How to Check the Ubuntu Version on Your System

Knowing which version of Ubuntu you're running is one of those basic but genuinely useful pieces of information — whether you're troubleshooting an issue, installing new software, or figuring out whether your system is still receiving security updates. The good news is that Ubuntu makes this easy to check, and there are several ways to do it depending on how you prefer to work.

Why Your Ubuntu Version Number Actually Matters

Ubuntu follows a predictable release schedule: a new version drops every six months, and Long Term Support (LTS) releases arrive every two years. LTS versions — like 20.04, 22.04, and 24.04 — receive security patches and maintenance updates for five years. Standard releases are supported for only nine months.

That distinction matters more than it might seem. If you're running an unsupported version, you're no longer receiving security patches, which creates real exposure on any machine connected to the internet. The version number also determines which software packages are available to you through the default repositories — newer versions of applications, programming languages, and drivers may simply not be installable on older Ubuntu releases without workarounds.

Ubuntu's version naming convention makes this easy to read at a glance. The number 22.04, for example, means the release from April 2022 (year.month). The codename — "Jammy Jellyfish" in that case — is the friendly label used in package management and repository configurations behind the scenes.

Checking Your Ubuntu Version via the Terminal 💻

The terminal is the fastest and most reliable method, and it works on every Ubuntu installation regardless of whether a desktop environment is present.

Option 1: lsb_release