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Ubuntu 25.10 “Questing Quokka” Is Now Available for Download, This Is What’s New
Dubbed Questing Quokka, Ubuntu 25.10 is powered by the latest and greatest Linux 6.17 kernel series for top-notch hardware support and ships with the latest GNOME 49 desktop environment, defaulting to a Wayland-only session for the Ubuntu Desktop flavor, meaning there’s no other session to choose from the login screen.
Ubuntu Desktop also ships with two new apps, namely GNOME’s Loupe instead of Eye of GNOME as the default image viewer, as well as Ptyxis instead of GNOME Terminal as the default terminal emulator. Also, there’s a new update notification that will be shown with options to open Software Updater or install updates directly.
More Updates:
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Ubuntu 25.10 is Out: Here Are the Biggest Changes You'll Notice
Ubuntu continues to be one of the most popular Linux distributions worldwide. It's used by everyone from complete beginners exploring Linux for the first time to system administrators managing enterprise servers.
The project follows a predictable release schedule with new versions every six months. Long-term support releases arrive every two years in April with the promise of maintenance. Interim releases bridge the gap by delivering cutting-edge features for those who want them.
Now, Ubuntu 25.10 "Questing Quokka" arrives as the second and final interim release before Ubuntu 26.04 LTS lands in April 2026. This release introduces substantial changes, and while we've already covered what to expect from Ubuntu 25.10 in detail, this article focuses on giving an overview of the final release.
Ubuntu 25.10 'Questing Quokka' is out now | GamingOnLinux
Canonical today launched the Ubuntu 25.10 'Questing Quokka' release, bringing with it many advancements across the Linux desktop. This is an interim release so it will only be supported for 9 months until July 2026. Releases like this are work towards the next LTS (long term support) which will be due with Ubuntu 26.04 next April.
With the release you get Linux kernel 6.17 and Mesa 25.2.3 with all the latest goodies from performance improvements to new hardware support. There's some major changes with this release like Ubuntu's session being Wayland-only, suspend-resume support has been enabled in the proprietary NVIDIA driver, new default apps for the image viewer and terminal, TPM-backed Full Disk Encryption recovery key management and much more.
Canonical releases Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Quokka
The latest interim release of Ubuntu comes with compatibility enhancements at the silicon level, accessibility upgrades and a robust security posture that sets the stage for the next LTS.
Ubuntu 25.10 Released, Available to Download Now - OMG! Ubuntu
Ubuntu 25.10 is supported with updates until July 2026. Users on this version will be able to upgrade to Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (supported until 2030).
If you read this blog regularly, you’ll be up to speed on what makes Questing Quokka a quality update, as I reported on the changes often – see my full Ubuntu 25.10 feature guide for more details.
Itching to get it? Skip down to the downloads section to grab it, or learn how to upgrade from Ubuntu 25.04.
Xubuntu 25.10 released! « Xubuntu
Xubuntu 25.10 features the latest Xfce 4.20 and GNOME 49 updates. Xfce 4.20 updates feature stability improvements and enhanced Wayland support, for those adventurous enough to use it. GNOME 49 apps have received further polish and are well-suited for Xubuntu. MATE 1.26 apps are still included to round out Xubuntu’s office suite.
The final release images for Xubuntu Desktop and Xubuntu Minimal are available as torrents and direct downloads from xubuntu.org/download/.
As the main server might be busy the first few days after the release, we recommend using the torrents if possible.
We want to thank everybody who contributed to this release of Xubuntu!
Ubuntu 25.10 Officially Released with Kernel 6.17 & GNOME 49 | UbuntuHandbook
This is a new short term release with 9 months support until July 2026. New features include the latest Linux Kernel 6.17, GNOME Desktop 49, and more.
Linuxiac:
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Ubuntu 25.10 "Questing Quokka" Released, This Is What’s New
Canonical has released Ubuntu 25.10, codenamed Questing Quokka, a short-term version supported for nine months, until July 2026.
It ships with Linux kernel 6.17, bringing early support for Intel TDX, enhanced ARM64 compatibility, and updated drivers for the latest Intel Arc “Battlemage” GPUs. The new kernel also introduces improved PCIe and IOMMU support for virtualization, as well as better RISC-V platform support.
The distribution moves to systemd v257.9 and, more importantly, replaces the long-used initramfs-tools with Dracut as the default initrd infrastructure on desktop editions. This change reduces boot complexity and adds native support for Bluetooth and NVMe-over-Fabrics in early userspace.
Adding More:
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Ubuntu Fridge | Ubuntu 25.10 (“Questing Quokka”) released
Ubuntu 25.10, codenamed “Questing Quokka”, is here. This release continues Ubuntu’s proud tradition of integrating the latest and greatest open-source technologies into a high-quality, easy-to-use Linux distribution. The team has been hard at work through this cycle, partnering with the community and our partners, to introduce new features and fix bugs.
