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Ubuntu 25.04, codenamed Plucky Puffin, was released on April 17, 2025. It introduced an official generic ARM64 desktop ISO and added an installer option for installing alongside BitLocker-protected Windows partitions—but only when the disk has enough unallocated space or a sufficiently large partition that can be resized. Ubuntu 25.04’s published support window ended on January 15, 2026, so it is now a historical release, not a current installation recommendation.

What changed in Ubuntu 25.04?

Ubuntu’s April 17, 2025 release announcement highlighted GNOME 48, the Linux 6.14 kernel, an ARM64 desktop image, and an improved installer experience for dual boot. These are release features, not guarantees of particular performance or compatibility. Ubuntu’s announcement described the installer change this way: “The installer now offers a smoother experience when installing alongside other operating systems, with better BitLocker support, and advanced partitioning.”

Does Ubuntu 25.04 support ARM64?

Yes. Ubuntu 25.04 added an official generic ARM64 desktop ISO. The release notes say it targets virtual machines, ACPI and EFI platforms, and Snapdragon-based Windows-on-Arm devices. They also say initial hardware enablement for the Snapdragon X Elite platform is included. Ubuntu 25.04 release notes

“Initial hardware enablement” is narrower than a promise that every feature works on every system. The generic image and release notes do not establish compatibility for every ARM64 computer or for any particular retail model. Check model-specific compatibility information before choosing an image or installing.

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Choose the image for the device architecture

ARM64 and the usual AMD64 (x86-64) image target different processor architectures. Confirm the architecture and firmware/platform requirements for the machine or virtual machine before downloading an installer. The release notes describe the ARM64 image’s intended platform scope, but do not provide a model-by-model compatibility list.

Can I install Ubuntu alongside BitLocker?

Ubuntu 25.04’s Desktop installer added an option to install alongside existing BitLocker partitions when the disk has enough unallocated space, or a partition that is sufficiently large and can be resized. The release notes also describe encrypted installations and other advanced options in dual-boot scenarios. Ubuntu 25.04 release notes

This is improved installer support, not a guarantee that every BitLocker configuration or disk layout will work. If the required free space is unavailable and no sufficiently large partition can be resized, the documented condition for this option is not met. Review the installer’s proposed partition changes carefully before proceeding.

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Is Ubuntu 25.04 still supported?

No. Ubuntu’s release notes describe 25.04 as a nine-month-supported release, and the official Ubuntu release list records its end of support as January 15, 2026. It is outside its published support window as of October 8, 2026. Ubuntu 25.04 release notes; Ubuntu release cycle

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If you are installing Ubuntu now, check Ubuntu’s release-cycle listing for a currently supported version. The 25.04 release notes recommended Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS for readers seeking long-term support at the time; that historical recommendation should not be taken as confirmation of current support status.

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