Xubuntu 26.04 LTS – Official ISO Download, Xfce 4.20

Mike Holbrook

April 27, 2026

Xubuntu 26.04 LTS Resolute Raccoon is available to download now from Canonical’s official image server. This long-term support release ships with Xfce 4.20 and Linux kernel 7.0, and receives free security updates until April 2029. Below you will find the direct ISO link, torrent option, SHA256 verification steps, and system requirements.

Released April 23, 2026 · LTS · 20th Anniversary

Download Xubuntu 26.04 LTS
Resolute Raccoon

Ubuntu with the lightweight Xfce 4.20 desktop. Free to use. Supported until April 2029.

Kernel: Linux 7.0

Desktop: Xfce 4.20

Support: Until April 2029

Based on: Ubuntu 26.04

⬇ Download Xubuntu 26.04 All Download Options

What You Need to Know

• Free to download and use, forever

• 3-year free support until April 2029

• Xfce 4.20 – lightweight, stable, expanded Wayland support

• Linux kernel 7.0

• Good fit for older hardware with limited RAM

• GIMP 3.2.2 included

• 8 community wallpapers for the 20th anniversary

• Full access to Ubuntu software repositories

What Is Xubuntu?

Xubuntu is the official Ubuntu flavor that uses the Xfce desktop environment. Xfce is built to be fast and light on system resources – it runs well on hardware that GNOME or KDE Plasma would struggle with. At the same time it gives you a full, usable desktop with a file manager, application menu, panel, and all the basics you expect.

Xubuntu 26.04 is also a milestone release: it marks twenty years of Xubuntu as a project. To mark the occasion, the Xubuntu team ran two community wallpaper contests and all eight winning wallpapers ship on the default desktop installation alongside the official Resolute Raccoon wallpaper.

Xubuntu shares the same Ubuntu base, the same software repositories, and the same security update schedule as standard Ubuntu. You get a familiar apt-based system under the hood with a lighter desktop on top.

Download Xubuntu 26.04 LTS

The links below go directly to cdimage.ubuntu.com, Canonical’s official image server for Ubuntu flavors.

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Xubuntu 26.04 LTS (AMD64) Recommended

For: Most users – Intel & AMD 64-bit PCs and laptops
Size: ~4.8 GB
Includes: Full Xfce desktop with default apps

⬇ Direct Download ⇅ Torrent

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Xubuntu 26.04 Minimal (AMD64)

For: Advanced users who want a bare Xfce base
Size: ~3.0 GB
Includes: Core desktop only, no bundled apps

⬇ Direct Download ⇅ Torrent

Note: If the direct ISO link does not load immediately, go to cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/26.04/release/ and download from the file listing. The SHA256SUMS file is also available there.

What’s New in Xubuntu 26.04

The headline desktop update is Xfce 4.20, released in December 2024 and now shipping in its first LTS Ubuntu flavor. It brings expanded Wayland support and stability improvements across the whole desktop stack. For the full changelog, see the official Xubuntu 26.04 release notes.

Thunar File Manager

Thunar adds typeahead search in the tree view side pane, an option to show symbolic icons in the side pane, improved thumbnail scaling, and up to four emblems now always visible on file icons.

GIMP 3.2.2

Xubuntu ships GIMP 3.2.2, part of the recently stable GIMP 3.x series. This is a significant step up from the GIMP 2.x era, with a redesigned interface and improved tools.

Updated Core Apps

Parole media player 4.20.0, Mousepad text editor 0.7.0, and Catfish file search 4.20.0 are all new major versions. LibreOffice advances from 24.2 to 26.2.

Cleaner Panel

The legacy indicator plugin has been removed from the default panel. Applications that display tray icons now use the modern KStatusNotifier standard, which the Xubuntu panel already supports natively.

Twenty years of Xubuntu: Xubuntu 26.04 is the project’s 20th anniversary release. Eight community-designed wallpapers ship on the default installation: six original submissions and two community remixes. All eight are included alongside the default Resolute Raccoon wallpaper.

How to Verify Your Download (SHA256)

Always verify your ISO before writing it to a USB drive. This confirms the file downloaded completely and was not corrupted.

