-regular leading-[24px] pb-xxs pt-[9px]\">Bookmark this page, and you&#8217;ll always have a reliable reference when you need it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Knowing which version of Ubuntu you&#8217;re running is one of those small details that can make a big difference. Whether you&#8217;re troubleshooting a stubborn error, verifying software compatibility, or planning your next system upgrade, having that version number on hand saves time and eliminates guesswork. Ubuntu releases a new version every six months, each with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":20909,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[253],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-linux"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.4 (Yoast SEO v27.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>5 ways to check your ubuntu version (GUI &amp; Command Line) | Systalink<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Need to know your Ubuntu version? Discover 5 fast methods GUI and command line to check your Ubuntu version in under a minute.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 ways to check your ubuntu version (GUI &amp; Command Line)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Need to know your Ubuntu version? Discover 5 fast methods GUI and command line to check your Ubuntu version in under a minute.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Systalink\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/18NrDhrqH3\/?mibextid=LQQJ4d\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-03-06T12:45:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1435\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Babacar Djitte\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Babacar Djitte\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Babacar Djitte\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/282bb76f5cfc89191303571579f829ed\"},\"headline\":\"5 ways to check your ubuntu version (GUI &#038; Command Line)\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-06T12:45:43+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1444,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-scaled.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Linux\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\\\/\",\"name\":\"5 ways to check your ubuntu version (GUI & Command Line) | Systalink\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-06T12:45:43+00:00\",\"description\":\"Need to know your Ubuntu version? Discover 5 fast methods GUI and command line to check your Ubuntu version in under a minute.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1435,\"caption\":\"check your ubuntu version\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Accueil\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"5 ways to check your ubuntu version (GUI &#038; Command Line)\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"Systalink\",\"description\":\"Pour un projet IT r\u00e9ussi, faites confiance \u00e0 Systalink\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Systalink\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/10\\\/Groupwhite-bg-logo-1.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/10\\\/Groupwhite-bg-logo-1.svg\",\"width\":104,\"height\":21,\"caption\":\"Systalink\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/share\\\/18NrDhrqH3\\\/?mibextid=LQQJ4d\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/systalink\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/282bb76f5cfc89191303571579f829ed\",\"name\":\"Babacar Djitte\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/aa8169147e0a731725725e336a60b95d6fb6fac25d162ba68cb60e07b075b86c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/aa8169147e0a731725725e336a60b95d6fb6fac25d162ba68cb60e07b075b86c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/aa8169147e0a731725725e336a60b95d6fb6fac25d162ba68cb60e07b075b86c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Babacar Djitte\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/systalink.com\\\/en\\\/author\\\/babacar-djittesystalink-fr\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"5 ways to check your ubuntu version (GUI & Command Line) | Systalink","description":"Need to know your Ubuntu version? Discover 5 fast methods GUI and command line to check your Ubuntu version in under a minute.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"5 ways to check your ubuntu version (GUI & Command Line)","og_description":"Need to know your Ubuntu version? Discover 5 fast methods GUI and command line to check your Ubuntu version in under a minute.","og_url":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/","og_site_name":"Systalink","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/18NrDhrqH3\/?mibextid=LQQJ4d","article_published_time":"2026-03-06T12:45:43+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1435,"url":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Babacar Djitte","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Babacar Djitte","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/"},"author":{"name":"Babacar Djitte","@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/282bb76f5cfc89191303571579f829ed"},"headline":"5 ways to check your ubuntu version (GUI &#038; Command Line)","datePublished":"2026-03-06T12:45:43+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/"},"wordCount":1444,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-scaled.jpg","articleSection":["Linux"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/","url":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/","name":"5 ways to check your ubuntu version (GUI & Command Line) | Systalink","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2026-03-06T12:45:43+00:00","description":"Need to know your Ubuntu version? Discover 5 fast methods GUI and command line to check your Ubuntu version in under a minute.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1435,"caption":"check your ubuntu version"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/ways-to-check-your-ubuntu-version\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Accueil","item":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"5 ways to check your ubuntu version (GUI &#038; Command Line)"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/","name":"Systalink","description":"Pour un projet IT r\u00e9ussi, faites confiance \u00e0 Systalink","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/#organization","name":"Systalink","url":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Groupwhite-bg-logo-1.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Groupwhite-bg-logo-1.svg","width":104,"height":21,"caption":"Systalink"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/18NrDhrqH3\/?mibextid=LQQJ4d","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/systalink\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/282bb76f5cfc89191303571579f829ed","name":"Babacar Djitte","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/aa8169147e0a731725725e336a60b95d6fb6fac25d162ba68cb60e07b075b86c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/aa8169147e0a731725725e336a60b95d6fb6fac25d162ba68cb60e07b075b86c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/aa8169147e0a731725725e336a60b95d6fb6fac25d162ba68cb60e07b075b86c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Babacar Djitte"},"url":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/author\/babacar-djittesystalink-fr\/"}]}},"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-scaled.jpg",2560,1435,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-scaled.jpg",2560,1435,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-scaled.jpg",2560,1435,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-300x168.jpg",300,168,true],"large":["https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-1024x574.jpg",800,448,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-1536x861.jpg",1536,861,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-2048x1148.jpg",2048,1148,true],"htmega_size_585x295":["https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-585x295.jpg",585,295,true],"htmega_size_1170x536":["https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-1170x536.jpg",1170,536,true],"htmega_size_396x360":["https:\/\/systalink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/check-your-ubuntu-version-1-396x360.jpg",396,360,true]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Babacar Djitte","author_link":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/author\/babacar-djittesystalink-fr\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/category\/linux\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Linux<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Knowing which version of Ubuntu you&#8217;re running is one of those small details that can make a big difference. Whether you&#8217;re troubleshooting a stubborn error, verifying software compatibility, or planning your next system upgrade, having that version number on hand saves time and eliminates guesswork. Ubuntu releases a new version every six months, each with&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20908","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20908"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20908\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/systalink.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}