Ubuntu 25.04 vs 24.04: What’s Changed and Should You Upgrade?

Canonical has officially launched Ubuntu 25.04 “Plucky Puffin”, just a year after the release of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Long-Term Support). While both versions offer a secure Linux experience, there are key differences between them that can influence whether you should upgrade or stick with the LTS version.

In this article from the Orcacore website, we’ll explore the major changes, performance improvements, and new features in Ubuntu 25.04 compared to Ubuntu 24.04 Noble Numbat — and help you decide if upgrading is the right move for you, and start your upgrade process.

Table of Contents

Ubuntu 25.04 vs 24.04: Release Type and Support Lifecycle

Let’s start with the release type and lifecycle. As you must know, Ubuntu 24.04 is a Long-Term Support (LTS) release and it will be supported for 5 years, until 2029 (with optional extended support for 10 years).

On the other hand, Ubuntu 25.04 is an interim release with support for only 9 months (until January 2026).

Note: If stability and long-term maintenance are your priorities, 24.04 is the safer choice.

Now, proceed to the steps below to get more detailed differences.

Desktop Environment: GNOME Upgrades in Ubuntu

Ubuntu 24.04 ships with GNOME 46, which introduced smoother animations and better settings control. Ubuntu 25.04 upgrades to GNOME 48 with enhanced window management, improved file manager UI, faster system responsiveness, and better support for HDR displays.

If you’re a fan of bleeding-edge desktop features, GNOME 48 in 25.04 is a noticeable upgrade.

Kernel and Performance Enhancements

Ubuntu 24.04 is based on Linux Kernel 6.8, but Ubuntu 25.04 runs on the newer Linux Kernel 6.14, which improves hardware compatibility (especially newer CPUs and GPUs), power efficiency on laptops, and filesystem speed and reliability. The performance improvements are subtle but beneficial for newer hardware.

You can also upgrade the Linux kernel on Ubuntu 24.04 by visiting this guide on Installing Linux Kernel 6.14 on Ubuntu 24.04.

Display Server: Wayland by Default

Both versions use Wayland as the default display server, but Ubuntu 25.04 has further Wayland stability fixes and expanded support for high-refresh-rate monitors and multi-GPU setups. If you had issues with Wayland in Ubuntu 24.04, you may find smoother results in Ubuntu 25.04.

Security and System Tools

Ubuntu 25.04 introduces a Security Center Dashboard for managing firewall, updates, and vulnerability scanning in one place. It also includes Chrony with Network Time Security (NTS) for encrypted time syncing.

While Ubuntu 24.04 is extremely secure, Ubuntu 25.04 gives you easier tools to monitor and manage it all.

Development Tools & Compiler Optimizations

Ubuntu 25.04 brings in newer dev tools, including GCC 14.2, Python 3.13.2, Rust 1.84, and Go 1.24. It also compiles most packages with -O3 optimization, enhancing app performance.

It is a great option for Devs looking for faster builds and up-to-date toolchains.

Should You Upgrade To Ubuntu 25.04?

Here is a simple comparison of Ubuntu 24.04 and Ubuntu 25.04, which lets you decide better:

Feature	Ubuntu 24.04 (LTS)	Ubuntu 25.04 (Interim)
Support Duration	5-10 years	9 months
Gnome Version	Gnome 46	Gnome 48
Kernel	Linux 6.8	Linux 6.14
Security Enhancements	Standard	New Security Center, NTS
Performance Tweaks	Stable	Compiler -O3, faster desktop
Target Audience	Enterprises, general users	Power users, testers, devs

Comparison of Ubuntu 24.04 and Ubuntu 25.04

Which one is better? Ubuntu 24.04 Or Ubuntu 25.04

Ubuntu 25.04 “Plucky Puffin” is a feature-rich, high-performance release that gives you a taste of what’s coming in the next LTS. However, it’s best suited for those who:

Like staying on the cutting edge
Want the latest software stacks
Are okay upgrading every 9 months

If you’re running Ubuntu on a production system, server, or mission-critical workstation, sticking with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS is your safest bet.

You can get Ubuntu 25.04 from the official website and start the Ubuntu 25.04 installation on VMware Workstation to start working with Ubuntu 25.04 and explore the amazing features.

Also, if you plan to upgrade from Ubuntu 24.04 to Ubuntu 25.04, you can proceed to the next step.

How to Upgrade from Ubuntu 24.04 to 25.04 via CLI?

Before you start, remember Ubuntu 25.04 is an interim release. If you are on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, which defaults to not offering interim upgrades, you’ll need to enable normal release upgrades manually.

Now that you know everything, let’s start the upgrade process.

Backup Your System

Before making any upgrade, it’s important to back up important files and configurations. You can use tools like rsync, Deja Dup, or backup to an external drive/cloud.

Fully Upgrade Ubuntu 24.04

At this point, you must update and upgrade your Ubuntu 24.04. To do this, run the following commands:

# sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
# sudo apt dist-upgrade -y
# sudo apt autoremove --purge -y

Edit the Release Upgrade Prompt

Ubuntu LTS versions are set to wait for the next LTS by default. To allow interim upgrades like Ubuntu 25.04, you must edit the release upgrades. To do this, open the file with your desired text editor, like Vi Editor or Nano Editor:

sudo vi /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades

Look for the following line:

Prompt=lts

Change it to normal:

Prompt=normal

Once you are done, save and close the file.

Start the Upgrade Process

Now you can use the following command to upgrade from Ubuntu 24.04 to Ubuntu 25.04:

sudo do-release-upgrade -d

Once the upgrade completes successfully, reboot the system and log in again to check your new version:

# sudo reboot
# lsb_release -a

You should see:

Output
Description: Ubuntu 25.04
Codename: plucky

You can also clear old packages and free up space:

# sudo apt autoremove --purge -y
# sudo apt clean

After installing Ubuntu 25.04, it is recommended to do the initial settings. You can check for the Initial Settings Setup on Ubuntu 25.04.

Conclusion

Ubuntu 25.04 “Plucky Puffin” brings a fresh wave of innovation with GNOME 48, Linux Kernel 6.14, improved security tools, and faster performance, making it a solid step forward from Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. While 24.04 remains the best choice for long-term stability, 25.04 is ideal for users who want the latest features and don’t mind upgrading more frequently.

If you’re ready to explore what’s new, upgrading from 24.04 to 25.04 is straightforward using the CLI. Just be sure to back up your system, follow the upgrade steps carefully, and enjoy the best that modern Ubuntu has to offer.

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