There is no single Ubuntu Desktop installer that works on every RISC-V computer. RISC-V describes an instruction-set architecture, while each board may require its own firmware, boot flow and image. Identify the exact board and revision first, then use the image listed for that platform. Canonical currently lists an Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop preinstalled image for the DeepComputing FML13V01. For many other boards, including the StarFive VisionFive 2, Canonical documents Ubuntu Server images rather than a Desktop installer.
Do not write the ordinary Ubuntu ARM64 Desktop ISO to a RISC-V board. The Ubuntu release index identifies that desktop ISO as ARM64 and lists separate RISC-V Server media. The sections below show how to choose a valid path, what the documented VisionFive 2 procedure actually installs, and why adding a graphical desktop to an arbitrary Server image is not a universal recipe.
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What you need to know before downloading anything
Ubuntu images are published for named RISC-V platforms, not for an abstract “RISC-V PC.” Two boards can use the same instruction-set family yet differ in boot firmware, storage layout, graphics hardware and supported Ubuntu releases. A file that boots on one board may fail silently or leave another board unbootable.
- Record the exact model and revision. Photograph the board label or read the vendor identification in its documentation. “RISC-V” alone is not enough.
- Check whether Canonical lists a Desktop image. A Server image is not a Desktop installer, even when both use the same Ubuntu release number.
- Read the board maker’s boot instructions. They determine whether you need a microSD card, SPI flash, another storage device, a serial console or a particular boot switch.
- Match the release to the processor’s ISA support. Canonical says Ubuntu 26.04 LTS raises the required RISC-V profile to RVA23S64. Hardware that is not RVA23-ready remains supported by Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS, according to Canonical’s RISC-V download page.
Which Ubuntu image works on your RISC-V board?
| Hardware path | Image currently documented | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| DeepComputing FML13V01 | Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop preinstalled image | A Desktop image is listed, but Canonical identifies partner-built images as developer previews rather than production releases. The image does not include Canonical security updates or Canonical support. Use the vendor’s instructions for the exact computer and revision. |
| StarFive VisionFive 2 | Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS preinstalled Server image and live Server installer | The official procedure installs Ubuntu Server. It is not evidence of an official VisionFive 2 Desktop installer. |
| Other boards shown on Canonical’s RISC-V pages | Usually board-specific Server media, with availability varying by platform | Check the individual platform entry, release compatibility and vendor guide before selecting media. Do not substitute an image for a different board. |
The table is a decision point, not a promise that every listed image has identical hardware support. Availability can change between releases, and the same board name can have multiple hardware revisions.
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- Flexible MCU Board: Incorporate the ESP32-C3 32-bit RISC-V chip, operating up to 160 MHz, mounted multiple development ports,
- Developer Friendly: Compatible with Arduino IDE, MicroPython, CircuitPython, PlatformIO, ESP IDF, Zephyr, Matter, ESPNow, Meshtastic, WLED, ESPHome, Home Assistant, Ubidots
- Outstanding RF performance: Complete Wi-Fi functions and Bluetooth Low Energy, while supporting communication over 100m with anFL antenna
- Elaborate Power Design: 4 working modes as low as 44 μA in deep sleep mode, while supporting lithium battery charge management
- Thumb-sized Design: 21 x 17.5mm, Seeed Studio XIAO series classic form factor
Step 1: identify the board and revision
Write down the manufacturer, complete model name, revision number and any processor or memory variant. If the computer is sold as a complete system, record its model identifier rather than only the CPU family. For a development board, inspect the silkscreen, packaging or boot documentation.
This information determines the image, bootloader and storage procedure. It also tells you whether a release requiring RVA23S64 is appropriate. If you cannot establish the revision, stop before flashing an image: a near-identical revision can use different firmware or peripherals.
Step 2: check the release and image status
Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop on the FML13V01
Canonical’s partner-built RISC-V page lists an Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop preinstalled image for the DeepComputing FML13V01 and sends users to DeepComputing’s installation instructions. Canonical describes these partner images as developer previews. In its wording, they are “not production-ready” and do not include Canonical security updates or support.
That status does not make the image unusable; it changes the decision you should make. Treat it as hardware-specific preview software. Confirm that the download is intended for your exact FML13V01 revision, read the vendor’s known limitations, and decide whether preview-level maintenance is acceptable before replacing an existing system.
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and the RVA23S64 requirement
Canonical states that the required RISC-V ISA profile was upgraded to RVA23S64 with Ubuntu 26.04 LTS. A board that is not RVA23-ready should use the supported 24.04.5 LTS path instead, where Canonical says such hardware continues to be supported. This is a compatibility requirement, not an optional performance setting: verify the processor capability and the platform’s release listing before downloading 26.04 media.
