UWN Issue 961 September 6-12 2026.

Welcome to the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue 961 for the week of September 6 - 12, 2026.

In this Issue

  • Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS released
  • [24.04.5 Desktop addendum] Installer to Crash
  • Entertaining the idea of linux-firmware-hwe
  • Welcome New Members and Developers
  • Ubuntu Stats
  • Hot in Support
  • Rocks Public Journal; 2026-09-09
  • Other Meeting Reports
  • Upcoming Meetings and Events
  • Ubuntu Circles! (LoCo) Events
  • Linux firmware split in Noble and Resolute
  • Kubuntu 26.04.1 and what “Bullet-Proof KDE” actually changes
  • Canonical News
  • In the Blogosphere
  • Updates and Security for Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04, and 26.04
  • And much more!

General Community News

Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS released

Utkarsh Gupta on behalf of the Ubuntu Release team announces the release of Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS’ media. We’re reminded this point release media is updated so new installs won’t need as many updates, and that it includes the Ubuntu flavors. Links for more are provided, or to download the updated media.

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/ubuntu-24-04-5-lts-released/87608/

[24.04.5 Desktop addendum] Installer to Crash

Posted on Ubuntu Discourse by Matthieu Clemenceau [or Jon Seager on Mastodon], we’re told of an issue with some installs of Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS Desktop in ‘extended’ configuration, that has caused the removal of that image for now. We’re told you can install using Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS media & still update, but newer images should be available early next week.

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/ubuntu-24-04-5-lts-released/87608/5

Jon Seager: “Little hiccup with the recently released Ubuntu 24.04.5 installer. Issue affects new installs of ubuntu Desktop on amd64, for users who select the ‘Extended Install’ option. Machines already running 24.04 can continue to upgrade without issue. We’ve pulled the new ISO for now and will reinstate with a fixed build early next week. Thanks for your patience!”

https://ubuntu.social/@jnsgruk@hachyderm.io/117254200164959186

Entertaining the idea of linux-firmware-hwe

Juerg Haefliger posts on the Ubuntu development mailing list that given linux-firmware is now split in noble (24.04), he’d like to tackle HWE backports next to address some outstanding compatibility issues. Juerg outlines this as he sees it, noting that he’d like to tackle it in stonking (26.10) first then backport that to resolute (26.04) before the first HWE kernel ‘lands there’. He is asking for feedback, questions or comments.

https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel/2026-September/043647.html

Welcome New Members and Developers

Congratulations to Guillaume!

Ubuntu Stats

Bug Stats

  • Open: 137550 (-57)
  • Critical: 304 (-1)
  • Unconfirmed: 73239 (-81)

As always, the Bug Squad needs more help. If you want to get started, please see: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/BugSquad

Translations

  • Swedish: 99.99% (21/1219)
  • Albanian: 94.48% (21048/0)
  • Ukrainian: 89.09% (41565/1101)
  • German: 87.01% (49519/346)
  • French: 85.92% (53644/6460)

Hot in Support

Ubuntu Community Discourse Trending Top 5 Threads

Find more support at: https://discourse.ubuntu.com/c/support-and-help/306

Ask Ubuntu Top Questions

Ask (and answer!) questions at: https://askubuntu.com/

Meeting Reports

Rocks Public Journal; 2026-09-09

Chisel v1.5.0 is out! It adds support for archive repositories that use SHA512 hashes (e.g. Stonking). Also, check our new blog on how to run Bonsai, on a rock.

Other Meeting Reports

Upcoming Meetings and Events

Times shown are UTC unless otherwise specified. For more details and further dates please visit: https://ubuntu.com/community | https://discourse.ubuntu.com/upcoming-events

Ubuntu Circles! (LoCo) Events

The following LoCo team events are currently scheduled in the next two weeks:

Looking beyond the next two weeks? Visit the respective Circles!/LoCo Team calendar to browse upcoming events.

