The development of the Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Quokka is speeding up. The Ubuntu team announced the release of Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Snapshot 4! This is the fourth successful monthly snapshot, and more notably, it's the final one for Questing Quokka. No more snapshots are coming, so let's look at what's in this release.
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Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Beta is Coming in September 18, 2025
With Snapshot 4 now out, Ubuntu 25.10 is entering its final stages of development. Mark your calendars for these upcoming Ubuntu 25.10 key dates:
- The Questing Beta release is next, planned for 18 September 2025. This is your chance to try out the new features before the big day!
- The final stable release of Ubuntu 25.10 is set for 9 October 2025.
Remember, Ubuntu 25.10, code named Questing Quokka, serves as the last interim release before Ubuntu's next long-term support (LTS) version, Ubuntu 26.04. This current release will receive support for nine months, lasting until July 2026.
What's New in Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Quokka
This Questing Quokka release packs several groundbreaking features that aim to make Ubuntu more secure, modern, and efficient.
Enhanced Security with TPM-backed Full Disk Encryption (FDE)
Ubuntu 25.10 introduces experimental TPM-backed Full Disk Encryption (FDE). This is a huge step for data security! Full Disk Encryption keeps all your data on your hard drive safe, making it unreadable if your device gets lost or stolen.
Here’s how it works simply:
- TPM (Trusted Platform Module) is a special chip in most modern computers. It acts as a digital guardian for your system's health.
- Your encrypted disk only unlocks if your system’s state is trusted and matches what was expected when you set it up.
- Ubuntu 25.10 also offers recovery key management during installation, letting you view, save, or print a key to bypass the TPM if needed.
- You can also add an optional passphrase for an extra layer of protection.
- Good news for gamers and professionals: this feature also plans to support proprietary drivers like Nvidia by the end of this development cycle.
It’s important to note that this FDE feature is currently experimental and not yet recommended for critical production environments. The Ubuntu team plans a call for testing soon, so get ready to help improve it.
Saying Goodbye to GNOME on Xorg
Ubuntu 25.10 is making a big change by removing the Xorg-based Ubuntu session. From now on, the default GNOME session will run exclusively on Wayland. This move helps Ubuntu align with upstream GNOME's roadmap, offering a more secure, performant, and modern desktop experience.
Don't worry, if you still need X11 for specialized tasks, X11 applications will continue to work seamlessly through XWayland within the Ubuntu Wayland session.
Furthermore, you can still install and use non-GNOME desktop environments if you specifically require Xorg.
Boosting System Safety with sudo-rs in Rust
Ubuntu 25.10 is taking another significant step towards security by adopting sudo-rs as the default sudo implementation.
The original sudo command, vital for running commands with elevated privileges, was written in C. The "rs" in sudo-rs stands for Rust, a programming language known for its strong memory safety guarantees.
This change aims to enhance system resilience and safety, making it much harder for attackers to exploit common memory-safety issues.
For most daily users, you won't notice any difference in how you use sudo. However, the team has taken a "less is more" approach, so some very niche features might not be supported.
If you rely on these, the original sudo will still be available for you to switch back. This move is part of a larger initiative called "oxidising Ubuntu," where more core system tools are being rewritten in Rust.
Other Exciting Updates for Questing Quokka
Beyond these major changes, Ubuntu 25.10 brings many other improvements:
- Linux Kernel: Ubuntu 25.10 aims to include the Linux kernel 6.17 in its final release, bringing the latest features and hardware support. The
linux-modules-extrapackages are now deprecated, with all kernel modules integrated into thelinux-modulespackage for simpler installation. - Desktop Enhancements: Expect GNOME 49 with a refreshed user interface and new applications like Loupe (an image viewer) and Ptyxis (a terminal emulator). Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support is also nearing completion for smoother visuals, especially for gamers.
- Raspberry Pi: Desktop images for Raspberry Pi now use a "desktop-minimal" setup, significantly reducing the number of pre-installed applications and saving about 777MB of space. A new boot partition layout also improves boot process reliability.
- Server Improvements: Chrony v4.7 is now the default time-daemon, replacing
systemd-timesyncd, and comes pre-configured with Ubuntu Network Time Security (NTS) servers. - New Default Wallpaper, Mascot and Community Wallpapers: A few days ago, the default wallpaper and mascot for upcoming Ubuntu 25.10 have been revealed. As always, the release includes a collection of backgrounds created and voted upon by the talented Ubuntu Community through the Wallpaper Competition.
Download and Test Ubuntu 25.10 Snapshot 4
You can download the latest Ubuntu 25.10 "Questing Quokka" images at cdimage.ubuntu.com. You can also find snapshots for other Ubuntu flavours like Lubuntu and Ubuntu Budgie from the same place.
The release of Questing Snapshot 4 marks a significant milestone for Ubuntu 25.10. With the Beta release just around the corner, now is a fantastic time to get involved.
Download and test the newly released snapshot 4, report any bugs, and help shape the future of Ubuntu. Your feedback is invaluable as the team works towards a smooth and robust final release.
Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the official launch of Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Quokka!
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