- Ubuntu 21.10 was the first Ubuntu release that included the complete GNOME 40 desktop environment with GNOME 40 apps, and the Mozilla Firefox web browser as a Snap package by default.
- The developers announced that Ubuntu 21.10 is now reached end-of-life. It is recommended to upgrade to Ubuntu 22.04 (Jammy Jellyfish).
- Canonical is working on its next Ubuntu release, Ubuntu 22.10 aka Kinetic Kudu. The release is planned for October 20th, 2022. It will be supported for only 9 months.
Last May, Ubuntu announced the retirement of its Ubuntu 21.10, aka Impish Indri, which would be retired on July 14, 2022. The version was released on October 14, 2021. As it is known, it was not a long-term support version and its life span was for only 9 months.
Upgrade to Ubuntu 22.04 (Jammy Jellyfish)
Ubuntu 21.10 (Impish Indri) was the first Ubuntu release that included the complete GNOME 40 desktop environment with GNOME 40 apps, and the Mozilla Firefox web browser as a Snap package by default. It also had support for the NVIDIA proprietary graphics driver on the Wayland session. As this version is outdated now, any installations of it will become vulnerable to any kind of threats, if it is not upgraded to a newer release.
The developers recommended Ubuntu 22.04, aka Jammy Jellyfish, as an upgrade path from Ubuntu 21.10. Users were urged to move to the new version immediately. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS released earlier this year on April 21st, 2022. Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish is an LTS (Long-Term Support) release maintained for at least 5 years. The release notes can be found on this page. Canonical will actively support it with security updates and select high-impact bug fixes. In order to install the upgraded version, you may go to the Ubuntu upgrade page. Along with Ubuntu 21.10 (Impish Indri) below features reached the end of life as well.
- Ubuntu Server 21.10
- Kubuntu 21.10
- Xubuntu 21.10
- Lubuntu 21.10
- Ubuntu Studio 21.10
- Ubuntu Budgie 21.10
- Ubuntu MATE 21.10
- Ubuntu Kylin 21.10.
Currently, Canonical is working on its next Ubuntu release, Ubuntu 22.10 aka Kinetic Kudu. The release is planned for October 20th, 2022. But it will be supported for only 9 months. Therefore for long-term support, it is recommended to use Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.
FAQ
What is the latest version of Ubuntu?
The latest LTS version of Ubuntu is 22.04, also known as "Jammy Jellyfish" and it was released on 21 April 2022. Ubuntu 22.04 will be supported until 2027.
What are the system requirements for Ubuntu?
The latest version of Ubuntu's system requirements are:
- 2 GHz dual-core processor or better
- 4 GB system memory
- 25 GB of free hard drive space
- Internet access is helpful
- Either a DVD drive or a USB port for the installer media
Can Ubuntu run on older hardware?
If you have the above requirements, you can run Ubuntu. We do not recommend using the latest version of Ubuntu for older hardware, but you can try older versions of Ubuntu.
Can I run Ubuntu on a virtual machine?
Yes, you can install and use Ubuntu in virtual machines like VMWare or VirtualBox.
How do I enable Ubuntu on Windows 10?
To enable Ubuntu on Windows 10, you should be using at least Windows build 1709. Then you should enable Windows Subsystem for Linux from the Windows Features interface. Now you can download and install Ubuntu from Microsoft Store.
Can Ubuntu be installed on a virtual machine?
Yes, Ubuntu can be installed on a virtual machine. A virtual machine (VM) allows you to run an operating system within another operating system. This means that you can install Ubuntu on a virtual machine and run it on top of your current operating system, without the need to replace it or partition your hard drive. To install Ubuntu on VMWare, you can refer to our article: How to install a Linux Distro on VMware Workstation