Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS launched on April 25, 2022, with Ubuntu 22.04 underneath a GNOME 42 desktop enhanced by System76’s COSMIC UX. Its headline additions included scheduled updates, a redesigned Pop!_Shop, PipeWire audio, and workspace improvements. System76’s current download listing marks 22.04 as a previous release and offers 24.04 as the current LTS line, with a documented upgrade path between them.
What Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS introduced
System76 released Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS on April 25, 2022. It was based on Ubuntu 22.04 and paired GNOME 42 with the company’s COSMIC user experience. At launch, the release included Linux kernel 5.16.19 and Mesa 22; those are launch-era versions, not a statement of what a 22.04 installation runs today. System76’s release announcement describes the launch changes.
Scheduled automatic updates
Users could choose a day and time for operating-system and application updates. The feature covered Debian, Flatpak, and Nix packages, and was off by default, so updates were not scheduled unless the user enabled and configured the option.
Updated Pop!_Shop
The app store received backend and reliability work alongside interface refinements intended to work better in smaller tiling windows. Install and update buttons gained progress indicators, and a “Recently Updated” section made recently changed software easier to find.
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PipeWire audio
PipeWire became the default audio-processing system. System76 said software built for PulseAudio would remain compatible, allowing users to benefit from the new default without assuming that older PulseAudio applications would stop working.
Support panel and desktop refinements
Settings gained a Support panel with links to troubleshooting and documentation. System76 also listed improved multi-monitor support, HiDPI layout fixes, faster workspace views, improved CPU scaling, NVIDIA driver visibility in Pop!_Shop, and laptop privacy-screen support among the release refinements.
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What changed after the 2022 launch
Pop!_OS follows Ubuntu’s release cycle while System76 updates core technologies on a semi-rolling basis. In an April 17, 2024 update, System76 reported that the official Pop!_OS release had moved to Linux kernel 6.8.0. The company associated that dated kernel update with Intel Xe and Intel Arc graphics support, support for an upcoming AMD Zen 5 chipset, and networking optimizations. This is a historical update report, not confirmation of the kernel currently installed on every 22.04 system. System76’s April 2024 update provides the dated details.
Is Pop!_OS 22.04 still the current LTS?
No. System76’s download page lists Pop!_OS 22.04 among previous releases and identifies 24.04 as the current LTS line. That means 22.04 is no longer the current LTS offering; the cited listing does not, by itself, specify a support end date for 22.04. Check the current Pop!_OS download listing for the release being offered.
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What to expect when moving from 22.04 to 24.04
The most visible change is the desktop. Pop!_OS 22.04 combines GNOME 42 with COSMIC UX, while 24.04 introduces the COSMIC Desktop and replaces the GNOME desktop and several GNOME applications with COSMIC applications. System76’s upgrade guidance also calls out several migration details:
- Dock: Applications pinned to the dock need to be pinned again after upgrading.
- PPAs and local DEB applications: PPAs are removed during the upgrade. Applications installed from PPAs or from local DEB files need to be reinstalled.
- Third-party software: Many third-party repositories can make the upgrade more prone to complications, so account for them before starting.
How to upgrade Pop!_OS 22.04 to 24.04
System76 documents both a graphical route and a terminal route. Before either one, back up important files and install all available updates for the current system. System76 estimates the upgrade can take up to an hour, depending on the connection and system speed.
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Use the graphical upgrade route
- Open Pop!_Shop and install available updates for your existing system.
- Open Settings and use the operating-system upgrade option when it is offered to begin the move to Pop!_OS 24.04.
- Follow the on-screen prompts and allow the upgrade to complete. The process may take up to an hour depending on your connection and system speed.
Use the terminal upgrade route
System76’s support instructions include terminal commands for updating the recovery partition and starting the release upgrade. Follow the commands in the current System76 upgrade guide rather than relying on copied commands that may not reflect the latest procedure. The guide says to update the recovery partition before beginning the release upgrade on this route.
When an in-place upgrade may need extra care
System76 identifies jumps across multiple releases, old end-of-life installations, and installations with many third-party repositories as factors that raise the chance of complications. Review the upgrade guide and your repository setup before proceeding if any of those describe your system.
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Upgrade is not the same as Refresh
Do not choose Refresh as a substitute for a normal version upgrade. System76 warns that Refresh reinstalls the operating-system version in Recovery and removes user-installed applications. Use the version-upgrade procedure when the goal is to move from 22.04 to 24.04.
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