Here you can download the official Ubuntu 24.04 LTS “Noble Numbat” ISO for free.
Ubuntu 24.04 Noble Numbat is a long-term support release that was released on 25 April 2024. It is based on systemd v255.4 and Linux kernel 6.8, which includes supports for more gamepads and better swap memory handling. Raspberry Pi users no longer need to install its own package for bluetooth support, and the year 2038 problem has been patched for 32-bit armhf systems, which will no longer have their own images in future major releases. The release coincides with the release of Netplan v1.0, the default network configuration tool since 23.10. System image size has been reduced by 200 MB.
As part of an upgrade to GNOME 46, many apps have been updated to use libadwaita and GTK4. Nautilus, the file manager, has received several quality-of-life features, and Wi-Fi settings now include an option to generate a QR code for network credentials. Notifications now include a header for the sender app’s name, settings have been reorganized, touch users now tap to click by default, and users can now log in from a remote desktop.
Cheese, a Photo Booth-like camera app, has been replaced by GNOME Snapshot in the extended install, and GNOME Games is now never bundled on install. Thunderbird is now provided as only its snap version.
Abishek of It’s Foss News strongly criticized the LTS release for not changing behavior from 23.10, the last release, that by default made users unable to graphically install .deb packages, the most popular format for distributing software. Combined with the App Center, a recommended application to open the package with, freezing when attempting to open a .deb file, along with .deb’s being opened with the archive extractor by default in 20.04, he argued that this was indicative of Canonical resorting to sabotaging user experience to promote their own products—in this case, snap packages. Conversely, It’s Foss praised other aspects of the release as “a near-perfect upgrade”. By July 15, the App Center received the ability to install .deb packages (while providing a warning), though they still cannot be managed even if installed from the App Center’s store.
Desktop image
The desktop image allows you to try Ubuntu without changing your computer at all, and at your option to install it permanently later. This type of image is what most people will want to use. You will need at least 1024MiB of RAM to install from this image.
64-bit PC (AMD64) desktop image
Choose this if you have a computer based on the AMD64 or EM64T architecture (e.g., Athlon64, Opteron, EM64T Xeon, Core 2). Choose this if you are at all unsure.
Server install image
The server install image allows you to install Ubuntu permanently on a computer for use as a server. It will not install a graphical user interface.
64-bit PC (AMD64) server install image
Choose this if you have a computer based on the AMD64 or EM64T architecture (e.g., Athlon64, Opteron, EM64T Xeon, Core 2). Choose this if you are at all unsure.
