The first Ubuntu 24.04 LTS point release won’t be released this week, as initially planned.
Ubuntu developers had been aiming to get Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS out of the door on Thursday, August 19th but has had to postpone the release due to a number of ‘high-impact upgrade bugs’ being discovered.
As a result, Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS is now due for release on Thursday, August 29th.
What is Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS?
Anyone already using Ubuntu 24.04 LTS won’t be affected by this delay.
Ubuntu point releases are an important part of an LTS in that they periodically refresh the installer image (ISO) to integrate all of the bug fixes and upgrades issued as over-the-air software updates since release (saving time for those who install it).
Later Ubuntu point releases also provide newer Linux kernel and graphics drivers versions (‘hardware enablement stack’, or ‘HWE’), back ported from the subsequent interim/short-term releases. The first point release can’t as there’s no ‘newer’ release to back-port from.
However, the first Ubuntu point in new LTS cycle is the point at which official upgrades from the previous LTS are enabled. Once Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS is released, users of Ubuntu 22.04 LTS will be notified a newer version of Ubuntu is available, and asked if they wish to upgrade.
Thus anyone wishing to upgrade to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS from 22.04 LTS doesn’t need to use command-line flags, or opt-in to non-LTS release channels to do so. It’s all officially enabled, supported, and no-fuss in-place upgrades ahoy.
But that is only enabled once the all-important first point release is out.
In light of some particularly irritating bugs that affect the upgrade process, Ubuntu has chosen to delay the release in order to, developer Lukasz Zemczak says, “make sure the experience of upgrading from 22.04 to 24.04 is adequate”.
So, if you were among those early awaiting that upgrade prompt later this week, don’t fret when you don’t see it: it’s still coming, just a little later than billed.