Ubuntu 25.10 “Questing Quokka” has reached a major milestone with the arrival of its beta, bringing the upcoming release within reach for testers and early adopters. The final version is slated for October 9, and this beta already includes nearly everything expected for launch, spanning Desktop, Server, WSL, and Cloud builds, plus the full family of popular community flavors.
The beta images are described as stable enough for broad testing, with no known showstopper installer or image-build issues. You can upgrade directly from Ubuntu 25.04 to the 25.10 beta, or perform a clean install using the new images.
At the core, Ubuntu 25.10 ships with the Linux 6.17 kernel, setting the stage for improved hardware support, performance, and security. On the Server side, the next‑generation Subiquity installer brings a streamlined live session and installation experience comparable to the Desktop workflow.
On the desktop, GNOME now runs exclusively on Wayland, officially moving past Xorg for this session. Ubuntu Insights replaces Ubuntu Report in GNOME Initial Setup, the default image viewer is now Loupe (replacing eog), and the GNOME Terminal has been swapped out for Ptyxis, previously known as Prompt.
The beta refresh also covers the wider Ubuntu family, including Edubuntu, Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Budgie, Cinnamon, Kylin, Studio, Unity, and Xubuntu, ensuring feature parity and testing coverage across flavors.
Who should try it now? Developers, distro hoppers, and anyone eager to preview the next Ubuntu should feel at home—just remember it’s still beta software. Back up your data, consider testing in a virtual machine or on secondary hardware, and report any issues you encounter to help polish the final release.
With an October 9 launch on the horizon, Ubuntu 25.10 “Questing Quokka” is shaping up to be a fast, modern, and developer‑friendly update powered by a cutting‑edge kernel and a refreshed GNOME experience.
