Ubuntu 25.04 'Plucky Puffin' Is Here!

en / systems / linux — 2025-04-17 00:00:00

Ubuntu 25.04 “Plucky Puffin” Is Here! 🚀

Canonical has officially released Ubuntu 25.04, codenamed “Plucky Puffin”, on April 17, 2025. This interim release (supported for 9 months) brings a host of UI improvements, performance optimizations, and developer-focused features.

🆕 Key New Features & Updates

GNOME 48 & UI Enhancements

Ubuntu 25.04 ships with GNOME 48, introducing: - Notification grouping for cleaner alerts - A Wellbeing panel for screen-time tracking and limits - “Preserve Battery Health” mode to extend battery lifespan - HDR display support through system settings

Installer & Dual Boot Improvements

The new installer handles dual-boot setups more reliably, especially with Windows BitLocker. Partitioning, encryption, and warning messages are clearer and safer for new users.

Performance, Hardware & Kernel Upgrades

  • Powered by Linux kernel 6.14 with modern hardware support and power optimizations
  • Improved AI workloads on Intel GPUs
  • Enhanced support for AMD SEV-SNP confidential computing
  • Updated toolchain: GCC 15, glibc, LLVM, Python 3.13.3, Rust 1.84

Other Notable Changes

  • Papers replaces Evince as the default PDF viewer
  • BeaconDB replaces the older geolocation service for improved accuracy
  • Network improvements: IPv6, DNS-over-TLS, WPA-PSK-SHA256, and better Netplan integration

📅 Release & Support Timeline

Event Date
Final Release April 17, 2025
End of Standard Support January 2026

Ubuntu 25.04 is a non-LTS (interim) release, meaning it will receive updates for 9 months.

📝 Should You Upgrade?

If you’re running Ubuntu 24.10, upgrading is seamless and brings tangible speed and usability improvements.
For LTS users (24.04), waiting for the next LTS may be more practical due to 25.04’s shorter support cycle.

Still, for testers and enthusiasts, Plucky Puffin is one of the most polished interim releases yet.

💡 Summary

Ubuntu 25.04 'Plucky Puffin' is a fast, modern, and visually refined release that continues Canonical’s commitment to performance and sustainability.

Download it today: ubuntu.com/download