Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS arrived on 10 September 2026, but Canonical temporarily removed its AMD64 Desktop ISO one day later. The installer can crash when a user chooses the extended installation option. Ubuntu Server, other architectures and official Ubuntu flavours are not affected by this specific problem.
As of 13 September, Ubuntu’s public download directory still points Desktop users to the older 24.04.4 image. A replacement 24.04.5 test image has passed the installation path that previously crashed, but Canonical has not yet restored the corrected Desktop ISO for general download.
Key takeaways
- Canonical pulled only the Ubuntu 24.04.5 AMD64 Desktop ISO.
- The crash occurs when the installer uses the extended software selection.
- Ubuntu 24.04.5 Server, WSL, netboot and official flavour images remain available.
- Existing Ubuntu 24.04 users can continue installing normal updates.
- For a new Desktop installation, use Ubuntu 24.04.4 or wait for the corrected 24.04.5 image.
What happened to the Ubuntu 24.04.5 Desktop ISO?
Canonical announced Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS as the newest point release in the Noble Numbat series. A point release combines the updates delivered since the original Ubuntu 24.04 release and provides refreshed installation media. That normally means a new installation needs fewer updates immediately after the first boot.
On 11 September, Canonical added an important notice to its official Ubuntu 24.04.5 announcement. The release team said the AMD64 Desktop installer could crash when the extended installation option was selected. Canonical removed that Desktop image to prevent more users from hitting the failure.
The associated Launchpad bug report identifies remnants of an enhanced secure-boot component on the image as the cause. The important point for normal users is simpler: the problem is inside one installation image, not a general failure affecting every Ubuntu 24.04.5 system.
| Image or system | Current status | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04.5 Desktop AMD64 ISO | Temporarily withdrawn | Wait for the corrected image or use 24.04.4 |
| Ubuntu 24.04.5 Server AMD64 ISO | Available | Continue using the official download |
| Ubuntu 24.04.5 WSL and netboot files | Available | Not affected by this Desktop-installer issue |
| Official Ubuntu flavours | Available | Follow each flavour’s own release notes |
| Existing Ubuntu 24.04 installation | Not affected | Install normal package updates |
Who is affected by the installer crash?
The confirmed problem has a narrow scope. It affects the 64-bit PC, or AMD64, Ubuntu 24.04.5 Desktop image when the extended selection path is used. That is the option which installs a broader collection of applications during setup.
It does not mean every Ubuntu 24.04.5 installation will crash. It also does not affect systems that reached the same package level through ordinary updates. Canonical says only one artifact was withdrawn. The current Ubuntu release directory continues to list the 24.04.5 Server, netboot and WSL files while offering the 24.04.4 image for Desktop installations.
Users planning a server deployment do not need to replace the Server image because of this particular issue. However, they should still verify checksums and read the release notes before installing any operating system on an important machine.
What if you already downloaded Ubuntu 24.04.5 Desktop?
Do not use the withdrawn image for a new installation, especially if you intend to choose the extended software selection. Keeping the file temporarily is harmless, but clearly label it so it is not used by mistake.
Once Canonical publishes the corrected image, compare its filename, publication time and SHA256 checksum against the values shown on Ubuntu’s official server. Do not rely on a third-party mirror that may still hold the withdrawn file.
Users comfortable with zsync may be able to update the existing ISO after Canonical restores the official .zsync file. This can download only the changed parts instead of fetching the entire image again. Wait for the corrected public image and official checksum before doing this.
What should existing Ubuntu 24.04 users do?
If Ubuntu 24.04 is already installed and working, there is no need to reinstall it. The installer problem concerns the withdrawn Desktop media. Continue applying normal security and bug-fix updates:
sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade
sudo rebootAfter restarting, you can inspect the Ubuntu release description and running kernel:
lsb_release -ds
uname -rUbuntu 24.04.5 uses the Linux 7.0 hardware-enablement kernel on supported Desktop installations. That is different from the newer upstream kernels covered in our Linux 7.2 release tracker. A higher upstream version number does not automatically mean it is the correct kernel for an Ubuntu LTS system; use Canonical’s supported packages unless you have a tested reason to do otherwise.
How can you install Ubuntu safely right now?
For a new AMD64 Desktop installation, there are two sensible choices:
- Wait for the corrected Ubuntu 24.04.5 Desktop image. This is the easiest option if the installation is not urgent.
- Install Ubuntu 24.04.4 and update it. Canonical has kept the older Desktop ISO available. After installation, install all updates and reboot.
Download the image only from Ubuntu’s official release directory. Confirm that the filename matches the version you intend to install, verify its SHA256 checksum and create the bootable USB again. Reusing a USB written from the withdrawn image will not solve the problem.
If you are preparing a Linux workstation, our guide to installing and updating LibreOffice on Ubuntu covers one common post-install task. Users comparing upcoming distributions can also see the confirmed changes in Fedora 45.
When will the corrected Ubuntu 24.04.5 ISO arrive?
Canonical said it expected to respin the Desktop image after the fix had been reviewed and tested, likely early in the following week. That is an estimate, not a guaranteed release date.
There is encouraging progress. On 12 September, a Canonical team member reported that a test ISO completed the extended-selection path which crashed with the original image. The same update also made clear that only a smoke test had been completed at that stage. Wider testing must finish before the replacement becomes the public download.
This article will be updated when Canonical restores the image. The clearest confirmation will be a new Ubuntu 24.04.5 Desktop file and checksum in the official release directory, supported by an update from the Ubuntu release team.
LinuxPanda’s assessment
Withdrawing the image was the responsible decision. The bug is frustrating for anyone performing a fresh installation, but its impact is narrower than headlines such as “Ubuntu 24.04.5 is broken” would suggest. Existing installations, Server media and other listed artifacts remain usable.
There is little benefit in rushing to download the withdrawn ISO from an unofficial mirror. Ubuntu 24.04 is an LTS release, so stability matters more than obtaining a point-release image a few days earlier. Wait for the validated replacement, or use 24.04.4 and update through the normal package system.
Frequently asked questions
Was Ubuntu 24.04.5 completely withdrawn?
No. Canonical withdrew the affected AMD64 Desktop ISO. Ubuntu 24.04.5 Server, netboot, WSL and the official flavour images remain available.
Is an existing Ubuntu 24.04.5 system unsafe?
This installer bug does not indicate that an already installed and updated Ubuntu system is unsafe. The confirmed failure occurs during one Desktop installation path.
Can I install Ubuntu 24.04.4 and upgrade later?
Yes. Canonical specifically said Desktop users can install 24.04.4 and update it normally without being affected by the withdrawn 24.04.5 installer image.
Should I download Ubuntu 24.04.5 from another mirror?
No. A mirror may still contain the withdrawn image. Use Canonical’s official release directory and verify the checksum after the corrected image is published.
Sources and methodology
LinuxPanda checked the Ubuntu release announcement and withdrawal notice, the Launchpad installer report, the live Ubuntu 24.04.5 download directory and Canonical’s Ubuntu 24.04 release notes. We also compared the official account with independent reporting from OMG! Ubuntu. Availability was rechecked on 13 September 2026 before publication.
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