Installing the listed Desktop image on a DeepComputing FML13V01
The available Desktop route is a preinstalled partner image, so the authoritative sequence comes from DeepComputing’s instructions for the FML13V01. Canonical’s page establishes that the image exists and identifies its support status; it does not provide one universal flashing sequence for all RISC-V computers.
Rank #2
- CH32V003 Development Minimum System Board for Nano RISC-V CH32V003F4U6 Chip TYPE-C USB 22Pin
- on-board 24MHz Crystal oscillator
- Power by TYPE-C USB
- Confirm the target. Make sure the computer is the FML13V01 and that its revision matches the image documentation. Do not proceed on a different DeepComputing model merely because the processor is also RISC-V.
- Open the platform entry on Canonical’s partner-built RISC-V page. Select the Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop preinstalled image specifically labeled for the FML13V01. Do not select the standard ARM64 Desktop ISO.
- Read the linked DeepComputing instructions before writing media. Use the storage device, image-writing method and boot-selection procedure specified for that computer. The correct medium is a property of the platform; it is not universal across RISC-V boards.
- Download the exact image named by the instructions. Keep the release and board name visible while downloading so a Server image or another board’s build is not accidentally selected. If the vendor publishes a checksum, compare it after downloading.
- Prepare the boot medium exactly as documented. Writing an image normally overwrites the target medium. Disconnect any drive containing important data and verify the destination before confirming the write. Follow the vendor’s instructions for whether the computer boots from removable media or internal storage.
- Set the documented boot source and start the computer. Use the board’s specified switch, firmware menu or other selection method. If the screen remains blank, do not repeatedly rewrite random images; return to the FML13V01 boot and firmware guidance.
- Complete the first-boot setup and test the hardware. Check that the display, input devices, storage, networking and sleep or reboot behavior work on your exact system. Preview images can have incomplete drivers or acceleration, so a desktop that appears is not proof that every function is supported.
Because this image is a partner-built developer preview, plan how you will obtain fixes and security maintenance from the vendor. Canonical’s statement means you should not assume the normal Canonical security-update and support coverage that accompanies a production Canonical image.
The documented StarFive VisionFive 2 route installs Server
The VisionFive 2 is a useful example of why “Ubuntu on RISC-V” and “Ubuntu Desktop on RISC-V” are different questions. Canonical’s VisionFive 2 page lists Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS preinstalled Server images and a live Server installer. Its documented procedures do not describe a Desktop installer.
Preinstalled Server image to microSD
- Choose the VisionFive 2 Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS preinstalled Server image from the board’s platform entry.
- Flash that image to a microSD card using the image-writing method recommended in the VisionFive 2 instructions. The card is a board-specific requirement in this procedure, not a universal requirement for every RISC-V computer.
- Set the VisionFive 2’s boot source to the microSD card according to the board documentation.
- Connect a USB UART adapter so you can see the board’s console output and interact with the early boot and login process. The adapter is part of this documented console workflow.
- Power on the board and follow the Server first-boot instructions shown through the serial console.
Live Server installer through U-Boot and GRUB
The alternate live-installer route requires U-Boot to be present on the board’s SPI flash. After the board is prepared as described by Canonical, the boot menu provides a GRUB entry labeled “Try or Install Ubuntu Server.” Selecting that entry starts the live Server installation flow. This still produces Ubuntu Server; the presence of a graphical installer path does not turn it into Ubuntu Desktop.
Desktop image, preinstalled image and live installer: what is the difference?
These labels describe different delivery methods. A preinstalled image is a disk image prepared for a named platform; you write it to the storage medium specified by the vendor and boot the completed system. A live installer starts an installer environment from boot media and then installs the operating system to its target storage. A Desktop or Server label describes the resulting Ubuntu flavor, not merely the appearance of the installer.
That distinction matters on RISC-V because a live graphical-looking menu can still install Server. On the VisionFive 2, the GRUB choice says “Try or Install Ubuntu Server,” and the resulting system is Server. Conversely, the FML13V01 listing is explicitly a Desktop preinstalled image. Read the complete platform and image description rather than inferring the flavor from a screenshot or filename fragment.
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Media, accessories and cost planning
The sources do not establish one universal storage capacity, speed rating or brand for RISC-V installations. Do not buy media solely because another board used it. First check the chosen platform’s instructions for whether it expects microSD, internal storage or another device. Writing a preinstalled image usually erases the destination, so the practical cost includes a separate medium if you need to preserve existing data.
Rank #3
- The ESP32-C3 SUPERMINI is positioned as a high-performance, low-power, cost-effective IoT mini development board, suitable for low-power IoT applications and wireless wearable applications
- It is equipped with a rich set of interfaces, including 11 digital I/Os that can be used as PWM pins and 4 analog I/Os that can be used as ADC pins.
