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There is no universal Ubuntu Desktop installer for RISC-V. Your installation path is determined by the exact computer or board, its revision, and the image supplied for that platform. Canonical currently lists an Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop preinstalled image for the DeepComputing FML13V01. For many other RISC-V systems, including the StarFive VisionFive 2, the documented images are Ubuntu Server images rather than Desktop installers.
Identify the hardware first, then download only the image named for that platform. Do not use the ordinary ARM64 Ubuntu Desktop ISO: ARM64 and RISC-V are different instruction-set architectures.
What you need to know before downloading Ubuntu
RISC-V describes an instruction-set architecture, not one standardized computer. Two RISC-V boards can have different boot firmware, storage arrangements, graphics devices, ISA extensions and vendor support. An image that boots on one model may fail on another, even when both are described as “RISC-V.”
Record the exact model and revision
Write down the product name printed on the board or computer and its hardware revision. Include the revision in any search or support request. Ubuntu’s RISC-V downloads are organized by platform, and the available image types and limitations vary by board.
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- Use the full model name, not merely “RISC-V computer.”
- Check the revision printed on the board, packaging or firmware screen.
- Note whether the machine boots from microSD, onboard storage, SPI flash or another device.
- Identify how you will access a console if the display does not initialize; some board procedures require a USB UART adapter.
Decide whether you need Desktop or Server
A Desktop image includes a graphical session. A Server image is intended for console or remote administration and is not the same installer with the desktop interface hidden. Canonical’s official VisionFive 2 procedure is explicitly a Server installation. Calling that procedure a Desktop installation would set the wrong expectations about the interface, hardware acceleration and support.
Which Ubuntu image is available for your RISC-V system?
| Platform or path | Desktop status | Image and support status | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeepComputing FML13V01 | Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop preinstalled image is listed | Partner-built developer preview; Canonical says it is not production-ready and does not include Canonical security updates or support | Use the image and installation instructions supplied for the FML13V01, and verify that your exact hardware matches |
| StarFive VisionFive 2 | Official procedure documents Server, not Desktop | Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS preinstalled Server images and a live Server installer are listed | Follow the board-specific microSD or SPI/U-Boot procedure if Server is acceptable |
| Other listed RISC-V boards | Varies; many listings are Server-only | Image availability, boot method and limitations are platform-specific | Open the entry for the exact platform before selecting media |
This table is a compatibility decision, not a recommendation to substitute one board’s image for another. If your model is not named in an image listing, stop and find the vendor’s supported image before writing anything to a card or disk.
Check Ubuntu release and ISA compatibility
Canonical states that the required RISC-V ISA profile rises to RVA23S64 with the Ubuntu 26.04 LTS release. Hardware that is not RVA23-ready continues to be supported by Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS, according to Canonical’s RISC-V download information.
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When 24.04.5 LTS is the safer choice
If the board does not support RVA23S64, select the board’s Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS image when one is available. This is especially relevant to older development boards whose firmware or processor predates the newer baseline. Do not assume that a 26.04 image will boot merely because an earlier release did.
When 26.04 LTS can be considered
Use a 26.04 image only when the exact board is listed for that release and its hardware supports RVA23S64. The profile requirement is a hardware compatibility condition, not an optional performance setting that can be installed later.
Why the regular Desktop ISO is wrong
The ordinary Ubuntu 24.04.5 Desktop ISO is labeled for ARM64. Canonical’s release index lists separate RISC-V live Server media. ARM64 (the 64-bit ARM architecture) and RISC-V use different machine instructions and boot expectations, so an ARM64 Desktop ISO is not a fallback for a RISC-V computer.
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Path A: installing the listed Desktop image on a DeepComputing FML13V01
The FML13V01 is the currently listed example with an Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop preinstalled image. The image is built and hosted by a partner, and Canonical directs users to the partner’s installation instructions. Treat the procedure as hardware-specific rather than a recipe for every RISC-V board.
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1. Confirm the target before preparing media
- Verify that the machine is a DeepComputing FML13V01 and record its revision.
