How To Enable Ubuntu Pro For FREE To Get 10 Years Of Security Updates

I’ve been using Ubuntu for years, but recently I upgraded to something a bit more advanced: Ubuntu Pro. At first, I thought Ubuntu Pro was just for businesses or enterprise users. But after digging in, I realized it offers real benefits even for regular users like me and it’s free for personal use on up to five machines. In this detailed tutorial, I’ll explain what Ubuntu Pro is, why I think it’s worth considering, and how you can get started with Ubuntu pro.

What is Ubuntu Pro?

Ubuntu Pro is a comprehensive subscription service for open-source software security built on top of Ubuntu Long Term Support (LTS) releases. It offers enhanced security, compliance features, and optional support for Ubuntu deployments.

Here’s the basic idea:

• It’s the same Ubuntu operating system you’re already using.
• It adds 10 years of security updates, even for packages that aren’t covered in regular Ubuntu.
• It includes tools like Livepatch to patch security issues without rebooting.
• It’s free for personal users on up to five devices.

So if you want to keep your system secure and stable for longer, Ubuntu Pro is a solid upgrade.

Ubuntu Pro vs Regular Ubuntu

You might be wondering: isn’t Ubuntu already pretty secure? Yes, it is, but Ubuntu Pro goes several steps further.

1. Expanded Security Maintenance (ESM)

Ubuntu Pro provides up to 10 years of security patching for critical, high, and selected medium Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) for the entire software stack, including the main Ubuntu repository and the Universe repository (from Ubuntu 16.04 LTS onwards).

This extends beyond the standard LTS period.

Example: I use GIMP, Node.js, and LibreOffice regularly. With Ubuntu Pro, I now get security updates for those tools, even if Canonical doesn’t support them directly in the standard Ubuntu version.

2. Livepatch

The Livepatch feature automatically applies important Linux kernel security patches without rebooting your computer. It’s perfect if you hate downtime or you’re running services that need to stay up.

Related Read: 5 Kernel Live Patching Tools That Will Help To Run Linux Servers Without Reboots

3. Longer Support

The standard Ubuntu LTS releases get 5 years of updates. With Ubuntu Pro, you get 10 years of updates. That’s a big deal if you want a system that just works and stays secure for the long haul.

4. Compliance and Certifications

If you’re in a regulated industry (finance, healthcare, etc.), Ubuntu Pro includes security hardening and compliance features like FIPS, CIS benchmarks, and DISA-STIG.

Most home users won’t need this, but it’s nice to know it’s there.

5. Expanded Package Coverage

Beyond the main Ubuntu repository, Ubuntu Pro extends security maintenance to the vast Universe repository, which contains a large number of community-maintained open-source packages.

6. Tools for Management

It includes features like integration with Landscape for systems management at scale.

7. Access to Additional Features

Depending on the subscription level, users may gain access to features like a real-time kernel, advanced Active Directory policies, and certified Windows drivers for KVM guests.

8. Optional Support

Enterprises can access 24/7 phone & ticket support.

Who Should Use Ubuntu Pro?

You don’t have to be a developer, sysadmin, or security expert to benefit from Ubuntu Pro. Here’s who I think should consider it:

1. Personal users who want stronger security

If you’re using your Ubuntu system daily and care about staying protected online, Ubuntu Pro adds extra coverage without extra effort.

2. Freelancers, students, or remote workers

If your system is your livelihood, it makes sense to keep it safe and supported long-term.

3. Small businesses or home labs

You can register up to five devices for free, which is great if you’re running servers or testing setups at home.

4. Anyone who likes free upgrades

Ubuntu Pro Desktop doesn’t cost anything for most users. It’s hard to argue with that.

How to Enable Ubuntu Pro on Ubuntu

Activating Ubuntu Pro took me less than 10 minutes.

Prerequisites

Make sure your Ubuntu machine is a supported LTS version (22.04 or 24.04), has sudo access, an email address (or Ubuntu One account), and an up-to-date pro client (version 27.13.1 or newer).

Step 1: Sign up for a free Ubuntu One account

Visit ubuntu.com/pro and sign in or create an account. As I stated already, you’ll get a free token to use on up to five machines.

