From Plucky Puffin to Questing Quokka: Lubuntu 25.10 Upgrade Highlights & How-To Guide
From Plucky Puffin to Questing Quokka: Lubuntu 25.10 Upgrade Highlights & How-To Guide
Table of contents:-
How to Upgrade to Lubuntu 25.10
The Lubuntu community has once again delivered a release that balances lightness with modernity. With the transition from Plucky Puffin (25.04) to Questing Quokka (25.10), users are not only stepping into a refreshed desktop environment but also embracing deeper under-the-hood changes that reflect the project’s forward-looking ethos. This article explores the highlights of Lubuntu 25.10 and provides a clear, step-by-step guide to upgrading safely and effectively.
Highlights of Lubuntu 25.10
Lubuntu 25.10, codenamed Questing Quokka, marks the 29th release of Lubuntu and the 15th with LXQt as the default desktop environment. As an interim release, it carries a nine-month support window, extending until July 2026. While shorter than an LTS cycle, interim releases are vital for testing new technologies and preparing the ground for the next long-term milestone.
One of the most significant changes is the adoption of LXQt 2.2, paired with Qt 6.8.3, ensuring a smoother, more modern desktop experience. This upgrade enhances stability and performance, while also aligning Lubuntu with the broader Ubuntu ecosystem’s transition towards Qt 6.
Another headline feature is the introduction of Rust-based system components. Ubuntu 25.10, and by extension Lubuntu, now ships with uutils rust-coreutils replacing traditional GNU coreutils. This shift aims to improve memory safety and robustness at the heart of the operating system. Alongside this, sudo-rs replaces the long-standing sudo command. While mostly compatible, some legacy options—such as sudo -E—are no longer supported, requiring users to adapt scripts and workflows.
The release also continues Lubuntu’s Wayland journey. Although full adoption is reserved for the upcoming 26.04 LTS, 25.10 introduces Miriway as the default Wayland compositor, signalling a decisive step away from X11. This transition is not just about modern graphics handling but also about accessibility, security, and future-proofing the desktop experience.
On the application front, Lubuntu 25.10 ships with Firefox (Snap, version 142 at release), LibreOffice 25.8, VLC 3.0.21, Featherpad 1.6.2, and Discover 6.4.5. These tools ensure that users have a capable suite of everyday applications out of the box, while still keeping the system lean.
Known issues are candidly documented by the Lubuntu team. For instance, apt may occasionally resolve dependencies in unexpected ways, sometimes pulling in packages like KWallet instead of gnome-keyring. Disk management tools such as cryptsetup and btrfs-tools are no longer preinstalled, which may cause warnings in KDE Partition Manager. Users installing on BIOS systems should also take care to confirm bootloader settings during installation to avoid unbootable setups.
How to Upgrade to Lubuntu 25.10
Upgrading is a straightforward process, but it requires preparation. The Lubuntu Manual strongly advises backing up important files before beginning. Unexpected interruptions—such as power loss on laptops—can cause serious issues, so ensure your device is connected to mains power.
Graphical Upgrade
First, update your current system fully using Preferences → Lubuntu Update.
Once updates are installed, launch the graphical upgrader. From the terminal, this can be initiated with:
A window will guide you through the process. You can review details of the changes, cancel if needed, or proceed with the upgrade.
The upgrader will download required packages, install them, and then prompt you to remove obsolete software.
After cleanup, reboot to complete the upgrade.
Command-Line Upgrade
Update your system with:
Once restarted, run:
If no new release is found, adjust your Software Sources to allow normal releases.
Follow the prompts, reviewing details as needed. Confirm with y to proceed.
After installation, remove old packages when prompted, then reboot into Lubuntu 25.10.
When a Clean Install Might Be Preferable
If your setup is heavily customised, uses many PPAs, or has drifted over time, a clean install can avoid subtle dependency conflicts. Backup your home, install Lubuntu 25.10 fresh, then restore data and reapply configurations.
Fun fact
Quokkas are known as the “happiest animal in the world” because of their naturally upturned mouths that make them look like they’re always smiling. This adorable expression has made them selfie superstars—there are thousands of #quokkaselfies online!
Conclusion
The leap from Plucky Puffin to Questing Quokka is more than a routine upgrade—it’s a statement of intent. Lubuntu 25.10 blends lightweight efficiency with cutting-edge underpinnings, preparing users for the fully Wayland-powered 26.04 LTS. Whether you’re drawn by the sleek LXQt 2.2 desktop, the robustness of Rust-based utilities, or simply the joy of a nimble Ubuntu flavour, this release is worth the journey.
Disclaimer
Lubuntu, Ubuntu, LXQt, Qt, Firefox, LibreOffice, and other names mentioned are respective trade names or trademarks of their owners. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, The Distrowrite Project cannot guarantee absolute completeness. We strongly advise users to backup important data before performing upgrades.
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