Ubuntu 25.10 introduces GNOME 49 with media and power controls on the lock screen, HDR brightness settings, and enhanced accessibility features in line with the European Accessibility Act. New apps include Loupe, a modern image viewer, and Ptyxis, a lightweight terminal emulator.
Built on the Linux 6.17 kernel, this release brings nested virtualization on Arm, early Intel TDX host support for confidential computing, and enhanced support for TPM-backed full disk encryption with passphrase support, recovery key management and better integration with firmware updates. Network Time Security (NTS) is enabled by default for more secure time synchronization.
Developer experience advances with updated toolchains for Python 3.13.7 and availability of 3.14 RC3, GCC 15, Rust 1.85, Go 1.25, OpenJDK 25, and previews of .NET 10 and Zig.
Ubuntu Studio 25.10 Released – Ubuntu Studio
The Ubuntu Studio team is pleased to announce the release of Ubuntu Studio 25.10 code-named “Questing Quokka”. This marks Ubuntu Studio’s 37th release. This release is a Regular release and as such, it is supported for 9 months, until July 2026.
Since it’s just out, you may experience some issues, so you might want to wait a bit before upgrading. Please see the release notes for a more complete list of changes and known issues. Listed here are some of the major highlights.
Kubuntu 25.10 “Questing Quokka” Released: | Kubuntu
As a community-driven flavor of Ubuntu, Kubuntu continues its mission to deliver the cutting-edge KDE software ecosystem on top of Ubuntu’s rock-solid foundation. This interim release, aligned with Ubuntu’s six-month cycle, packs in the freshest updates to Plasma, Frameworks, and applications, ensuring a smooth, performant desktop experience for millions of users worldwide.
Building on the Ubuntu 25.10 base released today by Canonical, Kubuntu 25.10 introduces Plasma 6.4 as the flagship update, alongside Qt 6.9, KDE Frameworks 6.17.0, and the latest KDE Gear 25.08 suite.
We’ve also upgraded to Linux kernel 6.17 for enhanced hardware support and efficiency. Whether you’re a developer, creator, or everyday user, this release emphasizes Wayland adoption, modern security, and seamless integration with the open source world.
Kubuntu remains completely free to download, use, and share—empowering our global community to innovate without barriers. Download it now from kubuntu.org/getkubuntu and join the conversation in our forums or IRC channels.
Lubuntu 25.10 (Questing Quokka) Released! – Lubuntu
The Lubuntu Team is proud to announce Lubuntu 25.10, codenamed Questing Quokka. Lubuntu 25.10 is the 29th release of Lubuntu, the 15th release of Lubuntu with LXQt as the default desktop environment.
With 25.10 being an interim release, it will follow the standard non-LTS support period of nine months; this means that Lubuntu 25.10 will be supported until July 2026. Our development focus going forward will be on Lubuntu 26.04 and future releases, so only critical bugfixes and security updates will be provided. If you’re a 25.04 user, please upgrade to 25.10 as soon as possible.
Xubuntu 25.10 "Questing Quokka"
Xubuntu 25.10, codenamed "Questing Quokka," is the fortieth release of the Xfce-powered Ubuntu flavor. Built on the 6.17 Linux kernel, Xfce 4.20, MATE 1.26, and GNOME 49, this release continues to deliver the fast, tightly-integrated, and user-friendly experience that Xubuntu users expect, even on modest hardware.
Today, I'll explore where Xubuntu stands as it approaches its twentieth anniversary and share what's new (and what's still rough around the edges) in this release.
Ubuntu 25.10 released
Ubuntu 25.10, "Questing Quokka", has been released. This release includes Linux 6.17, GNOME 49, GCC 15, Python 3.13.7, Rust 1.85, and more. This release also features Rust-based implementations of sudo and coreutils; LWN covered the switch to the Rust-based tools in March. The 25.10 version of Ubuntu flavors Edubuntu, Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Ubuntu Budgie, Ubuntu Cinnamon, Ubuntu Kylin, Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu Studio, and Xubuntu have also been released.
Ubuntu Fridge:
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Ubuntu Fridge | Ubuntu 25.10 (“Questing Quokka”) released
Ubuntu 25.10, codenamed “Questing Quokka”, is here. This release continues Ubuntu’s proud tradition of integrating the latest and greatest open-source technologies into a high-quality, easy-to-use Linux distribution. The team has been hard at work through this cycle, partnering with the community and our partners, to introduce new features and fix bugs.
Ubuntu 25.10 introduces GNOME 49 with media and power controls on the lock screen, HDR brightness settings, and enhanced accessibility features in line with the European Accessibility Act. New apps include Loupe, a modern image viewer, and Ptyxis, a lightweight terminal emulator.
