How to Check Your Ubuntu Version on 26.04 and 24.04

• These checks read system information. They do not install updates, change your Ubuntu release or require sudo.
• Run Ubuntu commands inside the Ubuntu system you want to check. On a server, connect through SSH first; on WSL, open your Ubuntu shell.
• On the default Ubuntu desktop, press Ctrl+Alt+T to open a terminal. You can also search for your terminal application.
• No internet connection is needed for a local check. If lsb_release is missing, use the /etc/os-release method below.

lsb_release -a

Look for these lines. This example shows Ubuntu 26.04; your Description may include a point release such as 26.04.1.

Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description:    Ubuntu 26.04 LTS
Release:        26.04
Codename:       resolute

Description gives the readable name. Release is the main version used in compatibility requirements. Codename is the short release name often used in APT repository instructions.

For a short, readable answer, including the point release when recorded:

lsb_release -ds

For only the main release number:

lsb_release -rs

For only the repository codename:

lsb_release -cs

On Ubuntu 24.04, the last two commands return 24.04 and noble. The -s option removes labels; it does not change which release you are running.

Open Settings, select System, then select About. Read the Operating System entry. You can also search for About from the desktop overview.

Open System Details where available. Look for OS Name for the Ubuntu release, and OS Type for the bitness. GNOME Version and Kernel Version describe other parts of the system; they are not your Ubuntu release.

In Windows PowerShell, list your installed distributions:

wsl --list --verbose

Then use the exact name shown in the NAME column. This example assumes it is Ubuntu-24.04:

wsl --distribution Ubuntu-24.04 -- cat /etc/os-release

The VERSION column in the list means WSL 1 or WSL 2. It is not the Ubuntu release. wsl --version describes WSL itself. A distribution’s registered name can also remain unchanged after an Ubuntu release upgrade, so read its actual metadata.

Connect to the intended machine using your usual SSH command. Then run:

cat /etc/os-release

The result describes that remote machine. Running the command before connecting checks your local Linux environment instead. A virtual machine reports its guest Ubuntu release, not the operating system of the computer hosting it.

From a host where you already have Docker access, list running containers and select the one you need:

docker ps

Replace my-container below with its name or ID:

docker exec my-container cat /etc/os-release

This reports the container’s user-space distribution. It may be Ubuntu, another distribution, or a minimal image without this file or command. It does not establish the host’s Ubuntu version. Containers share a kernel with their host environment, which may itself be a VM.

This Bash/POSIX-shell example recognizes the two Ubuntu releases covered here. It reports a match; it does not certify that an application supports your machine. Run it only against the trusted operating system files on your own system.

(
    if [ -r /etc/os-release ]; then
        . /etc/os-release
    elif [ -r /usr/lib/os-release ]; then
        . /usr/lib/os-release
    else
        printf '%s\n' 'No readable OS release file found.' >&2
        exit 1
    fi
    case "${ID:-}:${VERSION_ID:-}" in
        ubuntu:24.04|ubuntu:26.04)
            printf 'Matched Ubuntu %s\n' "$VERSION_ID" ;;
        *)
            printf '%s\n' 'This is not Ubuntu 24.04 or 26.04.' ;;
    esac
)

The parentheses keep sourced variables out of your current shell. Checking ID as well as the version avoids treating an Ubuntu-based distribution as Ubuntu itself.

Use cat /etc/os-release. There is no need to install a package just to identify the release. This is common on minimal images.

This informational message can appear with some lsb_release implementations. If the Description, Release and Codename lines follow it, you still have the information you need. Use lsb_release -ds or read the release file for a shorter result.

Messages about D-Bus or a system that was not booted with systemd mean this method cannot reach its required services. Use cat /etc/os-release. You do not need to enable systemd just to check a release.

First confirm you ran both commands in the same machine, WSL distribution, container or SSH session. A main release and its point-release label are not a conflict. If the main versions differ after an interrupted upgrade, investigate the upgrade or package state; do not edit os-release to make the numbers match.

Other desktops use different menus, and servers may have no Settings app. Use the terminal method. If ID names another distribution, follow that distribution’s instructions; an Ubuntu-compatible base is not a guarantee that every Ubuntu repository will work.

You may be in a recovery environment, an unusually small container, or a damaged installation. Check which environment you opened and consult its image or recovery documentation. Do not guess the Ubuntu release from its kernel number or create a replacement file with guessed values.

For a driver, package or installation problem, share your Ubuntu description, running kernel and package architecture. On a system with lsb_release:

lsb_release -ds
uname -r
dpkg --print-architecture

If lsb_release is missing, share the PRETTY_NAME line from /etc/os-release instead. Also say whether you are using Desktop, Server, WSL or a container, and include the exact error.