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For example, it looks like I'll need to start with Ubuntu 23.04 to get support for my hardware. As of this writing this is the non-LTS version, which only has 9 months of support. Will it be possible to upgrade directly from this version to the corresponding LTS release when it becomes available?

Artur Meinild
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Britton Kerin
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3 Answers3

9

No, you will have to upgrade to 23.10 and then to 24.04 ...

But 23.10 is available for download now, so you can skip 23.04 if you want to.

Soren A
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7

The previous two answers failed to mention that:

  • You can start with a non-LTS and upgrade until your reach an LTS (for example, 23.04 → 23.10 → 24.04).
  • Once you are on an LTS, you can edit the file /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades and switch from "normal" (= non-LTS) to "lts".
  • After that, you will only need to upgrade from LTS to LTS (e.g. 24.04 → 26.04 → 28.04 etc).

If you later decide to switch back to the non-LTS schedule, you should wait until the first non-LTS (following immediately an LTS) is released (for example, 24.04 → 24.10) and edit this file back to "normal".

More information can be found in this answer.

FedKad
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2

Ubuntu uses a two year development cycle for the LTS; the cycle for 24.04 LTS started just after release of Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or the prior LTS.

The development progress can be seen via the 3 non-LTS releases show the progress; ie. 22.10, 23.04 & 23.10, and you can release-upgrade to that system from the LTS anytime (ie. 22.04 would have release-upgraded to 22.10 after its release, but after it went EOL, the release-upgrade moved you to 23.04 which is where it is currently. Once on that cycle however, you need to release-upgrade through each release as per Soren's answer.

Your alternative is to remain on 22.04 LTS, and after release of Ubuntu 24.04.1, you will be able to release-upgrade from one LTS to the next LTS release.

guiverc
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