Built on the Linux 6.17 kernel, this release brings nested virtualization on Arm, early Intel TDX host support for confidential computing, and enhanced support for TPM-backed full disk encryption with passphrase support, recovery key management and better integration with firmware updates. Network Time Security (NTS) is enabled by default for more secure time synchronization.
How-To Geek and Notebookcheck:
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Ubuntu Linux 25.10 Has Arrived
Canonical today announced the release of Ubuntu 25.10, codenamed “Questing Quokka.” This update comes with improvements across security, compatibility, and the core desktop experience and is likely very important for the long-term support (LTS) coming in 2026.
The first thing most users will notice is the new desktop, which is running GNOME 49. This is a great update, bringing a ton of polish and some genuinely useful new features. You can now control your media playback and power right from the lock screen. For those of us with modern monitors, there are new individual brightness settings for HDR displays, which is fantastic.
Beyond the GNOME shell itself, Ubuntu 25.10 has made a couple of key app swaps. The default image viewer is now Loupe, and the new default terminal emulator is Ptyxis. Both of these are sleek, modern applications that fit in perfectly with the overall refreshed look and feel of the desktop. They're built on the newer tech, making them more performant and a welcome change from the older applications they replace.
Ubuntu 25.10 "Questing Quokka" arrives with GNOME 49 and Linux 6.17 in tow
Today, Canonical pushes the Ubuntu distro forward with a new interim release on the way to the next LTS, which is scheduled to drop in 2026. Dubbed "Questing Quokka" and available for the same wide range of platforms as its predecessor, Ubuntu 25.10 sports silicon-level compatibility enhancements, accessibility upgrades, robust security, and plenty of software upgrades, both under-the-hood and in plain sight.
According to Jon Seager, VP of Ubuntu Engineering at Canonical, this new release "is a statement of intent for the next Ubuntu LTS in 2026," and the parts that he considers worthy of attention are the improved memory-safe utilities alongside the enhanced TPM-backed full disk encryption. These are some of the other highlights...
Canonical and DistroWatch:
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Canonical releases Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Quokka
The latest interim release of Ubuntu comes with compatibility enhancements at the silicon level, accessibility upgrades and a robust security posture that sets the stage for the next LTS.
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Distribution Release: Ubuntu Cinnamon 25.10
Joshua Peisach has announced the release of Ubuntu Cinnamon 25.10, the latest release from the project that integrates the popular Cinnamon desktop with Ubuntu's core system. The new version uses the 6.4.12 version of Cinnamon and updates the default desktop theme: [...]
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Distribution Release: Edubuntu 25.10
Celebrating 20 years of the project, Amy Eickmeyer announced the availability of Edubuntu 25.10 earlier today. As an official Ubuntu flavour, Edubuntu brings the freedom of the Linux desktop and the vast library of open-source education software into the classroom. [...]
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Distribution Release: Ubuntu Studio 25.10
The Ubuntu Studio team has announced the release of Ubuntu Studio 25.10. The release, which offers nine months of security updates, also introduces a few new applications and updated PipeWire support: [...]
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Distribution Release: Kubuntu 25.10
The Kubuntu project has announced the availability of Kubuntu 25.10. The new release runs Plasma 6.4, uses a Wayland session by default, and introduces Rust-based core utilities. [...]
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Ubuntu Engineering in 2025: A Retrospective
In February this year, I published Engineering Ubuntu For The Next 20 Years, which was something of a manifesto I pledged to enact in the design, build and release of Ubuntu. This week, we released Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Quokka, which was the first full engineering cycle under this new manifesto, and it seems like a good time to reflect on what we achieved in each category, as well as highlight some of the more impactful changes that have just landed in Ubuntu.
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Distribution Release: Ubuntu 25.10
Utkarsh Gupta has announced the release of Ubuntu 25.10, code-named "Questing Quokka". The latest release of the popular distribution introduces GNOME 49 and Linux 6.17: [...]
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Distribution Release: Ubuntu Budgie 25.10
The Ubuntu Budgie team have announced version 25.10 of their distribution is now available. The latest release offers nine months of support and take a step forward in Wayland support. [...]
Another variant:
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David Mohammed: Ubuntu Budgie 25.10 release notes
Ubuntu Budgie 25.10 (Questing Quokka) is a Standard Release with 9 months of support by your distro maintainers and Canonical, from Oct 2025 to July 2026. These release notes showcase the key takeaways for 25.04 upgraders to 25.10. Please note – there is no direct upgrade path from 24.04.3 to 25.10; you must uplift to 24.10 first or perform a fresh install.
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Top Things to Do After installed Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Quokka
Ubuntu 25.10, code-name Questing Quokka was released! Here are some top things to do, after installed the new Ubuntu desktop release, to make it ready to use. 1. Enable “New Documents” Context Menu option It’s been many years, GNOME still does NOT have a graphical option out-of-box to create new documents in file manager.
