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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Ubuntu desktop images for RISC-V are now listed for Ubuntu 26.04.1, while Ubuntu 26.10 desktop builds are available for testing ahead of the release expected on October 15, 2026. Which image you can use depends on your board and its RISC-V ISA profile; an image being listed does not mean it will boot on every RISC-V computer.
What is available now?
There are two distinct availability milestones. Ubuntu’s October 9, 2026 announcement says Ubuntu 26.10 (Stonking Stingray) RISC-V desktop builds are available for testing, with official images expected alongside the October 15 release. The announcement describes the current builds as experimental, so treat them as testing images rather than released, production-ready media. Ubuntu’s announcement
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Separately, the Ubuntu 26.04.1 release directory lists ubuntu-26.04.1-desktop-riscv64.iso, shown as a 3.6 GB download. That is an image listed for the 26.04.1 release; it is not the same status claim as the experimental 26.10 builds. Ubuntu 26.04.1 release directory
The desktop port has required work across Ubuntu Foundations and Desktop, including image-building, the installer, Firefox and desktop snaps. Ubuntu cautions that early images may not include the App Center, Prompting Client, or other desktop snaps that are still being brought up for RISC-V. Ubuntu’s announcement
#1 Best Overall
- 🍊[High-Performance RISC-V Processor]: OrangePi RV is a RISC-V development board featuring a powerful JH-7110 processor. With a 4-Core 64-bit architecture and a stable operating frequency of 1.5GHz, this board offers richer high-speed interfaces and integrated GPU, enabling stronger image processing capabilities, such as 3D rendering.
- 🍊[Advanced Video Processing Capabilities]: Equipped with robust GPU processing power, OrangePi RV supports H.264/H.265 video encoding and decoding, with video decoding up to 4K@30fps and encoding up to 1080p@30fps. It also provides multi-way decoding and encoding, along with a JPEG codec, making it suitable for real-time visual processing tasks at the edge.
- 🍊[Rich Peripheral Interfaces]: OrangePi RV offers a comprehensive range of peripheral interfaces, including PCIe 2.0, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 5.0 and Bluetooth 5.0, M.2 M-Key 2280, MIPI-CSI, MIPI-DSI, a 40Pin expansion port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Type-C 5V4A power supply. These interfaces provide extensive connectivity options, enabling the board to be integrated into various systems and applications.
- 🍊[Versatile Application Scenarios]: Designed for a wide range of uses, OrangePi RV is perfect for commercial electronic products, smart home systems, industrial intelligence, video surveillance, power energy management, and traffic management. Its capabilities make it an ideal choice for projects requiring advanced video processing, high-speed connections, and intelligent visual computations.
Which RISC-V boards support Ubuntu?
Compatibility depends on the specific board, release and ISA profile. Canonical’s RISC-V download page lists supported board choices and says Ubuntu 26.04 requires the RVA23S64 profile. Hardware that is not RVA23-ready continues to be supported by Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS, according to Canonical. Check the board and release listings before downloading; the presence of a RISC-V ISO alone does not establish compatibility with a particular machine. Canonical-built RISC-V downloads
How do I install Ubuntu on a RISC-V board?
- Check the board listing. On Canonical’s RISC-V download page, confirm that your exact board and intended Ubuntu release are listed, and check whether its ISA meets the release requirement.
- Choose the matching image. Use the image for that board and release. Distinguish released or listed media from builds identified as experimental for testing.
- Prepare removable media. Canonical’s instructions say to flash the image onto an SD or microSD card. Use the type and capacity specified by your board’s own instructions; the card is installation media, not a universal compatibility guarantee.
- Boot the board using its documented procedure. Follow the board maker’s instructions for inserting the card and starting the system. Boot steps vary by board, so do not assume a procedure for one model applies to another.
Can I run Ubuntu RISC-V in QEMU?
Ubuntu documents an experimental QEMU route. In its described setup, a regular Ubuntu Desktop image is available, but GNOME takes more than 30 minutes to load. Ubuntu recommends Xubuntu Minimal with XFCE as a more suitable option for testing under emulation. This timing describes Ubuntu’s QEMU context, not the performance of RISC-V hardware. Ubuntu’s QEMU RISC-V documentation
Rank #2
- 🍊[High-Performance RISC-V Development Board]: Orange Pi RV2 features an octa-core RISC-V processor with integrated AI acceleration. It delivers 2.0 TOPS AI performance, with single-core CPU performance surpassing ARM A55 by over 30%.