Please also see:

The Hub

Linux firmware split in Noble and Resolute

Dmitry Malykhanov reminds us the change to Linux firmware packaging is not exclusive to resolute/26.04, with it now found in noble/24.04 as well. We’re reminded of the reason for this change, and with this post he gives us some details. We’re also warned the removal of unused Linux firmware packages is not yet supported and thus could result in non-bootable systems. We’re reminded following instructions written for other OSes can result in a ‘FrankenUbuntu’, but should we wish to ‘explore’, this post gives us some clues on doing so with reduced risk. If we ‘experiment’ with this, we’re asked to post our experiences.

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/linux-firmware-split-in-noble-and-resolute/87528/

Kubuntu 26.04.1 and what “Bullet-Proof KDE” actually changes

Rick Timmis reminds us that Kubuntu 26.04.1 LTS images landed on 27 August alongside Ubuntu and other flavors, and what this means. He also touches on the work that will be done before upgrades from the prior 24.04 release will be opened. Rick then moves to the upstream changes: the retiring of Plasma LTS, and it’s Kubuntu Focus funded Bullet-Proof KDE initiative. We’re given some details including Techpaladin & KDE e.V. resources, and given links should we need to research some more. Erich (Ubuntu Studio) also posted about this in UWN Issue 960.

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/kubuntu-26-04-1-and-what-bullet-proof-kde-actually-changes/87532

Canonical News

In the Blogosphere

Ubuntu 26.10 daily ISOs add amd64v3 installer

Joey Sneddon informs us that amd64v3 daily builds are available for Ubuntu 26.10; which is still in ‘alpha’. We’re reminded an Ubuntu 26.04 LTS release can be ‘manually converted’ into an amd64-v3 post-install, with this new install media allowing another option. Joey also reminds us why this can be of benefit to some users, and that daily builds does not yet signify the amd64-v3 ISO will become official when Ubuntu 26.10 is released later this year, but we’re given a link should we wish to download and give it a try.

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2026/09/ubuntu-amd64v3-iso-downloads

GNOME 51 Release Candidate is Available for Testing

Ji m reminds us that GNOME 51 is expected in Ubuntu 26.10 and Fedora 45, but is available now for some RC (Release Candidate) testing. We’re given a link to the official announcement, a list of key new features, and some discussion on it.

https://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/2026/09/gnome-51-release-candidate-is-available-for-testing/

NVIDIA 615 Linux Graphics Driver Improves Support for Vulkan-Native Games

Marcus Nestor writes about the release of the NVIDIA 615 driver for Linux, FreeBSD and Solaris systems. We’re given some details for what’s new and who can benefit from this newer driver, some bugs that were fixed, links to the release notes, and where we can download it now. We are cautioned that this is a ‘new feature branch’ and “may not be recommended for production use”.

https://9to5linux.com/nvidia-615-linux-graphics-driver-improves-support-for-vulkan-native-games

Ubuntu 26.10 will now ship with Linux 7.3

Joey Sneddon reminds us the Linux 7.2 kernel arrived early, before moving to the 7.3 RC releases that have recently occurred, and then moves to Canonical’s kernel team adjusting their ‘target’ from 7.2 kernel to 7.3 as mentioned in recent weeks on the Ubuntu Discourse. Joey quotes Kleber Souza (from Ubuntu Discourse), and tells us the Ubuntu Stonking dailies and builds are currently using the 7.2 kernel, with 7.3 likely to be promoted to the proposed pocket soon.

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2026/09/ubuntu-2610-kernel-version

Updates and Security for Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04, and 26.04

Security Updates

Ubuntu 22.04 Updates

End of Standard Support: April 2027

Ubuntu 24.04 Updates

End of standard support: April 2029

Ubuntu 26.04 Updates

End of Standard Support: April 2031

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Further News

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Conclusion

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See you next week!

Credits

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Glossary of Terms

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