- It supports four serial interfaces, including UART, I2C, and SPI.
- The ESP32-C3 features a 32-bit RISC-V CPU, including an FPU (Floating Point Unit) capable of 32-bit single-precision
- Package: 2PCS ESP32-C3 MINI Development Board ESP32 SuperMini ESP32 C3 WiFi Module
The VisionFive 2 procedure also calls for a USB UART adapter for console access. That is a narrow requirement of the documented VisionFive 2 workflow, not a mandatory accessory for every RISC-V computer. Other systems may expose a different console or provide video output during installation. Prices for cards, adapters and replacement storage vary by vendor and capacity; no fixed accessory price should be assumed from the Ubuntu image listing.
Budget for recovery as well as installation. Keeping the original image, a known-good boot medium and the board’s recovery instructions can prevent a failed experiment from becoming a hardware-support problem. If the platform is using a partner-built preview, also account for the possibility that fixes come from the board maker rather than Canonical.
Can you turn any RISC-V Server image into Desktop?
A graphical environment added to a Server installation is a separate, hardware-dependent project. The available documentation does not establish that installing a desktop package on an arbitrary RISC-V Server image creates a supported, well-accelerated Ubuntu Desktop system.
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Graphics support depends on the exact GPU, kernel, firmware, compositor and image build. A package may install successfully while leaving you with no display acceleration, unusable video output, broken suspend behavior or missing input-device support. Firmware and bootloader differences can create additional problems before the desktop starts.
If your board has only a Server image:
- First decide whether a text-based Server installation satisfies your goal.
- Look for a desktop image or desktop-support statement for the exact board and revision, rather than assuming a generic command sequence is supported.
- Ask the board vendor which graphics stack, firmware and release they support together.
- Keep a recoverable copy of the original image and boot instructions before experimenting.
- Do not describe the result as an officially supported Ubuntu Desktop installation unless the platform documentation says so.
Do not use the ARM64 Desktop ISO
The ordinary Ubuntu 24.04.5 Desktop ISO is built for ARM64. Canonical’s release index lists RISC-V live Server media separately. ARM64 and RISC-V are different instruction-set architectures; an ARM64 Desktop image is not a fallback RISC-V installer.
If you selected an ARM64 file by mistake, stop before writing it to the board. Return to the platform-specific RISC-V listing and select the image whose name explicitly identifies your board and the intended release.
Rank #4
- ESP32-C6 WiFi 6 microcontroller development board adopts ESP32-C6-WROOM-1-N8 module, which is equipped with RISC-V 32-bit single-core processor, up to 160MHz main frequency, built-in 8MB Flash
- Integrates WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5 and and IEEE 802.15.4 (Zigbee 3.0 and Thread) wireless communication, with superior RF performance
- Integrates rich peripherals including SPI, UART, I2C, I2S, LED PWM, SDIO and other interfaces, compatible with the pinout of ESP32-C6-DevKitC-1-N8 development board, more convenient to use and expand a variety of peripheral modules
- Onboard CH343 and CH334 USB HUB chips, supports USB and UART development at the same time via a USB-C port
- Comes with online examples and tutorials for ESP-IDF development environment
Common installation pitfalls
- Choosing by processor family alone: “RISC-V” does not identify the firmware, storage map or graphics implementation.
- Confusing release numbers: Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop, Ubuntu 24.04.5 Server and Ubuntu 26.04 LTS have different platform and ISA requirements.
- Assuming “live” means Desktop: the VisionFive 2 live route is explicitly a live Server installer.
- Ignoring the word “preinstalled”: a preinstalled image follows the board maker’s imaging and boot process, not a generic PC installer sequence.
- Overwriting the wrong disk: verify the destination before writing and keep important data disconnected or backed up.
- Expecting Canonical support for a partner preview: the FML13V01 image is identified as a developer preview without Canonical security updates or support.
- Testing only that the screen lights up: verify input, networking, storage, reboot and sleep behavior separately.
- Flashing repeatedly without checking firmware: a blank screen can indicate the wrong boot source, image or revision, not a need for more writes.
Troubleshooting by symptom
The board does not boot after flashing
- Recheck the model and hardware revision against the image name.
- Confirm that the image was written to the intended medium and that the board is configured to boot from it.
- Verify the release’s ISA requirement. A non-RVA23-ready board should not be assigned the 26.04 LTS RISC-V baseline.
- Use the board’s documented serial or firmware diagnostics instead of trying an image for another platform.
The image boots, but there is no graphical desktop
- Confirm that you installed a Desktop image, not a preinstalled or live Server image.
