If you are using Ubuntu, you may need to know what version of the operating system you are running. This can help you to troubleshoot issues, install compatible software, or update your system.
In this article, you will learn how to check your Ubuntu version using various methods, both from the command line and the graphical interface.
Table of Contents
Why Check Ubuntu Version?
Knowing your Ubuntu version can help you to:
- Stay up to date with the latest features and security updates.
- Ensure compatibility with third-party software and hardware.
- Seek technical support from online forums and communities.
How to Check Ubuntu Version from the Command Line
The command line, also known as the terminal, is a text-based interface that allows you to interact with your system. You can access it by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T or clicking on the terminal icon. There are several commands that you can use to check your Ubuntu version from the command line, such as:
- lsb_release -a: This command displays Linux Standard Base (LSB) information about your distribution, including the Ubuntu version, codename, and release number.
- cat /etc/issue: This command displays the contents of the /etc/issue file, which contains a system identification text. It usually shows the Ubuntu version and codename.
- cat /etc/os-release: This command displays the contents of the /etc/os-release file, which contains operating system identification data. It shows various information about your Ubuntu version, such as the name, version, codename, and URL.
- hostnamectl: This command allows you to set or view the system hostname, but it also shows some information about your Ubuntu version, such as the operating system, kernel, and architecture.
Here are some examples of the output of these commands:
$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS
Release: 20.04
Codename: focal
$ cat /etc/issue
Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS \n \l
$ cat /etc/os-release
NAME="Ubuntu"
VERSION="20.04.2 LTS (Focal Fossa)"
ID=ubuntu
ID_LIKE=debian
PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS"
VERSION_ID="20.04"
HOME_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/"
SUPPORT_URL="https://help.ubuntu.com/"
BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/"
PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/legal/terms-and-policies/privacy-policy"
VERSION_CODENAME=focal
UBUNTU_CODENAME=focal
$ hostnamectl
Static hostname: ubuntu
Icon name: computer-vm
Chassis: vm
Machine ID: 8f0d7f9f3c0f4c0a9f9e6f9f3c0f4c0a
Boot ID: 8f0d7f9f3c0f4c0a9f9e6f9f3c0f4c0a
Virtualization: kvm
Operating System: Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS
Kernel: Linux 5.4.0-66-generic
Architecture: x86-64
As you can see, the output of these commands may vary slightly, but they all show the Ubuntu version and codename. You can use any of these commands to find out your Ubuntu version from the command line.
How to Check Ubuntu Version from the Graphical Interface
If you prefer to use the graphical interface, you can also check your Ubuntu version from the system settings. To do this, follow these steps:
- Click on the Activities button at the top left corner of your screen, or press the Super key (also known as the Windows key).
- Type Settings in the search box and click on the Settings icon.
- In the Settings window, click on the Details tab at the bottom left.
- You will see some information about your system, including the OS name and version.
As you can see, the Details tab shows that the OS name is Ubuntu and the version is 20.04.2 LTS.
Conclusion
In this article, you learned how to check your Ubuntu version using different methods, both from the command line and the graphical interface. Knowing your Ubuntu version can help you to keep your system updated, install compatible software, and seek technical support.
You also learned some basic commands and tools that you can use to interact with your system and get more information about it. You can use these commands and tools to perform various tasks and customize your Ubuntu experience.