- Confirm that the download is labeled for Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop and the FML13V01, rather than for a different RISC-V platform or ARM64.
- Read the current FML13V01 instructions before connecting storage or changing firmware settings. The vendor’s steps define the supported media, boot order and recovery process.
- Back up any data on the target storage and on the removable media you plan to use. Writing a preinstalled image normally overwrites the destination.
2. Write the partner image exactly as documented
Use the image-writing method specified by the FML13V01 instructions. Do not improvise a VisionFive 2 boot method, partition layout or firmware sequence on this machine. The correct operation depends on where the board expects its bootloader and root filesystem.
After writing, safely eject and reconnect the media so your operating system can verify that the write completed. If the vendor supplies a checksum or verification step, perform it before attempting the first boot. A corrupted download can look like a firmware or graphics failure.
3. Boot and complete the graphical setup
Insert or attach the prepared media using the FML13V01 procedure, select the documented boot source and power on. Complete the Ubuntu graphical setup only after the machine reaches the Desktop installer or first-boot experience described by the vendor. If it stops before a graphical screen appears, use the vendor’s console and recovery guidance instead of repeatedly rewriting unrelated images.
4. Understand the support boundary
Canonical describes these partner-built images with the following qualification:
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- It supports four serial interfaces, including UART, I2C, and SPI.
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That status matters after installation. A successful boot does not turn the image into a production-supported Canonical Desktop release. Confirm the partner’s update mechanism, security maintenance plan and recovery instructions before using the machine for sensitive or dependable workloads.
Path B: installing Ubuntu Server on a StarFive VisionFive 2
The VisionFive 2 documentation is useful because it shows how board-specific a RISC-V installation can be. It documents Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS Server images, not an Ubuntu Desktop installer.
Preinstalled Server image to microSD
- Download the VisionFive 2 Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS preinstalled Server image named for that board.
- Write the image to a microSD card using the method described in the board guide. This operation replaces the card’s existing contents.
- Set the board’s boot source as directed by the VisionFive 2 instructions.
- Connect a USB UART adapter for the documented console-based setup.
- Power on and use the serial console to observe boot progress and complete the Server setup.
The microSD card and USB UART adapter in this procedure are requirements of the documented VisionFive 2 route. They are not universal requirements for every RISC-V computer.
Live Server installer using U-Boot on SPI flash
The alternative live-installer route requires U-Boot to be present on SPI flash. With that prerequisite satisfied, the board’s boot flow reaches GRUB, where the documented entry is “Try or Install Ubuntu Server.” Select that entry and continue through the Server installer shown for the VisionFive 2.
This route still installs Server. The presence of a live installer, GRUB menu or graphical display during installation does not make it an Ubuntu Desktop image.
What this path does not establish
The VisionFive 2 instructions do not establish a supported, accelerated Ubuntu Desktop configuration. Installing a desktop environment on top of Server may involve graphics drivers, firmware, display output and board-specific acceleration that the documented procedure does not promise. Do not advertise the Server steps as a Desktop solution.
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How to handle a board that has only a Server image
When the platform listing shows Server only, you have three responsible choices:
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- Install the supported Server image and use the machine headlessly or through a remote administration workflow.
- Choose hardware with a listed Desktop image, such as the FML13V01 path, if a graphical Ubuntu environment is essential.
- Investigate a desktop-on-Server experiment separately, accepting that the reviewed documentation does not establish universal commands, graphics support or Canonical support for it.
Do not copy commands from an ARM64 Desktop tutorial. Even if package names appear similar, the bootloader, kernel configuration, graphics stack and available binaries can differ on RISC-V.
Checks before attempting a desktop layer
- Confirm that the board’s vendor supports the required display output and GPU driver on the chosen Ubuntu release.
- Verify that the firmware and bootloader are current according to the board maker’s instructions.
- Determine how you will recover if the graphical session prevents normal boot; retain console access first.
- Check whether the vendor provides updates for the kernel, firmware and graphics components.
