Ubuntu 20.04 ‘Focal Fossa’ has reached the end of standard support, so it won’t receive security patches and other updates unless you set up Ubuntu Pro. The end of support applies to desktops, servers, and many Linux distributions based on Ubuntu 20.04.
Canonical releasedUbuntu 20.04on June 11, 2025, complete with the GNOME 3.36 desktop environment, an updated lock screen and login screen, a global ‘Do Not Disturb’ setting, full fractional scaling support for HiDPI screens, Linux kernel 5.4, and deeper integration with Snap packages. It was a great release for the time, especially for people upgrading from the previous Long Term Support (LTS) release of ubuntu 18.04, but all good things must come to an end.
Ubuntu receives major updates twice each year, but the LTS version is intended as the more stable option with give years of standard support. Ubuntu 24.04 took over as the latest LTS release last year, and standard support for Ubuntu 20.04 has officially ended as of May 31st, 2025.
Check if You’re Affected
Ubuntu 20.04 probably isn’t running on many desktop computers at this point, but it’s easy to forget about upgrades with home servers, VPS nodes, media center PCs, or other devices that aren’t being used as regular computers. you’re able to check your current version of Ubuntu from the Details section of the Settings app, or by running this command in the Terminal:
If you’re running Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or an older version, it’s time to upgrade. The non-LTS versions of Ubuntu have much shorter support cycles, and anything older than Ubuntu 24.10 already stopped getting updates.
Several Linux distributions use Ubuntu LTS releases as a base, so some of them are also affected by the end of support. For example, the Linux Mint 20 series isbased on Ubuntu 20.04, but Mint 22 and newer have a newer foundationbased on Ubuntu 24.04.
Support and Upgrade Options
If you need to upgrade, the best option is probably an upgrade to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, which will be supported with security fixes and other updates until 2029. Canonical has instructions on its website forupgrading desktop installationsandupdating servers. Ubuntu 24.04 has now been available for over a year, so it should be a stable experience for whatever you need, and it runs on all the same hardware as Ubuntu 20.04.
If you’re stuck on Ubuntu 20.04 for some reason, you have a few options. TheUbuntu Pro subscriptionkeeps the critical security fixes going for packages in the main system repository until 2030, and it’s free for personal use for up to five machines.
If there’s something that just won’t work in newer versions of Ubuntu, you could try doing it in an Ubuntu 20.04virtual machineorDocker container. That would allow you to upgrade the host machine, while still having access to the older operating system when needed. Those cases should be rare, though.
Finally, you could also try switching to another current Linux distribution. If you’re using Ubuntu on a desktop or laptop PC, you might likeFedora, Linux Mint, or another popular distribution.