I don't have an account, so I created a new Ubuntu One account.

Please use a valid E-mail ID. Canonical will send you a verification mail to the registered mail id. Just verify it and you will be automatically redirected to the Ubuntu Pro page.

Next Go to Account -> Ubuntu Pro Dashboard.

The dashboard has the Token that you can use to attach 5 Ubuntu systems for free.

It also includes the actual command to run to attach a machine. You can simply copy that command and run it in your Ubuntu system's terminal window to enable Ubuntu Pro.

Step 2: Install the Pro client (if needed)

Most modern Ubuntu versions (22.04 and later) already have the Pro client installed. But if not, run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install ubuntu-advantage-tools

Step 3: Attach your Ubuntu System to Ubuntu Pro

To activate Ubuntu Pro subscription to your Ubuntu system, run the command below, replacing <TOKEN> with your actual token:

sudo pro attach <TOKEN>

You will see some of the Ubuntu Pro services are automatically enabled. You still need to enable some other services manually.

Enabling Ubuntu Pro: ESM Apps
Ubuntu Pro: ESM Apps enabled
Enabling Ubuntu Pro: ESM Infra
Ubuntu Pro: ESM Infra enabled
Enabling Livepatch
Livepatch enabled
This machine is now attached to 'Ubuntu Pro - free personal subscription'

SERVICE          ENTITLED  STATUS       DESCRIPTION
anbox-cloud      yes       disabled     Scalable Android in the cloud
esm-apps         yes       enabled      Expanded Security Maintenance for Applications
esm-infra        yes       enabled      Expanded Security Maintenance for Infrastructure
landscape        yes       disabled     Management and administration tool for Ubuntu
livepatch        yes       enabled      Canonical Livepatch service
realtime-kernel* yes       disabled     Ubuntu kernel with PREEMPT_RT patches integrated
usg              yes       disabled     Security compliance and audit tools

 * Service has variants

NOTICES
Operation in progress: pro attach

For a list of all Ubuntu Pro services and variants, run 'pro status --all'
Enable services with: pro enable <service>

     Account: mymaildi@mydomain.com
Subscription: Ubuntu Pro - free personal subscription

To list all of the Ubuntu Pro services, run:

pro status --all

Step 4: Enable the Ubuntu Pro Services You Want

You can turn on individual services like this:

sudo pro enable <service_name>

Example:

sudo pro enable landscape
sudo pro enable usg

Check the status with:

pro status

If you're running Ubuntu Desktop version, you can also enable or disable Ubuntu Pro from Software & Updates -> Ubuntu Pro tab.

That’s it. You’ve now successfully activated Ubuntu Pro!

From now on, whenever you update your software, they will be fetched from the Ubuntu Pro’s Expanded Security Maintenance repositories.

Update your system to ensure all CVE fixes are applied:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Display Security Updates for Packages

The command pro security-status gives you a clear and detailed summary of your system’s security coverage, especially in relation to Ubuntu Pro features.

The pro security-status command shows:

• Whether you have Ubuntu Pro enabled on your system.
• Which security features are active - like ESM (Extended Security Maintenance) for Ubuntu packages and Livepatch.
• Whether your installed packages are covered by standard Ubuntu security updates, Pro-only updates, or no security coverage.

Using the pro security-status command,

• You can see if your system is fully protected.
• You can find out if some packages are missing security coverage.
• If you haven’t enabled a feature (like esm-apps), it will suggest what to do next.

To display security updates for packages in the system, including all available Expanded Security Maintenance (ESM) related content, use this command:

pro security-status

Sample Output:

1771 packages installed:
     1689 packages from Ubuntu Main/Restricted repository
     82 packages from Ubuntu Universe/Multiverse repository

To get more information about the packages, run
    pro security-status --help
for a list of available options.

This machine is attached to an Ubuntu Pro subscription.

Main/Restricted packages are receiving security updates from
Ubuntu Pro with 'esm-infra' enabled until 2034.

Universe/Multiverse packages are receiving security updates from
Ubuntu Pro with 'esm-apps' enabled until 2034. You have received 14 security
updates.

