Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Raises Recommended Memory Requirement to 6 GB

Canonical increased the recommended system memory for the upcoming Ubuntu 26.04 LTS “Resolute Raccoon” to 6 GB of RAM, a first major change since 2018. According to the release note, the 26.04 LTS now lists 6 GB of RAM as the baseline for a comfortable desktop experience, alongside a 2 GHz dual-core CPU and 25 GB of storage, unchanged from previous generations. This represents a 50% increase over Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, which in 2018 raised the bar to 4 GB, and a notable shift from earlier releases that ran on as little as 1 GB. The change is not caused by a heavier core OS. Instead, it reflects the reality of modern workloads. The GNOME desktop, now updated to newer revisions, along with current web browsers (i.e., Firefox) and everyday apps like LibreOffice, demand more memory in multitasking scenarios.

Importantly, 6 GB is not a hard requirement. Ubuntu 26.04 LTS will still install on systems with less than 6 GB of RAM. However, performance may suffer. Early testing shows that the OS remains functional even on 2 GB systems although with significant slowdowns. As before, the 25 GB storage requirement remains mandatory for the desktop edition. As Ubuntu 26.04 LTS is expected to be the next long-term support release from Canonical, the Ubuntu ecosystem provides many options for those using lower-end hardware. Lighter flavors such as the official Lubuntu or the Linux Lite distro, and manual installations with a minimal base remain available and viable options. Also, Ubuntu Server can be deployed on systems with around 1-1.5 GB of RAM, depending on the use case. Ubuntu 26.04 LTS is currently in development and scheduled to be released on April 23.