- For the VisionFive 2, the documented Ubuntu media is Server; a missing desktop is therefore expected rather than an installation failure.
- Check whether the vendor documents graphics support for the exact board, firmware and release before changing packages.
The desktop starts but graphics are unreliable
- Record the board revision, release and image build.
- Check the vendor’s graphics and firmware limitations for that combination.
- Test basic display, input, networking, reboot and suspend functions separately; partial success does not establish full hardware support.
- If the image is a partner-built preview, report the issue through the vendor channel identified in its instructions rather than assuming Canonical support applies.
You cannot access the installation console
For the VisionFive 2 procedure, Canonical specifically documents a USB UART adapter for console access. Make sure the adapter is connected as described by the board instructions. Other RISC-V computers may use a different console method, so do not treat the VisionFive 2 accessory list as a universal requirement.
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What a successful, supportable choice looks like
Before committing the installation, you should be able to answer all of these questions:
- What is the exact computer or board model and revision?
- Which Canonical platform entry names that hardware?
- Does that entry provide Desktop media, or only Server media?
- Is the chosen release compatible with the processor’s RISC-V ISA profile?
- What storage medium and bootloader does the vendor require?
- What console or recovery method is available if the first boot fails?
- Who supplies updates and support when the image is partner-built?
If the answer to the Desktop-media question is “no,” the honest outcome is an Ubuntu Server installation or an experimental desktop project, not a standard Ubuntu Desktop install. For the FML13V01, a Desktop 24.04 preview image is listed; for the VisionFive 2, the documented Canonical path remains Server.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install Ubuntu Desktop on any RISC-V computer?
No. Ubuntu images are tied to named platforms. Canonical lists a 24.04 Desktop preinstalled image for the DeepComputing FML13V01, while many other platforms have Server images only. Check your exact model and revision first.
Will the normal Ubuntu ARM64 Desktop ISO work on RISC-V?
No. The standard Ubuntu 24.04.5 Desktop ISO is ARM64. RISC-V media is listed separately, and an ARM64 image should not be written to a RISC-V computer.
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No. Canonical documents Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS preinstalled Server media and a live Server installer for the VisionFive 2. The documented GRUB option is “Try or Install Ubuntu Server.”
Best Value
- Ample PSRAM Storage – The development board offers 8MB PSRAM, providing substantial extra memory for handling more complex tasks, large data buffers, and advanced processing.
- Enhanced Multi-Tasking Capability – With the additional 8MB PSRAM, the ESP32-C5-WIFI6-KIT can efficiently manage multiple protocol stacks simultaneously, ensuring smooth operation in multi-tasking IoT environments.
- Support for Medium-Load Applications – The 8MB PSRAM allows the ESP32-C5 to handle medium-load applications more effectively, making it ideal for scenarios requiring real-time data processing or continuous communication.
- Seamless Performance – The increased memory improves the overall performance and responsiveness of the device, particularly when running applications with larger memory footprints or more demanding computations.
- Future-Proof for Complex Projects – With 8MB of PSRAM, developers are better equipped to build scalable, high-performance solutions that support both current and future IoT use cases, offering flexibility for future-proofing designs.
What does the FML13V01 Desktop image include in terms of support?
It is a partner-built developer preview. Canonical says partner images are not production-ready and do not include Canonical security updates or support. Follow DeepComputing’s instructions and identify the vendor support channel.
Do I need a microSD card for every RISC-V Ubuntu installation?
No. A microSD card is part of the documented VisionFive 2 preinstalled-image procedure. Other computers may use different storage, so follow the exact platform guide.
Why does the VisionFive 2 guide mention a USB UART adapter?
The adapter provides console access during the documented VisionFive 2 workflow. It is a board-specific accessory, not a universal requirement for all RISC-V systems.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCan I use Ubuntu 26.04 LTS on an older RISC-V board?
Only if the hardware is RVA23-ready. Canonical says 26.04 LTS raises the required profile to RVA23S64; hardware that is not RVA23-ready continues to be supported by Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS.
Can I add a desktop environment to a RISC-V Server image?
You can treat that as an experiment only after checking the vendor’s graphics, firmware and release support. The documented material does not establish a universal, supported or well-accelerated Desktop result for arbitrary boards.
The Bottom Line
Installing Ubuntu Desktop on RISC-V is a board-specific task. Use the exact image and instructions for your model and revision: the DeepComputing FML13V01 has a listed Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop partner preview, while the documented StarFive VisionFive 2 path installs Ubuntu Server. Never substitute the ARM64 Desktop ISO, and verify RVA23S64 compatibility before choosing Ubuntu 26.04 LTS.
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