Should I upgrade to Ubuntu 24.04?

The following article will tell you what's new in this version and help you decide if it's worth upgrading now.

What's new in Ubuntu 24.04?

If you're an existing Ubuntu user, the new version - "Noble Numbat" - will deliver a reassuringly familiar desktop experience, with a few tweaks.

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Ubuntu 24.04 will have Gnome 46, but with some tweaks to the default interface to make it more like Ubuntu. The Settings menu has been overhauled. You can quickly launch it from the top right corner of the screen. The Files app has also been updated with improved search functionality.

Ubuntu's own software repository has also been updated for this version.

Should I upgrade to Ubuntu 24.04?

With the new features in Ubuntu 24.04, you may be wondering if it's worth upgrading. The main points to consider are whether you are already an existing Ubuntu user or are just curious, and whether you are willing to do a "clean" install.

If you want to try out the latest Ubuntu release, simply tari the installer image and extract it to the media you want to install on. Then run the installer from the live media like any other Linux distribution.

You can perform an in-place upgrade this way, but there are some caveats. First, your current settings may cause things to not work as expected. Second, there are often bugs in a brand new operating system release, including bugs from Ubuntu.

If you think the new installation menu is tempting enough to install on the first day it's officially available, or even download a pre-release Ubuntu build every day, you're better off with a clean install of the operating system. (If you use a beta version of Ubuntu it will probably have bugs so you probably shouldn't rely on it).

The main disadvantage of this method is that you will lose all files when you overwrite them, so you will have to archive them before upgrading and then restore them once completed.

Warning : No matter which method you use to upgrade, you should back up your important files in case something goes wrong during the installation process.

If you don't want to disrupt your existing files and are more patient, you can wait until the first point release appears a few months after the release of the new version. Ubuntu's upgrade tool will only offer version 24.04 to 22.04 users after version 24.04.1 is released. This will give the development team enough time to iron out any last-minute bugs before release.

Older Ubuntu releases are still an option

New versions of operating systems have a number of issues that need to be resolved upon release, and Ubuntu, despite being a popular Linux distribution, is no exception.

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Many computer users take the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude toward operating system upgrades for this reason. According to StatCounter, that's probably why older versions of Windows are still around.

Since LTS releases are supported for 5 years by default, you have time to decide if the upgrade is worth it. With an Ubuntu Pro subscription, you get 12 years. Registration is also free for personal use if you really want to use the operating system for a long time.

If you own an older machine, you may still want to use the older version as this will be more gentle on the hardware. You have to go to a special download page on the Ubuntu website and choose a lighter variant like Xubuntu for this purpose.

Marvin Fry

Update 04 April 2024