Ubuntu 25.04 Plucky Puffin: What to Expect in the New Update
Ubuntu 25.04, codenamed "Plucky Puffin", has been available since 17 April 2025. This release brings many practical improvements that make working with Ubuntu more enjoyable. Here's a look at what's changed and how you can benefit from the new release.
Ubuntu 25.04 will be supported for nine months until January 2026. It's an interim release for tech-savvy users who want to try out new features early. If you need a long-term stable release, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (supported until 2029) is a better choice.
With the new Linux kernel 6.14, Ubuntu now runs better on more devices:
The performance increase is particularly noticeable with games and emulators: programs like Wine run up to 50% faster, and raytracing has also been improved, accelerating image rendering by 20-30%.
The new GNOME 48 desktop brings these improvements:
There are also some new and improved apps:
The installation has been improved in several ways:
The network and system management have also been modernized:
If you program yourself, you'll appreciate these innovations:
1. Download the ISO file: Visit the official Ubuntu Website and download the Ubuntu 25.04 ISO file that matches your system (regular x86_64 or ARM64).
2. Create a bootable USB drive:
3. Boot from the USB drive: Restart your computer and boot from the USB drive (you may need to press F12, F2, or Delete during startup to access the boot menu).
4. Try or Install: You can choose to try Ubuntu without installing or proceed directly to installation.
5. Follow the installer:
Replace `/dev/sdX` with your actual USB drive path (be very careful with this command as it can overwrite data on the wrong device).
Follow the terminal prompts to complete the upgrade. The system will download the necessary packages and eventually ask you to restart.
Ubuntu 25.04 "Plucky Puffin" brings many useful improvements to your everyday life with Linux. The more modern desktop, better hardware support and optimised system components make it an update for anyone who likes to work with the latest features.
Particularly noteworthy are the new GNOME 48 desktop, the improved installation, the special ARM64 version and the focus on performance and security. If you want to take advantage of these innovations early, Ubuntu 25.04 is a good choice.
@Frank
Table of contents
How Long Will Ubuntu 25.04 Be Supported?
Ubuntu 25.04 will be supported for nine months until January 2026. It's an interim release for tech-savvy users who want to try out new features early. If you need a long-term stable release, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (supported until 2029) is a better choice.
Better Hardware Support
With the new Linux kernel 6.14, Ubuntu now runs better on more devices:
- Support for new graphics cards: AMD Radeon RX 9000 (RDNA 4) and Intel Arc "Battlemage" GPUs
- Better performance for the latest Intel processors (Core Ultra 200V series)
- For the first time, there's a dedicated desktop version for ARM64 systems, simplifying installation on ARM laptops
- Notebooks with Nvidia GPUs can now use the "Dynamic Boost" feature, which improves battery life
The performance increase is particularly noticeable with games and emulators: programs like Wine run up to 50% faster, and raytracing has also been improved, accelerating image rendering by 20-30%.
New Desktop and Improved Apps
The new GNOME 48 desktop brings these improvements:
- Smoother animations through Triple Buffering
- HDR support (works under Wayland)
- Grouped notifications for fewer distractions
- New "Digital Wellbeing" feature that helps you keep track of your screen time
- "Preserve Battery Health" mode that can extend your laptop battery's lifespan
There are also some new and improved apps:
- A new PDF reader called "Papers" replaces the older Evince reader. It's based on modern technology (GTK 4 and Rust) and works faster
- The new geolocation service "BeaconDB" automatically detects your time zone and displays relevant weather information
- Updated versions of: LibreOffice 25.2.2, GIMP 3.0.2, VLC 3.0.21, Audacity 3.7.3, Thunderbird 128.0, and Firefox 137
Easier Installation and More Security
The installation has been improved in several ways:
- You can now more easily install Ubuntu alongside a Windows system with BitLocker encryption
- Existing Ubuntu installations can be directly overwritten
- Encrypted installations with LVM are easier to set up
The network and system management have also been modernized:
- NetworkManager 1.52 offers better IPv6 support and more precise VPN configuration
- The init system has been updated with systemd 257.4
- "Dracut" is available as a new option for the initramfs system
- Improved Netplan functions for more reliable network configuration
For Developers: New Tools and Frameworks
If you program yourself, you'll appreciate these innovations:
- "Devpacks" as Snap bundles offer you current developer frameworks like Spring 6.1/6.2 and Spring Boot 3.3/3.4
- Current versions of: Python 3.13.2/3.13.3, GCC 14.2, Rust 1.84, Go 1.24, Java 24, .NET 9, LLVM 20, PHP 8.4, PostgreSQL 17, and APT 3.0
How to Install Ubuntu 25.04 Plucky Puffin
Graphical Installation
1. Download the ISO file: Visit the official Ubuntu Website and download the Ubuntu 25.04 ISO file that matches your system (regular x86_64 or ARM64).
2. Create a bootable USB drive:
- On Windows: Use tools like Rufus or BalenaEtcher
- On macOS: Use BalenaEtcher
- On Linux: Use the "Startup Disk Creator" tool or the `dd` command
3. Boot from the USB drive: Restart your computer and boot from the USB drive (you may need to press F12, F2, or Delete during startup to access the boot menu).
4. Try or Install: You can choose to try Ubuntu without installing or proceed directly to installation.
5. Follow the installer:
- Select your language
- Choose your keyboard layout
- Select whether to download updates and third-party software during installation
- Choose your installation type (alongside another OS, replace an existing OS, or use the entire disk)
- Select your time zone
- Create your user account and password
- Wait for the installation to complete and restart your computer
Terminal Installation (Server or Upgrade)
Fresh Installation - Create a bootable USB drive (Server):
# Download the Ubuntu Server ISO using wget
wget https://releases.ubuntu.com/25.04/ubuntu-25.04-live-server-amd64.iso
# If you're creating a bootable USB from terminal
sudo dd if=ubuntu-25.04-live-server-amd64.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progressUpgrade from an Existing Ubuntu Installation:
# Update your current system first
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
# Install the update-manager-core if not already installed
sudo apt install update-manager-core
# Edit the release upgrade settings to allow non-LTS upgrades
sudo nano /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades
# Change Prompt=lts to Prompt=normal
# Start the upgrade process
sudo do-release-upgrade -dFollow the terminal prompts to complete the upgrade. The system will download the necessary packages and eventually ask you to restart.
Conclusion
Ubuntu 25.04 "Plucky Puffin" brings many useful improvements to your everyday life with Linux. The more modern desktop, better hardware support and optimised system components make it an update for anyone who likes to work with the latest features.
Particularly noteworthy are the new GNOME 48 desktop, the improved installation, the special ARM64 version and the focus on performance and security. If you want to take advantage of these innovations early, Ubuntu 25.04 is a good choice.
@Frank
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Printed on: April 25, 2025 at 23:04 o'clock
