How to Check Your Ubuntu Version

Knowing which Ubuntu version is running on your system helps you install the right packages, follow version-specific documentation, and apply the correct security patches.

Ubuntu publishes a new release every six months. LTS (Long Term Support) releases come out every two years and receive security updates for five years. Ubuntu Pro can extend coverage to ten years, and Canonical offers longer coverage with the Legacy add-on. Interim releases are supported for nine months.

This guide covers several ways to check your Ubuntu version from the command line.

Quick Reference #

Using lsb_release #

The lsb_release command displays Linux Standard Base (LSB) information about the distribution. It is available by default on most Ubuntu desktop installations.

To display full release information:

lsb_release -a

No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID:	Ubuntu
Description:	Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS
Release:	24.04
Codename:	noble

The version is shown in the Description line. To display only the description:

lsb_release -d

Description:	Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS

Using /etc/os-release #

The /etc/os-release file contains operating system identification data in a key-value format. It is present on every supported Ubuntu release and does not require any additional packages:

cat /etc/os-release

PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS"
NAME="Ubuntu"
VERSION_ID="24.04"
VERSION="24.04.2 LTS (Noble Numbat)"
VERSION_CODENAME=noble
ID=ubuntu
ID_LIKE=debian
HOME_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/"
SUPPORT_URL="https://help.ubuntu.com/"
BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/"
PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/legal/terms-and-policies/privacy-policy"
UBUNTU_CODENAME=noble
LOGO=ubuntu-logo

To extract only the version string, use grep :

grep PRETTY_NAME /etc/os-release

PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS"

Using /etc/issue #

The /etc/issue file contains a short system identification banner. Use the cat command to display it:

cat /etc/issue

Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS \n \l

The \n and \l tokens are placeholders for the hostname and terminal line. They are replaced with actual values on the login screen.

Using hostnamectl #

The hostnamectl command displays the hostname and other system information, including the operating system version:

hostnamectl

 Static hostname: ubuntu
       Icon name: computer-vm
         Chassis: vm 🖴
      Machine ID: a92099e30f704d559adb18ebc12ddac4
         Boot ID: 4224ba0d5fc7489e95d0bbc7ffdaf709
  Virtualization: qemu
Operating System: Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS
          Kernel: Linux 6.8.0-51-generic
    Architecture: x86-64

The Ubuntu version is shown on the “Operating System” line.

Using uname #

The uname command does not show the Ubuntu version directly. It only displays the kernel version, so use it for kernel details rather than release identification:

uname -r

6.8.0-51-generic

To see all system information:

uname -a

Checking from the Desktop #

If you are running Ubuntu with the default GNOME desktop, open Settings and scroll down to the About section (or System > About on Ubuntu 24.04). The Ubuntu version and hardware details are displayed there.

Ubuntu Version History #

Troubleshooting #

lsb_release: command not found
The lsb-release package is not installed. This is common on minimal or server installations. Install it with sudo apt install lsb-release, or use /etc/os-release instead.

Different commands show different versions
This can happen after a partial upgrade. Run sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade to complete the upgrade, then check again.

FAQ #

How do I check if my Ubuntu is 32-bit or 64-bit?
Run dpkg --print-architecture. It returns amd64 for 64-bit or i386 for 32-bit.

What is the difference between LTS and interim releases?
LTS releases come out every two years and are supported for five years. Ubuntu Pro can extend coverage to ten years, while interim releases come out every six months and are supported for nine months.

How do I check which kernel my Ubuntu is running?
Run uname -r to display the kernel version. The kernel version does not always match the Ubuntu release number.

How do I upgrade to a newer Ubuntu version?
Run sudo do-release-upgrade. On desktop systems, the Software Updater will also prompt you when a new release is available. Always back up your system before upgrading.

Conclusion #

You can check your Ubuntu version using /etc/os-release, lsb_release -d, /etc/issue, or hostnamectl. For most systems, cat /etc/os-release is the most reliable method since it requires no extra packages. If you also manage Debian servers, the same methods apply there with minor differences.

About the authors

Dejan Panovski

Dejan Panovski is the founder of Linuxize, an RHCSA-certified Linux system administrator and DevOps engineer based in Skopje, Macedonia. Author of 800+ Linux tutorials with 20+ years of experience turning complex Linux tasks into clear, reliable guides.

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