How to upgrade Ubuntu to 25.04 and kernel to latest version

Feeling stuck in an older version of Ubuntu? Yearning for the latest features and security updates? Don't let the upgrade process hold you back! This guide empowers you to conquer the transition to the newest version, Ubuntu 25.04, and upgrade your kernel to the latest 6.12 kernel.

Upgrading your Ubuntu system is about more than just keeping up with the Joneses. It unlocks a treasure trove of benefits: access to cutting-edge features, improved performance, and most importantly, enhanced security against ever-evolving threats. Ready to experience the best of Ubuntu, optimized and protected?

This comprehensive guide unveils the secrets to a seamless upgrade process for any version of Ubuntu to the latest release. We'll equip you with the knowledge to navigate the upgrade with confidence, highlight potential pitfalls, and even walk you through the steps for installing the bleeding-edge 6.13 kernel.

The latest Ubuntu 25.04 (Plucky Puffin) contains the following improvements:

  • GNOME 46
  • Linux kernel 6.12
  • GCC 14 compiler
  • New Flutter-based App Center
  • Enhanced Rust support
  • Added support for ACPI on RISC-V
  • Enhanced the Loongarch architecture
  • Added support for Intel’s “Topology Aware Register and PM Capsule Interface”
  • Improved search functionality within the Application Overview
  • Improved boot and restore times

Before we start I want to let you know that DigitalOcean gives you $100 for free to try their services. You can run VMs or containers, deploy websites and do a lot of cool stuff, including checking how smooth the Ubuntu do 24.04 upgrade will go.

Also, it`s always a good idea to back up your files in advance rather than regret not doing so later. And WD 20TB Enterprise Gold series is now only $499.99 at Amazon. I personally own a 14TB version bought back in 2020 and really love it. All my Seagate HDDs died after a couple of years, so I bought 6TB HGST 5 years ago, which are still serving. If you didn`t know WD acquired HGST a few years back, so nowadays there is no vendor choice, only a model. But let us get to the topic.

If you prefer to watch the video instead of reading here it is

To perform Ubuntu upgrade to 25.04 you will need around 2 hours to follow these steps:

Preparation

  1. Update packages list
    sudo apt-get update
  2. Upgrade packages
    sudo apt-get upgrade
  3. Install update-manager-core package
    sudo apt-get install update-manager-core

Upgrade Ubuntu to 24.04

  1. Upgrade distro
    sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
  2. Update Ubuntu to the latest LTS release

    Run the following command until you get your Ubuntu to version 24.04:

    sudo do-release-upgrade -d
  3. Change default branch from lts to normal

    Once you update your Ubuntu to 24.04, the latest LTS version, you need to tell the update manager to get the newest short-term supported Ubuntu 25.04. But remember to back up all your important files in advance, especially if you are going to upgrade your live pc, laptop, or server. But better to test the upgrade on a VM first. The main rule - the fewer versions you are skipping the soother the upgrade process will be, so if you would like to upgrade directly from say 20.04 to 25.04 the process most likely will fail or you will get a bunch of errors and need to fix broken packages and re-run the upgrade again. So I told you - better be safe than sorry, and now let`s move on.

    sudo sed -i 's/lts/normal/g' /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades
  4. Change default distro from your current
    • 24.04 - noble (latest LTS)
    • 24.10 - oracular (latest)
    • 25.04 - plucky (development branch)

    in the example below, we are upgrading from Ubuntu 24.04 (noble) to 25.04 (plucky)

    sudo sed -i 's/noble/plucky/g' /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntu.sources
  5. Update packages list
    sudo apt-get update
  6. Upgrade packages
    sudo apt-get upgrade
  7. Run full upgrade
    sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
  8. If any error re-run
    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
  9. Run cleanup
    sudo apt-get autoremove
    sudo apt-get clean
  10. Reboot the system
    sudo reboot

Upgrade Ubuntu kernel version

  1. Change current directory to /tmp
    cd /tmp
  2. Download latest stable kernel
    wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.12.3/amd64/linux-headers-6.12.3-061203_6.12.3-061203.202412060638_all.deb
    wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.12.3/amd64/linux-headers-6.12.3-061203-generic_6.12.3-061203.202412060638_amd64.deb
    wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.12.3/amd64/linux-image-unsigned-6.12.3-061203-generic_6.12.3-061203.202412060638_amd64.deb
    wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.12.3/amd64/linux-modules-6.12.3-061203-generic_6.12.3-061203.202412060638_amd64.deb
  3. Install latest stable kernel
    sudo dpkg -i *.deb
  4. Reboot system after latest stable kernel upgrade
    sudo reboot
  5. Change current directory to /tmp
    cd /tmp
  6. Download latest mainline kernel (optionally)
    If you experience some issues with the latest stable kernel or want to test the newest release candidate you might give the latest kernel release candidate a try. But be cautious, it is still in development, and while fixing some bugs, new ones might appear. There are two ways to install latest mainline kernel:
    • sudo add-apt-repository ppa:cappelikan/ppa -y
    • sudo apt-get update
    • sudo apt install mainline -y
    or:
    wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.13-rc1/amd64/linux-headers-6.13.0-061300rc1_6.13.0-061300rc1.202412012327_all.deb
    wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.13-rc1/amd64/linux-headers-6.13.0-061300rc1-generic_6.13.0-061300rc1.202412012327_amd64.deb
    wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.13-rc1/amd64/linux-image-unsigned-6.13.0-061300rc1-generic_6.13.0-061300rc1.202412012327_amd64.deb
    wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.13-rc1/amd64/linux-modules-6.13.0-061300rc1-generic_6.13.0-061300rc1.202412012327_amd64.deb
  7. Install latest mainline kernel
    sudo dpkg -i *.deb
  8. Reboot system after latest mainline kernel upgrade
    sudo reboot

Finishing up

  1. Update packages list
    sudo apt-get update
  2. Upgrade packages
    sudo apt-get upgrade
  3. Reboot the system if needed
    sudo reboot
  4. Check the OS distro
    lsb_release -a
  5. Check kernel version
    uname -r

That`s it, now you should be running on the latest best-looking Ubuntu 25.04 and more secure latest Linux Kernel.