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Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Quokka is now available
Canonical has released Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Quokka. There are a couple of important changes in this release.
BetaNews:
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Ubuntu Linux 25.10 'Questing Quokka' arrives with memory-safe system tools and better hardware support
Ubuntu Linux 25.10, codenamed “Questing Quokka,” is now available to download. This interim Ubuntu release focuses on improving security, performance, and accessibility, laying the groundwork for next year’s long-term support version.
25.10 introduces memory-safe implementations of key tools, a refreshed desktop, and better hardware compatibility across a wider range of devices. The latest Linux release also arrives with GNOME 49, a new version of Ubuntu’s default desktop environment that includes lock screen media and power controls, improved accessibility options, and support for HDR brightness settings.
SJVN/ZDNet:
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Ubuntu 25.10 'Questing Quokka' brings an array of advances - plus some trouble
Canonical has released Ubuntu 25.10, codenamed Questing Quokka, with an array of upgrades for Linux users eager for cutting-edge features, improved security, and a new desktop experience. As my comrade in Linux, Jack Wallen, said of the beta, it comes with "a few features that could be eye-openers to longtime (and new) users."
For me, the biggest feature -- or misfire -- is the switch from the old (some might say archaic) X.org, the open-source X Window System implementation, to the modern Wayland. Both are display server protocols that provide the graphical interface. How old is X? I started using it in 1984 on an AT&T 3B2 computer running Unix System 7 Version 1. It's improved a lot since then, but under the hood, its design still looks familiar.
As you might imagine, X has its fair share of problems. But -- and this is the important bit -- all older software works well with it.
Wayland, on the other hand, with its client-side rendering, enables applications to communicate directly with the desktop compositor. This reduces graphics rendering steps and improves efficiency. Wayland also boasts a streamlined graphics pipeline, robust security architecture, improved visual quality, and a maintainable and more secure codebase.
Ade:
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Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Quokka Released with Download Links, Official Flavors and Torrents
Congratulations to Canonical and Ubuntu Community for the release of Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Quokka yesterday Thursday, 9 October 2025! This is the third interim release between last LTS, 24.04 Noble Numbat (NN), and next LTS, designated 26.04 Resolute Raccoon (RR). We presented here a compilation of all download links including the Official Flavors, mirrors, and torrents. Let's celebrate together, and download and run our computer, laptop and server with Ubuntu.
3 late pieces:
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Beta News ☛ Xubuntu Linux 25.10 released with improved Wayland support and Xfce 4.20
Xubuntu 25.10, the latest community-developed release of the lightweight Ubuntu-based distribution, is now available to download. As well as stability and usability tweaks there’s improved Wayland support. This version of the OS will receive support until July 2026.
This release follows the arrival of Ubuntu 25.10 ‘Questing Quokka’ yesterday, and offers many of the same under-the-hood improvements, including better security, performance, and device compatibility.
At the heart of Xubuntu 25.10 is Xfce 4.20. This newest version of Xfce includes performance optimizations, improved integration with modern display systems, and early Wayland support for testing the next-generation Linux display server.
While the transition to Wayland is still underway, the improvements in this release set the path for how the OS will be, boosting stability and improving its look.
Xubuntu 25.10 includes applications built on GNOME 49 that integrate well with the Xfce environment.
MATE 1.26 applications remain part of the distribution’s default suite, offering a versatile selection of productivity and office tools.
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Heise ☛ Ubuntu 25.10: Rust instead of C, Wayland instead of X11
Canonical is preparing an extensive modernisation of the distribution with Ubuntu 25.10 "Questing Quokka": The new version brings far-reaching changes to system components and the desktop environment. As the last interim version before Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, the release serves as a testing ground for technology that is due to arrive in long-term support in six months' time.
In Userland, Ubuntu is switching to Rust-based components. The traditional sudo command is replaced by the new implementation sudo-rs from the Trifecta Tech Foundation. This makes Ubuntu the first major distribution to take this step. The developers hope that the memory safety feature of Rust will result in significant security improvements compared to the original C-based implementation.
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FUDZilla ☛ Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Quokka lands
Wayland-only desktop and a Rusty twist
Canonical has unleashed Ubuntu 25.10, cheerily codenamed Questing Quokka, with a fresh Linux 6.17 kernel, a shiny GNOME 49 desktop, and a bag full of tinkering changes sure to delight or infuriate long-time users.
This release ditches the old X11 baggage altogether. Ubuntu Desktop now boots into a Wayland-only session, with no fallback option at login. If Wayland breaks, you’re on your own.
The update brings two new default apps: GNOME’s Loupe takes over from the tired Eye of GNOME as the image viewer, and Ptyxis replaces GNOME Terminal. Canonical reckons this will make your desktop experience more “modern”, though grizzled sysadmins might grumble otherwise.