Canonical has officially released Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS, the fifth maintenance update to the "Noble Numbat" long-term support release, featuring a fresh installation image brimming with the latest security patches, bug fixes, and an upgraded hardware enablement stack centered around the Linux 7.0 kernel. Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS Delivers Linux 7.0 Kernel and Updated Graphics Stack The key change in this update is the transition of the Hardware Enablement (HWE) kernel stack to Linux 7.0, which is ahead of the newer Ubuntu 26.04 LTS "Resolute Raccoon" release.
This dual-kernel strategy is a key feature of Ubuntu's long-term support (LTS) approach: administrators who prioritize stability can continue using the general availability (GA) kernel, while those needing support for newer hardware, such as recent CPUs, GPUs, and peripherals, can opt into the extended support (HWE) kernel that tracks Linux 7.0. For organizations managing large fleets, the key takeaway is that reimagining with the new 24.04.5 media saves a round of downloads, while systems already running 24.04 and receiving regular updates will automatically get the same fixes over their next update cycle.
Nine official community flavors, including Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Ubuntu MATE, Lubuntu, Ubuntu Kylin, Ubuntu Studio, Edubuntu, Ubuntu Cinnamon, Ubuntu Budgie, and Ubuntu Unity, have updated to version 24.04.5, with flavor-specific release notes covering desktop environment tweaks and application updates.