Download the SHA256SUMS fileGo to cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/26.04/release/ and save the SHA256SUMS file to the same folder as your ISO.

Run the checksumOn Linux or macOS (replace filename with whichever ISO you downloaded):

sha256sum xubuntu-26.04-desktop-amd64.iso

On Windows (PowerShell):

Get-FileHash xubuntu-26.04-desktop-amd64.iso -Algorithm SHA256

Compare the outputThe string of characters must match the value in the SHA256SUMS file exactly. If even one character differs, the file is corrupted. Delete it and download again.

How to Install Xubuntu 26.04

Once you have the ISO, the process is the same as any Ubuntu flavor.

Write the ISO to a USB driveUse Rufus on Windows or Balena Etcher on macOS and Linux. Both are free. Select the ISO file and your USB drive, then write. All data on the USB will be erased.

Boot from the USB driveRestart your computer and boot from the USB. On most machines you press F12, F2, or Del during startup to open the boot menu. Select the USB drive from the list.

Try or installThe Xubuntu welcome screen gives you two options: try Xubuntu without installing, or start the installation. Choose “Try Xubuntu” first if you want to test compatibility with your hardware before committing.

Follow the graphical installerThe installer will walk you through language, keyboard layout, disk setup, and user account creation. Most users can complete the install in under 20 minutes on a reasonably fast machine.

System Requirements

Xfce is lighter than GNOME or KDE Plasma. Xubuntu runs comfortably on hardware where other desktops feel slow.

Minimum

CPU: 1.5 GHz dual-core processor
RAM: 2 GB
Storage: 20 GB free disk space
Display: 1024 x 768
USB: 8 GB for installation media

Recommended

CPU: 4-core 64-bit processor
RAM: 4 GB or more
Storage: 40 GB SSD
Display: 1920 x 1080
GPU: Works with most modern and older graphics cards

Ready to Install?

Get Xubuntu 26.04 LTS Now

Free. Open source. Xfce 4.20. Supported until April 2029.

⬇ Download Xubuntu 26.04 All Editions & Options

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I try Xubuntu 26.04 without installing it?

Yes. When you boot from the USB installer, choose “Try Xubuntu” on the welcome screen. This loads a live version directly from the USB drive without touching your hard disk. You can test it as long as you like, then restart to return to your current system.

Will my old software still work on Xubuntu 26.04?

Most software continues to work. Xubuntu 26.04 includes a compatibility layer called XWayland so older apps generally open without any changes. A small number of screen recording or remote desktop tools may need updates from their developers.

What is the difference between an LTS release and a regular Ubuntu release?

LTS stands for Long Term Support. Canonical releases a new version of Ubuntu every 6 months, but only the LTS versions get multi-year security updates. Regular releases are only supported for 9 months. For most people on a work or home computer, LTS is the right choice.

Can I run Xubuntu 26.04 inside a virtual machine?

Yes. Xubuntu 26.04 works well inside VirtualBox, VMware, and GNOME Boxes. Use the AMD64 ISO for Intel and AMD host machines. Xfce’s low resource usage makes it particularly well suited to virtual machines with limited RAM allocation.

How do I create a bootable USB from the ISO file?

On Windows, use Rufus and select the ISO file. On macOS or Linux, use Balena Etcher. Both are free. Select your USB drive carefully as all data on it will be erased during the process.

Is Xubuntu 26.04 free to use on a business computer?

Yes. Xubuntu is free to download, install, and use on as many computers as you like, including in a business. There is no license fee.

What makes Xubuntu different from standard Ubuntu?

Xubuntu uses the Xfce desktop environment instead of GNOME. Xfce uses less RAM and CPU than GNOME, which makes Xubuntu a good fit for older computers or anyone who wants a faster, more responsive desktop. It shares the same Ubuntu base, security updates, and software repositories as standard Ubuntu.

More Xubuntu 26.04 guides: What’s New in Xubuntu 26.04 · Upgrade to Xubuntu 26.04 · Xubuntu 26.04 Wallpapers · Ubuntu Desktop 26.04 Download · Kubuntu 26.04 Download