- Keep a known-good Server image so you can restore the board without guessing at partitions or boot settings.
Troubleshooting by symptom
The machine does not boot at all
- Recheck the model and hardware revision against the image name.
- Make sure you used a RISC-V image, not the ARM64 Desktop ISO.
- Repeat the media-writing and verification steps from the board guide.
- Confirm the boot source setting and any required SPI, U-Boot or firmware prerequisite.
Boot reaches a console but no Desktop appears
That usually indicates that you installed a Server image or followed a Server procedure. On the VisionFive 2, this is the expected result of the documented installation. A console is not evidence that the Desktop installation failed.
The display remains blank
Do not immediately reflash with a different architecture image. First use the board’s documented serial console, check the supported release and verify graphics and firmware support for the exact model. A partner or vendor may limit graphical support even when the operating system itself boots.
An Ubuntu 26.04 image fails on older hardware
Check whether the processor supports RVA23S64. If it is not RVA23-ready, use the supported Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS image for that platform instead, provided one is listed.
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RISC-V compatibility is not interchangeable across boards. Return to the platform listing and obtain the image specifically named for your model and revision. Differences in boot firmware, storage and peripherals are enough to prevent startup.
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A safe installation checklist
- Identify the exact board or computer model and revision.
- Open the platform-specific Ubuntu listing and determine whether it offers Desktop or Server.
- Match the release to the processor’s ISA support: Ubuntu 26.04 requires RVA23S64; non-RVA23-ready hardware remains supported by Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS.
- Reject the standard ARM64 Desktop ISO for a RISC-V machine.
- Read the vendor or board instructions before writing media or changing boot firmware.
- Back up data and use only the specified storage and console accessories.
- Follow the exact image-writing and boot-source procedure for that platform.
- Keep the installation’s support status in mind, especially for partner-built developer previews.
- Preserve a recovery image and console path before experimenting with any unlisted desktop configuration.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use one Ubuntu RISC-V image on every RISC-V computer?
No. RISC-V is an instruction-set architecture, while Ubuntu downloads and boot procedures are platform-specific. Use the image named for the exact board and revision.
Is the VisionFive 2 guide an Ubuntu Desktop guide?
No. Canonical’s documented VisionFive 2 routes install Ubuntu Server, using either a preinstalled microSD image or a live Server installer with the required U-Boot and SPI setup.
Are partner-built Desktop images production-supported by Canonical?
Not in the case documented for the FML13V01. Canonical labels those images developer previews and states that they are not production-ready and do not include Canonical security updates or support.
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Install the listed Server image if that meets your needs, choose a platform with a listed Desktop image, or treat any desktop-on-Server attempt as an unsupported, hardware-dependent project. Do not substitute an ARM64 Desktop ISO.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use one Ubuntu RISC-V image on every RISC-V computer?
No. RISC-V is an instruction-set architecture, while Ubuntu downloads and boot procedures are platform-specific. Use the image named for the exact board and revision.
Is the VisionFive 2 guide an Ubuntu Desktop guide?
No. Canonical’s documented VisionFive 2 routes install Ubuntu Server, using either a preinstalled microSD image or a live Server installer with the required U-Boot and SPI setup.
Are partner-built Desktop images production-supported by Canonical?
Not in the case documented for the FML13V01. Canonical labels those images developer previews and states that they are not production-ready and do not include Canonical security updates or support.
What should I do if my board is not listed with a Desktop image?
Install the listed Server image if that meets your needs, choose a platform with a listed Desktop image, or treat any desktop-on-Server attempt as an unsupported, hardware-dependent project. Do not substitute an ARM64 Desktop ISO.
The Bottom Line
Install Ubuntu Desktop on RISC-V only through an image explicitly built for your exact platform. The documented Desktop path here is the Ubuntu 24.04 partner preview for the DeepComputing FML13V01; the VisionFive 2 documentation covers Server. Match the release to the board’s ISA support, and never replace a RISC-V image with the standard ARM64 Desktop ISO.
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