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Kubuntu is an official community Ubuntu flavour using KDE Plasma. It combines Ubuntu’s package ecosystem with configurable panels, windows and shortcuts. Choose it according to your tasks and desired maintenance period, then try it on your hardware.
Updated on . Details checked against the official sources cited below.
Ubuntu with the KDE Plasma desktop
Official Ubuntu flavours are developed by community teams and use the Ubuntu archive for packages and updates. Kubuntu differs through Plasma and its application selection. Ubuntu instructions may be relevant, but menus, graphical tools and some configuration choices differ.
Plasma lets you organise panels and virtual desktops, adjust shortcuts and display settings, and launch tasks through KRunner. Begin with the supplied settings, then change one element at a time rather than adding many themes and extensions immediately. The number of options alone does not predict usability on your computer.
Which release should you choose, and how long is it supported?
When checked on 28 October 2026, the project offered these branches:
- Kubuntu 26.04 LTS, released on 23 April 2026 with Plasma 6.6 and support announced until April 2029. Consider it if you want longer intervals between major upgrades. See the LTS release notes.
- Kubuntu 26.10, released on 15 October 2026 with Plasma 6.7 and support until July 2027. This interim release requires planning the next upgrade sooner. See the 26.10 release notes.
- Kubuntu 24.04 LTS is an older Plasma 5 branch, supported until April 2027 according to the official download page. Its availability does not imply the same remaining support period as the newer LTS.
Use the support period announced for Kubuntu rather than automatically assuming every Ubuntu support offering applies. Before upgrading, back up files and read the target release’s known issues.
Install the applications you need
Discover is KDE’s software centre. With suitable components, it can manage applications from system repositories and other sources. Flatpak or Snap capability does not mean every repository is already enabled. Check the selected source and avoid unintended duplicate installations of the same application in different formats.
Ubuntu’s base provides access to many packages but does not guarantee every publisher supports your Kubuntu release. Check dependencies, document formats and essential extensions. Windows applications do not become compatible simply because the desktop layout feels familiar.
Kubuntu and KDE neon: the same desktop, different choices
Kubuntu follows defined distribution releases. KDE neon focuses on very recent KDE software above an Ubuntu LTS base; its official FAQ explains the pace and limitations. Compare release management and required applications, not just appearance. Adding repositories to turn Kubuntu into neon is not a tested, supported neon migration.
See our KDE neon profile and the Ubuntu flavours and derivatives category for context.
What should you check before replacing your system?
The 26.04 and 26.10 notes identify Wayland as the default Plasma session. Do not assume an old X11 configuration will work unchanged. Check screen sharing, multiple monitors, scaling, peripherals and shortcuts that matter to you.
- Test Wi-Fi, sound, the keyboard and suspend.
- Try a real task in each essential application using copies of your files.
- Record working features and limitations in the task-based trial checklist.
The Kubuntu download guide covers ISO choice, verification and USB preparation. This profile presents no performance ranking or hardware test carried out by distrib.wiki.