How to Check your Ubuntu Version Using the Command Line

This guide will walk you through the steps to check your Ubuntu version using the command-line interface (CLI).

Steps to Check Ubuntu Version:

For Servers:
If you check the Ubuntu version on a remote server, connect through an SSH client like PuTTY and log in as the root user.

For Desktop Users:

1. Open the terminal:
   Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + T to open the terminal.
2. Check the Ubuntu version using the “lsb_release” command:
   1.  Run the following command to display detailed version information:

      lsb_release -a

   2. For a simplified output, use:

      lsb_release -d

   3. The output will display your Ubuntu version details, similar to this:

      root@examplevps : ~#  lsb_release -d
      NO LSB modules are available.
      Description:    Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

3.  Alternative commands to check the Ubuntu version:
   1. Use the cat command to read the lsb-release file:

      cat /etc/lsb-release

   2. Alternatively, check the /etc/issue file for version details:

      cat /etc/issue

   3. Both methods will provide information about your installed Ubuntu version.

These commands help you quickly verify your Ubuntu version, whether you are using a desktop or a server environment. If you require assistance, feel free to contact our support staff.

Learn more about How to Determine OS Versions Using the Command Line.