Ubuntu: How I Check My Version (What I Actually Use)

Posted byneifferhussian

I’m Kayla. I use Ubuntu at home and at work. I switch between laptops, a tiny home server, and a cloud box. So I check my version a lot. It sounds small, but it saves me from weird bugs and wrong packages.

You know what? I like simple. I like quick. Here’s what works for me, with real outputs from my machines.
If you’d like an even more detailed, step-by-step walkthrough (with screenshots), I published it as a guide on how I check my Ubuntu version.

Why I Even Needed This

Last month, a Docker image ran fine on my laptop but broke on my VPS. I thought it was my code. Nope. Different Ubuntu versions. That tiny detail cost me an hour and a little pride.
Since then, whenever I’m fuzzy on what each Ubuntu release actually changes, I’ll skim the concise breakdowns on Desktop Linux Reviews before I start swapping packages around.

The Zero-Thought Way (Settings)

When I’m on my laptop, I often use the GUI.

  • Open Settings
  • Scroll to About
  • Look for “OS Name” or “Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS”

It’s plain. It’s fast. It’s how I help a teammate on a call without pushing them to the terminal right away.

My Go-To Terminal Checks

lsb_release (my favorite)

On my ThinkPad (daily driver), this is what I ran and saw:

$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description:    Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS
Release:        22.04
Codename:       jammy

Short and clear. If this command isn’t there on a minimal setup, I install it:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install lsb-release

/etc/os-release (always there for me)

On my home server (a tiny Intel NUC), I got:

$ cat /etc/os-release
NAME="Ubuntu"
VERSION="24.04.1 LTS (Noble Numbat)"
ID=ubuntu
ID_LIKE=debian
PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS"
VERSION_ID="24.04"
HOME_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/"
SUPPORT_URL="https://help.ubuntu.com/"
BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/"

That PRETTY_NAME line tells the story in one glance.

hostnamectl (bonus: kernel too)

On the same laptop as above:

$ hostnamectl
   Static hostname: kayla-x1
         Icon name: computer-laptop
           Chassis: laptop
  Operating System: Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS
            Kernel: Linux 6.5.0-14-generic
      Architecture: x86-64

This helps when I’m tracking down a driver issue. The kernel line matters.

uname (kernel only, but I still use it)

I run this when I care about the kernel:

$ uname -r
6.5.0-14-generic

Small thing, big help with Wi-Fi or GPU fixes.

/etc/issue (handy on headless boxes)

On my older VPS, I saw:

$ cat /etc/issue
Ubuntu 20.04.6 LTS n l

It’s blunt, but useful. That box was stuck on Focal, which explained a few package quirks.

Real Machines I Touched This Week

  • Work laptop (Lenovo ThinkPad): Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS Jammy, kernel 6.5.0-14
    Why it matters: CUDA tools matched better on 22.04 than 24.04 for me.

  • Home server (Intel NUC, Proxmox VM): Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS Noble
    Why it matters: Newer OpenSSH and newer Python. My Ansible roles were happier.

  • Cheap cloud VPS: Ubuntu 20.04.6 LTS Focal
    Why it matters: Some newer packages weren’t in the repo. I used backports and was careful.

What The Numbers Mean (Quick and clean)

  • Ubuntu uses year.month.
    Example: 22.04 = April 2022. 24.04 = April 2024.
  • “LTS” means long term support. That’s the stable one most folks use.
  • Codenames: jammy (22.04), noble (24.04), mantic (23.10), and so on.

For the curious, Ubuntu keeps an official list of its quirky development codenames on its Development Code Names page, and Wikipedia maintains a handy Ubuntu version history you can skim when you need context.

I treat it like checking a clothing tag. Right size, right fit.
If you’re still deciding whether Ubuntu’s cadence and naming scheme suit you—or if Fedora’s or Linux Mint’s models line up better with your workflow—my hands-on comparison of the three might help: Fedora vs Ubuntu vs Linux Mint: a first-person test drive.

WSL Note (If You’re on Windows)

On my Windows laptop with WSL Ubuntu, I used:

$ cat /etc/os-release

That showed the Ubuntu version inside WSL. If I need more, I also run:

wsl.exe -l -v

That lists my WSL distros and versions on the Windows side.

Tiny Gotchas I’ve Hit

  • lsb_release may be missing on minimal installs. I install it once, then forget about it.
  • Kernel and Ubuntu version are not the same. uname shows kernel, not the OS release.
  • GUI labels can move a bit between GNOME versions, but About is still the spot.
  • Containers can fool you. Inside Docker, /etc/os-release shows the image’s base, not your host.

For more small, real-world tweaks—things I always keep and things I happily skip—have a scroll through my list of Linux tips and tricks.

Just like double-checking your Ubuntu version prevents mismatched dependencies, confirming compatibility matters in other parts of life too. When I’m in the mood for a spontaneous evening and want to see who’s nearby looking for the same no-strings fun, I’ll open PlanCulFacile—its quick location filters and direct messaging make meeting like-minded people as effortless as running lsb_release -a.

When a project or conference takes me down to Rosenberg, Texas and I’m after the same straightforward, no-hassle meet-ups I enjoy back home, I’ll browse Backpage Rosenberg—the city-specific listings and real-time posts mean I can connect with locals quickly without wading through generic dating apps.

My Short Cheat Sheet

  • Full OS name and codename:
    • lsb_release -a
    • cat /etc/os-release
  • Kernel only:
    • uname -r
  • Host info plus OS:
    • hostnamectl
  • Headless hint:
    • cat /etc/issue

Final Take

This stuff seems tiny. It’s not. Knowing your Ubuntu version saves time, saves face, and keeps scripts clean. I check it like I check the weather—fast, often, and before I break something.

If you forget all this, remember one thing: run lsb_release -a. It’s the one I trust when my coffee is still too hot.