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.
A new update notification system has been added, which Canonical says will stick an icon in your tray until you finally give in and patch your system.
“An icon will be visible in the system tray even after dismissing the notification, reminding you that updates are available, and providing a quick way to apply all the updates or open the Software Updater,” Canonical explained.
Under the bonnet, Ubuntu 25.10 swaps in sudo-rs as the new sudo implementation, adopts Dracut as the default initramfs tool, replaces the old GNU Core Utilities with Rust Coreutils, and sets Chrony as the new NTP client. TPM-backed full-disk encryption recovery management is also included, giving security-conscious users more options.
Gamers and hardware tinkerers aren’t left out either. Ubuntu 25.10 adds Nvidia Dynamic Boost support and finally fixes the suspend-resume woes. Intel fans will find improved support for new integrated and discrete Intel GPUs baked in as well.
The release also debuts Ubuntu Insights, a privacy-tuned replacement for Ubuntu Report, letting users decide what harmless system data they fancy sharing with Canonical.
On the development side, there’s a beefed-up toolchain including GCC 15.2, Python 3.13.7, LLVM 20, Rust 1.85, and OpenJDK 21 LTS, along with the Mesa 25.2 graphics stack. The Linux kernel brings initial support for RISC-V hardware with the RVA23S64 ISA profile, plus deprecation of the old linux-modules-extra packages in favour of a leaner modular setup.
Questing Quokka ships across a dozen official flavours, from Ubuntu Desktop and Server to community favourites like Kubuntu, Xubuntu, and Ubuntu MATE.
As an interim release, Ubuntu 25.10 will get nine months of support, ending in July 2026. Anyone wanting something longer-lived should stick with the 24.04 LTS Noble Numbat or hold out for next year’s 26.04 Resolute Raccoon.