The UBports team has officially released Ubuntu Touch 24.04-1.0, marking the first version of the mobile OS built on top of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, which moves away from the older Ubuntu 20.04 base and introduces a newer software stack, including Qt 5.15.
At the same time, the update adds support for new hardware, with the Fairphone 5 joining the list of compatible devices. Other supported phones and tablets include the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1, F(x)tec Pro1 X, multiple OnePlus and Xiaomi models, the Google Pixel 3a, the Volla lineup, and the Lenovo Tab M10 HD 2nd Gen, among others.
On the feature side, users now get the option to switch the shell to light mode, extending theme switching beyond just apps. There’s also experimental support for encrypting personal data, a refreshed Phone app layout better suited for bigger screens, and a new USB mode setting that enables charging, file transfer, or internet sharing over USB.
Additionally, the update features new Ubuntu Touch logos to align with the latest Ubuntu branding.
Another highly requested feature has also been introduced in this release, namely, experimental support for encrypting personal data, providing devices with an extra layer of protection if they’re lost or stolen. Once enabled, the system will prompt for a passcode or passphrase during boot, which unlocks the encrypted storage before the rest of the OS starts.
The option is device-specific and can be found under “System Settings” > “Security & Privacy” as “Encryption (Experimental).”
Apart from that, there are numerous smaller changes, including a rotate button when orientation lock is active, enhanced workspace handling in convergence mode, improvements to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi settings, and adjustments across System Settings.
Lastly, the team warns of some known issues, like longer first boot times on devices with many apps installed, phantom “messaging-app” entries when sharing text, and occasional fingerprint problems on the Fairphone 5.
Existing users will need to upgrade in two steps: first to Ubuntu Touch 20.04 OTA-10, then to 24.04-1.0. New users can find installation instructions for their devices on the UBports website.
For more information, see the release announcement.
Image credits: UBports
