![How to Check Your Ubuntu Version](https://assets.gcore.pro/blog_containerizing_prod/uploads/2023/05/featured-image.png)
You may need to determine the distribution version of your operating system if you want to connect third-party repositories or install specific software on a server that was not built and configured by you. In this guide, we will explore three methods to check the version of Ubuntu.
Method #1: Using the command line
1. Connect to the server.
2. Open the terminal window and execute the following command:
lsb_release -a
This command retrieves the release information of your Ubuntu system. Look for the line that starts with “Description” or “Release” in the output.
![Check the Ubuntu version with the "lsb_release -a" command](https://assets.gcore.pro/blog_containerizing_prod/uploads/2023/05/how-to-check-ubuntu-version-1-1024x548.png)
Note: Ubuntu version numbers follow a pattern of <Year>.<Month>, representing the year and month of the release.
Method #2: Using the command line (alternative)
1. Open the Terminal.
2. Enter the following command:
cat /etc/lsb-release
This command displays the contents of the “/etc/lsb-release” file, which contains information about your Ubuntu version.
Look for the line starting with “DISTRIB_RELEASE=”. The text after the equals sign (“=”) indicates your Ubuntu version number. Additionally, you can find information about the Ubuntu version on the line “DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION”.
![Check the Ubuntu version with the "cat /etc/lsb-rekease" command](https://assets.gcore.pro/blog_containerizing_prod/uploads/2023/05/how-to-check-ubuntu-version-2-1024x546.png)
Method #3: Using the system settings
1. Connect to the server where a graphical user interface (GUI) such as GNOME is installed.
2. Search for and open “Settings”.
![Settings in the Ubuntu GUI](https://assets.gcore.pro/blog_containerizing_prod/uploads/2023/05/how-to-check-ubuntu-version-3-1024x738.png)
3. In the “Settings” page, locate the “About” section.
![Open the About sections in the Ubuntu GUI](https://assets.gcore.pro/blog_containerizing_prod/uploads/2023/05/how-to-check-ubuntu-version-4-1024x704.png)
Under the “OS Name” section, you will find your Ubuntu version mentioned.
![Check the Ubuntu version in the System settings](https://assets.gcore.pro/blog_containerizing_prod/uploads/2023/05/how-to-check-ubuntu-version-5-1024x737.png)
By following these methods, you can easily check the version of Ubuntu installed on your system.
Conclusion
Want to run Ubuntu in a virtual environment? With Gcore Cloud, you can choose from Basic VM, Virtual Instances, or VPS/VDS suitable for Ubuntu:
- Gcore Basic VM offers shared virtual machines from €3.2 per month
- Virtual Instances are virtual machines with a variety of configurations and an application marketplace
- Virtual Dedicated Servers provide outstanding speed of 200+ Mbps in 20+ global locations