Ubuntu Desktop LTS: Download the ISO and Install It Safely

Ubuntu is often the first Linux distribution people try, and it remains a sensible default for laptops, desktops and developer workstations. It comes with the GNOME desktop, a large software catalogue and wide hardware support.

LTS or interim release?

The download page offers two lines. Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS receives five years of free security and maintenance updates, which Ubuntu Pro can extend up to 15 years. Ubuntu 26.10 is an interim release with nine months of updates, until July 2027. For most people, and for any machine you do not want to reinstall often, pick the LTS. Both come as a 64-bit Intel/AMD image and an ARM 64-bit image.

Hardware you need

Canonical lists a 2 GHz dual-core processor or better, 6 GB of system memory, 25 GB of free disk space, and a USB port or DVD drive for the installer.

Check the ISO, then write the USB

Canonical’s verification tutorial uses two files from the release directory, SHA256SUMS and SHA256SUMS.gpg. Verify the signature on SHA256SUMS with gpg, then run sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS and look for “OK” next to your ISO name. A mismatch means the file is damaged or altered, so download it again.

On Windows, Rufus writes the ISO to a USB stick in a few clicks; if you keep several installers on one drive, Ventoy lets you copy the ISO over as a normal file.

Before you install

Use the live session to test Wi-Fi, sound and graphics first. If you plan to keep Windows alongside Ubuntu, back up your files and choose the install-alongside option carefully: resizing partitions always carries some risk.