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You can use LM Studio’s graphical desktop app on Ubuntu, but its support notes need a qualification: LM Studio lists Ubuntu 20.04 or newer as the minimum and says versions newer than Ubuntu 22 are “not well tested.” That means Ubuntu 24.04 and 26.04 are above the minimum, not specifically confirmed as well-tested releases. To get to a first local chat, download the Linux desktop package from LM Studio, open the app, download a model in Discover, then load it from Chat.
Does LM Studio work on Ubuntu 24.04 and 26.04?
LM Studio’s System Requirements list Ubuntu 20.04 or newer as the Linux minimum, and add: “Ubuntu versions newer than 22 are not well tested.” Ubuntu 24.04 and 26.04 meet the stated minimum, but the documentation does not confirm either release individually or promise that every later Ubuntu release will work.
The requirements list Linux x64 and ARM64 (aarch64) architectures. Check your machine’s architecture and the live download page before choosing a package; download formats and version numbers can change.
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Use LM Studio’s Linux download page and select a desktop package that matches your architecture. At the time the page was checked for this article, it listed both an AppImage and a .deb package, each at version 0.4.25. That is a snapshot, not a promise that those formats or that version remain available.
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The official requirements page describes the Linux distribution as an AppImage, while the live download page observed here also offered a .deb. Follow the download page’s current instructions for installing and launching the package in Ubuntu’s graphical desktop. LM Studio’s published onboarding material does not specify a universal sequence of file-manager clicks, permissions prompts, or desktop-integration dialogs, so those steps can vary with package and system setup.
Install a model and start your first chat
- Launch LM Studio. Open the desktop app after completing the package’s current Ubuntu installation or launch instructions.
- Open Discover. Browse the curated models or search for one, then download it. Model search and downloads require an internet connection.
- Open Chat and load the model. In Chat, use the model loader to select the downloaded model. Loading allocates memory for the model’s weights and other parameters.
- Start chatting. Once the model has loaded, enter a prompt in the chat.
This is the graphical workflow in LM Studio’s Get started with LM Studio documentation. The desktop app is the GUI; llmster is the headless daemon and lms is the command-line interface. Neither is needed as the main route for installing and using the desktop app.
Check model fit, memory, and storage
Installing LM Studio does not guarantee that a particular model will load or run well. Model size and available system resources matter, and LM Studio notes that loading allocates memory for weights and other parameters. Choose a model with your computer’s capabilities in mind rather than assuming every Discover listing will fit.
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Model files are stored locally, and their storage needs depend on which models you choose. An external SSD is one optional way to keep model files if internal storage is tight; LM Studio does not require an external drive. The lms ls documentation shows an example machine with 47 models using 160.78 GB. That is an illustrative command output, not a typical collection size or recommended drive capacity.
What works offline?
Initial model discovery and downloading require connectivity. After the app and model files are on your computer, LM Studio says downloaded-model inference, document chat, and local-server operation can work offline. If you need to set up without internet, obtain the installer and model files beforehand.
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LM Studio’s Offline Operation page describes these connectivity limits.
AppImage or .deb: which should you choose?
Use the format currently offered for your architecture and follow its published instructions. LM Studio’s requirements page describes AppImage, while the observed download page also listed .deb; the available choices may change. The documentation cited here does not establish one format as universally better or faster, so choose based on the current download options and your preferred Ubuntu package workflow.
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Keep local-server access separate from installation
Running LM Studio’s local server is optional and not needed to chat in the desktop app. If you later expose the server beyond the same machine, note that its documented default bind is 127.0.0.1. Binding beyond localhost makes the service accessible beyond that machine’s loopback interface; LM Studio recommends authentication for that case. See lms server start.
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