- 🍊[Supports AI Model Deployment]: Orange Pi RV2 provides AI computing power through CPU core integration, enabling fast AI model deployment and seamless compatibility with all major AI ecosystems, supporting various edge AI large models.
- 🍊[Flexible Memory & Storage Options]: Equipped with 2GB/4GB/8GB LPDDR4X RAM and supports optional eMMC modules (32GB/64GB/256GB) for enhanced storage flexibility.
- 🍊[Comprehensive Connectivity]: Orange Pi RV2 offers HDMI output, GPIO interface, USB 2.0 & 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm headphone jack, and two M.2 M-Key slots (PCIe 2.0 2-Lane) for NVMe SSD expansion. And comes with Wi-Fi 5.0 + Bluetooth 5.0 (BLE) for seamless wireless connectivity.
- 🍊[Wide range of Applications]: Orange Pi RV2 is highly versatile, making it ideal for NAS, smart robotics, smart home, industrial control, edge computing, and commercial electronics.
Canonical-built versus partner-built images
Image origin matters for support and security maintenance. Canonical-built images are built and hosted by Canonical, with support and maintenance for Ubuntu components under Canonical’s standard SLA. Partner-built images are built and hosted by Canonical’s partners using Canonical’s tools and standard build processes, but Ubuntu classifies them as developer previews, not production-ready; they do not include Canonical security updates or support. Canonical-built image details · Partner-built image details
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Rank #4
- 🍊[High-Performance RISC-V Development Board]: Orange Pi RV2 features an octa-core RISC-V processor with integrated AI acceleration. It delivers 2.0 TOPS AI performance, with single-core CPU performance surpassing ARM A55 by over 30%.
- 🍊[Supports AI Model Deployment]: Orange Pi RV2 provides AI computing power through CPU core integration, enabling fast AI model deployment and seamless compatibility with all major AI ecosystems, supporting various edge AI large models.
- 🍊[Flexible Memory & Storage Options]: Equipped with 2GB/4GB/8GB LPDDR4X RAM and supports optional eMMC modules (32GB/64GB/256GB) for enhanced storage flexibility.
- 🍊[Comprehensive Connectivity]: Orange Pi RV2 offers HDMI output, GPIO interface, USB 2.0 & 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm headphone jack, and two M.2 M-Key slots (PCIe 2.0 2-Lane) for NVMe SSD expansion. And comes with Wi-Fi 5.0 + Bluetooth 5.0 (BLE) for seamless wireless connectivity.
- 🍊[Comprehensive Connectivity]: Orange Pi RV2 offers HDMI output, GPIO interface, USB 2.0 & 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm headphone jack, and two M.2 M-Key slots (PCIe 2.0 2-Lane) for NVMe SSD expansion. And comes with Wi-Fi 5.0 + Bluetooth 5.0 (BLE) for seamless wireless connectivity.
Rank #3
- 🍊 [RISC-V AI-Powered Performance]: Orange Pi R2S is powered by the Ky X1 8-core RISC-V AI CPU, delivering 2TOPS of CPU-integrated AI computing power. It supports 2GB/4GB/8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 8GB onboard eMMC, making it suitable for compute-intensive applications at the edge.
- 🍊 [Rich Interface Options]: Equipped with dual 2.5G high-speed LAN ports, dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, USB 2.0 & USB 3.0, Type-C power input, TF card slot, and debug serial port, providing flexible connectivity and high-speed data transfer capabilities.
- 🍊 [Compact & Efficient Design]: With a compact form factor (79.2mm × 46mm × 1.6mm), Orange Pi R2S can be easily integrated into space-constrained industrial or commercial environments.
- 🍊 [Ideal for Edge & Industrial Use]: Perfect for enterprise gateways, industrial automation, energy management, smart transportation, smart cities, and more.
- 🍊 [Versatile OS Support]: Supports OpenWrt and Ubuntu, enabling a wide range of embedded, networked, and industrial applications.
| Route | What to check | Status and support |
|---|---|---|
| Install on a board | Exact board, release and ISA profile; follow the board’s media and boot instructions. | Canonical-built image support follows Canonical’s standard SLA for Ubuntu components; availability and release status depend on the chosen image. |
| Test with QEMU | Ubuntu’s documented experimental setup and desktop choice. | Ubuntu documents QEMU testing; GNOME is very slow in that setup, and Xubuntu Minimal is recommended for emulation testing. |
| Use a partner-built board image | Whether the partner image matches your board and intended use. | Developer preview; not production-ready and without Canonical security updates or support. |
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