You can also see the list of packages covered with specific service (E.g. esm-apps) and identify which packages have pending CVE fixes. To do so, run:

pro security-status --esm-apps

Tip: If you're unsure whether a package is covered by security updates, pro security-status gives you the visibility you need, without digging through CVEs or changelogs.

Detach Ubuntu Pro from a System

To detach your system from an Ubuntu Pro subscription, you can use the pro detach command. This removes the machine from your Ubuntu Pro account and disables all Pro features like Livepatch, ESM, and others.

Make sure you're on the machine you want to detach and run the pro detach command from the Terminal:

sudo pro detach

This command will:

• Unlink your Ubuntu Pro token from the machine.
• Turn off all Pro services (like esm-apps, esm-infra, livepatch).
• Remove the system from your list of attached machines at ubuntu.com/pro.

Type y and press ENTER to confirm:

Detach will disable the following services:
    esm-apps
    esm-infra
    livepatch
Are you sure? (y/N) y
Removing APT access to Ubuntu Pro: ESM Apps
Updating package lists
Removing APT access to Ubuntu Pro: ESM Infra
Updating package lists
Executing `/snap/bin/canonical-livepatch disable`
This machine is now detached.

After detaching, log in to your Ubuntu One account at https://ubuntu.com/pro and go to Dashboard -> Machines, and confirm the system was removed.

You can reattach the same system later with:

sudo pro attach <YOUR_TOKEN>

Detaching a VM or test system is helpful if you're hitting the 5-machine limit under the free plan.

Quick Tips for Getting the Most Out of Ubuntu Pro

• Turn on Livepatch: No one likes random reboots. This feature is one of Ubuntu Pro’s biggest perks.
• Enable ESM Apps: Get updates for apps you actually use. That’s where most vulnerabilities live.
• Set reminders for renewals: The free plan is generous, but it helps to track which machines are registered.
• Use pro status regularly to see what’s active and what can be enabled.

Can I use Ubuntu Pro with Virtual Machines?

Yes, you can use Ubuntu Pro Desktop with virtual machines under VirtualBox or VMWare and it works just like it does on physical machines. But there are a few things you should keep in mind, especially when deleting or recreating VMs.

When you run sudo pro attach <TOKEN>, Canonical logs that specific machine's ID (machine fingerprint). If you delete the VM and recreate it, the new VM gets a new machine ID. This means it uses another slot from your allowance.

So, if you:

• Create and delete lots of VMs, you might hit the 5-machine limit quickly.
• Even if you're using only one VM at a time, each new one still counts as a separate machine in the backend.

Best practices for VMs with Ubuntu Pro:

• Use snapshots (E.g. Btrfs) if you want to roll back, instead of deleting and recreating.
• If you automate VM creation (e.g., with cloud-init), consider reusing the same host or image.
• Detach the VMs if they're no longer required Ubuntu Pro support.

Ubuntu Pro Pricing

Enterprise pricing varies based on the level of support and whether it's for desktop/WSL or server with unlimited VMs. Options include Self-Support, With Infra support (24/7), and With full support (24/7).

Server subscriptions start at $500 per machine per year for Self-Support. There are also coverage options for Infra-only and full stack, as well as add-ons for enhanced support and managed services. Discounts are also available for education, research, and academia.

Check the Ubuntu pro pricing page for more details: https://ubuntu.com/pricing/pro

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Ubuntu Pro Cheatsheet

Hhere’s a concise Ubuntu Pro cheatsheet for quick reference. This is handy for developers, sysadmins, or anyone managing Ubuntu Pro systems.

Is Ubuntu Pro Worth It?

For me, the answer is YES. Ubuntu Pro subscription offers stronger protection, better update coverage, and peace of mind. And because it’s free for up to five machines, there’s no downside to trying it out.

If you’re already using Ubuntu and want better security without changing your setup, Ubuntu Pro is a smart upgrade. And if you're new to Ubuntu, this is a great way to start on the right foot.

Have you tried Ubuntu Pro yet? Did you run into any issues setting it up? Please share your experience via the comment section below.