The fifth point release of Ubuntu 20.04 LTS is available to download.
Now, now: don’t get too excited. Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS is a freshly-spun install image composed of Ubuntu 22.04 LTS plus all major security patches, bug fixes, and app updates issues since the release of Ubuntu 20.04.4 LTS, which was back in February.
Periodic refreshes to install media are necessary as they cut down on the number of post-install updates a user has to install after (or during, as that is an option) install.
So if you already run Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and you have installed all updates as/when released you do not need to reinstall anything to ‘get’ 20.04.5 LTS.You’re not missing out on anything; you have everything included in these new images — in fact, you’ve had it for a while!
But if you don’t currently use Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and you plan to, this all-new ISO is the one to use.
Linux 5.15 is the big lure of this point release, with the kernel being ported over from April’s Ubuntu 22.04 release. Linux 5.15 introduces a new NTFS file system driver, an in-kernel SMB file server, EXT4 tweaks (this is Ubuntu’s default filesystem), and support for power profiles on select Acer laptops.
Other updates bundled with the new ISO include GNOME Shell 3.36.8, LibreOffice 6.4.7.2, and Mozilla Firefox 104 — and not the Snap version, I might add.
Download Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS
You can download Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS from the Ubuntu website right now. It’s provided as a 3.1GB ISO you can use to make a bootable USB or a bootable DVD (optical media is still some folks’ jam). Either way, make sure you’re not on a capped connection when smush the download button.
Again, for clarity: if you already run Ubuntu 20.04 LTS you do not need to download anything; so long as you have installed all available updates you “have” Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS.