Ubuntu 25.04 Features and Release Date: Here's What You Need to Know

Ubuntu is one of the most widely used Linux distributions out there, catering to both individuals and enterprises, offering a wide variety of releases that cover general computing, edge computing, IoT, and more.

Installing Ubuntu's interim release is a nice way to keep up with development before a new LTS release arrives, giving users plenty of time before they commit to a long-term replacement.

With this article, we'll be exploring Ubuntu 25.04 “Plucky Puffin”, covering its expected features ahead of release.

Ubuntu 25.04 Release Schedule

Before we proceed, do keep in mind that I have referred to the official roadmap for many of the things mentioned below; some things might differ when the final release drops.

1. Installer Upgrades

In a bid to refine the installation experience on dual-boot systems, the developers of Ubuntu have decided to include additional information about existing operating systems, particularly during the “Install into free space” and “erase and replace an existing Ubuntu installation” phases.

Similarly, they have worked on improving support for disk encryption, allowing for better handling of Windows BitLocker-encrypted disks, including scenarios where users have other unencrypted drives or partitions. This change eliminates the need to prompt users for disabling BitLocker when it's not necessary.

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2. Linux Kernel 6.14

Following what Canonical laid out back in 2024, Ubuntu 25.04 is all set to be distributed with the latest kernel available at freeze date, Linux kernel 6.14, that is due for a release sometime in late March 2025.

If implemented, users can expect improvements like support for Ryzen AI NPUs, AMDGPU DRM panic support, better Realtek Ethernet controller support, and more.

Of course, if any unforeseen delays occur, the Ubuntu developers may have to opt for an earlier release like Linux 6.13, but only time will tell.

3. User Interface Upgrades

Another notable change is the introduction of GNOME 48, which is still under active development and is set for a March 19, 2025 release.

Based on what we know so far, users can expect OSD notifications for headphone connections, better accessibility of the keyboard backlight quick settings toggle, improved color management and the ability to set screen time limits.

The latter of which is called “Wellbeing”. If you have used Android's Digital Wellbeing feature will find this familiar, as it helps configure screen time limit, movement reminder, eyesight reminder, and setting the screen to grayscale after the screen limit is reached.

This should help mitigate screen fatigue and eyestrain during those long work sessions. I would love a hydration reminder in there too.

4. App Updates

Addressing a major issue with the Firefox Snap, Canonical has improved support for Opensc smart cards, allowing better compatibility and functionality for users relying on smart card authentication.

Similarly, there's a strong possibility that GIMP 3.0 will be included with Ubuntu 25.04, as the third (and final) release candidate (RC3) has appeared, with it already being packaged for Ubuntu and Debian. However, if there are delays, the developers may need to stick with RC3 or include an older version.

Next up is the PDF viewer app, “Papers,” which is potentially replacing the existing Evince document viewer. Unfortunately, there has been very little discussion surrounding this, so I would consider this to be speculation.

Finally, we have improved video playback for Epiphany (GNOME Web) web browser users. This was made possible with the recommendation of the gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad package during configuration.

With this approach, those who opt-in receive broader media support, while remaining optional for those who do not want to install it.

5. Miscellaneous Changes

We'll wrap this up with a few other expected changes:

• Various performance improvements for CUPS.
• A new “Top Charts” section in the App Center.
• Inclusion of the upcoming NVIDIA 570 GPU driver.
• Possible introduction of Ubuntu Core Desktop as a preview.
• Implementation and backporting of fixes for reported issues on NVIDIA + Wayland setups.

Want to try Linux Ubuntu 25.04?

Currently, only daily builds of Ubuntu 25.04 are available on the official website. You can download it to see how things are progressing with this release, but don't rely on it for production/general use, as you will most likely face instability and things breaking.

For those who can wait, the final release date for Ubuntu 25.04 is on April 17, 2025. You can refer to the release schedule for staying updated.

💬 Are you excited to install Ubuntu 25.04 on your computer? Let me know below!