After a two-week delay, the first Ubuntu 24.04 LTS point release is now ready to download.
The first point release delivers an updated ISO, and sees direct upgrades from Ubuntu 22.04 LTS enabled
Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS rolls together all of the bug fixes, security patches, kernel buffs, and software updates issued to users since the first release back in April as a new ISO.
Periodical refreshes to the ISO mean those who install Ubuntu 24.04 LTS don’t need to download and apply months upon months worth of updates after their install completes.
In addition, the new Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS installer images makes a handful of notable changes compared to the April editions:
- Changes to seeded snaps (e.g., App Center, Firefox) tracks
- Desktop installer gains OEM mode using autoinstall and GNOME Initial Setup
- Ubuntu 24.04.1 Raspberry Pi images also now use GNOME Initial Setup
Those changes are great, but aren’t things existing users should feel they’re missing out as they primarily affect the installation process. In the case of the seed snaps track changes, those are more to do with future-proofing for later LTS to LTS upgrades.
Yet there’s another reason why the arrival of the first point release in a new LTS series is a big deal.
LTS to LTS20 Big Changes in Ubuntu 24.04 LTSBeginning today, users on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS will start to be notified that an upgrade to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS is available. A prompt will be shown that lets them do an in-place upgrade, carrying their apps, files, and settings with them.
Prior to now, the only way to upgrade to Ubuntu 24.04 from Ubuntu 22.04 was to do so manually using the command line, and without formal guarantees from Ubuntu developers that upgrades would completely successfully — and many did not.
Now users can upgrade from 22.04 LTS to 24.04 LTS officially using the built-in GUI upgrader rather than the Terminal, and comes with assurance that in-place upgrades should complete without any major issues — though, as ever, making backups is wise.
I already run Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, do I need to upgrade?
No, as there’s not really anything to “upgrade” to since (assuming you’ve been installing updates as and when released) you already have everything here. There are no major functional differences between the version you run, and the version just released.
Does Ubuntu 24.04.1 include a new Linux kernel version?
Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS ships with the Linux 6.8.x kernel, which is the same version found in the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO issued in April.
The next Ubuntu point release will include a new Linux kernel and GPU driver following the usual Hardware Enablement stack (HWE) cadence. This back-ports the kernel and graphics stack from the newest short-term release to LTS users.
Ubuntu 24.04.2 is due for release next year with HWE from Ubuntu 24.10. Existing users of Ubuntu 24.04 will get that HWE stack as a software update, so no re-install is required.
Download Ubuntu 24.04.1 Point Release
The world and its oyster can download Ubuntu 24.04.1 images from the official Ubuntu release server page right now, or the Ubuntu homepage shortly (the latter is not always updated instantly, and it pulls the ISO from the release server page once it is).
Raspberry Pi users can skip downloading the preinstalled IMG using a web browser as the official Raspberry Pi Imager app will, in a few hours, be able to ‘see’ the point release and list it as an option in the Choose OS > General Purpose OS > Ubuntu section.
Those running Ubuntu 22.04 LTS can now officially upgrade to Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS, but precisely when the ‘a new version of Ubuntu is available’ prompt is delivered is not defined – just, sometime from today it should appear.