How to check your Ubuntu version (Using the command line and GUI)

Whether installing new software, following an online tutorial, or troubleshooting an issue, one of the first questions you’ll face is, “What version of Ubuntu are you running?” Your operating system details are necessary for managing your system’s health and functionality.

The version number of your operating system determines which applications and Personal Package Archives (PPAs) you can safely install, as many are built for specific releases. It also informs you about your system’s support lifecycle. For example, knowing you are on a Long-Term Support (LTS) version confirms that you will receive critical security updates for several years.

Additionally, countless online guides tailor their instructions to a particular version, such as 22.04 or 24.04, so using the correct one prevents errors. Finally, when you ask for help on a forum or file a bug report, providing your version number is the first and most critical step toward getting a fast and accurate solution from the community.

In this quick guide, we will show you two simple methods for finding your Ubuntu version: the graphical and command-line methods.

Let’s get started!

Method 1: The Graphical (GUI) Way

If you prefer clicking over typing, Ubuntu’s graphical user interface (GUI) provides a straightforward path to find your system’s information. This method is ideal for desktop users and requires no command-line knowledge.

Follow these simple steps:

1. Open the Activities Overview. To do so, click the Activities button at the top-left corner of your screen. Alternatively, press your keyboard’s Super (Windows) key to open the same view.
2. Find the Settings Application. Once the overview is open, begin typing the word Settings. An icon for the Settings application will appear in the search results. Click on this icon to launch the program.
3. Navigate to the About Section. The Settings window will open. In the navigation panel on the left-hand side, scroll to the bottom and click on the About tab.

This will open a screen dedicated to your system’s details. Look for the OS Name line. This line displays your Ubuntu version number and its release type, for example, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.

If you are using RunCloud to manage your servers, then you can also see this information in the server dashboard summary section:

Suggested read: How to Check OS version in Linux

Method 2: The Command-Line (CLI) Way

The terminal offers the fastest way to get system information if you are a server administrator, developer, or anyone who prefers working with text-based commands. The Command-Line Interface (CLI), or terminal, is a powerful tool that allows you to communicate directly with your computer.

Even if you are not a server administrator, we recommend you try this out. These commands are simple, safe, and incredibly useful.

To begin, open your terminal. The quickest way to do this on a desktop is by pressing the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+T.

Option A: The Best All-Around Command (lsb_release)

This is the standard and most recommended command for checking your Ubuntu version. lsb_release stands for Linux Standard Base, a standardized way for Linux systems to report their identity. Using this command ensures you get clear, well-formatted information.

In your terminal, type the following command and press Enter:

lsb_release -a

Your screen will display an output similar to this. Let’s break down what each line means:

• Distributor ID: This simply confirms that your operating system is Ubuntu.
• Description: This is the most important line for most users. It provides the full, human-readable version name, such as Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. The “LTS” signifies a Long-Term Support release, guaranteeing five-year security updates.
• Release: This shows you just the version number (24.04), which can be useful for scripts or when a guide asks only for the number.
• Codename: Every Ubuntu version has a unique, alliterative codename (such as “Noble Numbat” or “Jammy Jellyfish”).

The Codename is more than just a name. You will often use it when adding new software sources, known as PPAs (Personal Package Archives), to your system. The codename ensures you download the correct package built specifically for your version of Ubuntu.

Option B: Checking the /etc/os-release file

This alternative method is wonderfully simple and works on nearly all modern Linux systems, not just Ubuntu. Instead of running a specific program, this command directly reads and displays the contents of a system configuration file.

Type the following command into your terminal and press Enter:

cat /etc/os-release

The cat command is a classic utility used to display the contents of files. Here, you are asking it to show you what’s inside the os-release file located in the /etc directory.

While that looks like a lot of information, you only need to focus on one line. The PRETTY_NAME variable gives you exactly what you need in a clean, easy-to-read format: “Ubuntu 24.04 LTS”.

Bonus Tip: Checking Your System Architecture (32-bit or 64-bit)

Knowing your Ubuntu version is important, but sometimes it’s only half the story. When you visit a software download page, you will often see different files listed for the version and the architecture. This refers to the type of processor your computer uses. Installing software built for the wrong architecture will simply not work, so it’s an essential piece of information to have.

Thankfully, finding your system’s architecture is as easy as finding its version. In your terminal, run the following command:

uname -m

On most modern desktop and laptop computers, the command will almost always output: x86_64. This indicates you are running a 64-bit system. You will often see this referred to as amd64 in software package names.

However, you might encounter a different output, especially on cloud servers or single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi. For example, we see a different result when we run this command on our cloud server managed by RunCloud:

An output of aarch64 (or sometimes arm64) indicates that the server uses an ARM-based processor. Many people and cloud providers now choose ARM because these processors are designed to be extremely power-efficient. This efficiency means they consume less electricity to perform their tasks, directly translating into lower operational and hosting costs.

So, if you’re using a modern, cost-effective cloud server, don’t be surprised to find it’s running on an ARM architecture.

Combining your version (24.04 LTS) with your architecture (x86_64 or aarch64) gives you all the information you need to download the correct software package every time.

If you are a RunCloud user, you can get this information directly from your server dashboard summary:

Ubuntu Version Reference Cheat Sheet

Final Thoughts

Whether you prefer the visual approach of clicking through the Settings panel or the speed of typing a quick command in the terminal, you can now instantly find both your Ubuntu version and system architecture.

Knowing your system’s details is the first step to becoming a more confident and capable Ubuntu user.

Do you have a favorite method or a useful tip we didn’t cover? Let us know in the comments below!

If you manage one or more servers, there’s an even easier way. Constantly logging in to a terminal just to check basic stats can be time-consuming. RunCloud allows you to directly check the Ubuntu version of your server from the RunCloud dashboard, alongside other critical server health information. RunCloud makes it incredibly easy to manage your Linux servers by providing a clean, powerful interface for tasks that would otherwise require complex command-line work.

Ready to take the complexity out of managing your Linux servers?

Sign up for RunCloud today and see how effortless server management can be.