Ubuntu 26.04 LTS has raised its minimum memory requirement to 6 GB. That is a 50 percent increase from 4 GB.

On April 8, IT outlet TechRadar reported that Canonical adjusted the minimum specification without a separate announcement. The new standard also includes a dual-core 2 GHz CPU and 25 GB of storage.

The change is drawing attention as it coincides with recent memory supply shortages and rising prices. The outlet described it as “RAMpocalypse” and said global instability in memory supply and demand is pushing up the cost of building and upgrading PCs. As a result, users who have run Ubuntu LTS on older PCs with 4 GB of RAM are expected to face a greater burden.

Some analysis says a higher minimum specification does not mean the operating system itself has suddenly become much heavier. Ubuntu-focused outlet OMG Ubuntu called the adjustment an “honest upgrade.” It said the change reflects the view that, in today’s usage environment, 4 GB of memory makes it difficult to expect smooth perceived performance, rather than a major increase in resource demands from the operating system core.

The GNOME desktop environment, modern web browsers and more multitasking are cited as practical reasons. Under these conditions, a 4 GB system is not sufficient for handling everyday tasks, it said.

Ubuntu 26.04 LTS can still be installed in environments that fall short of the minimum specification. If memory is insufficient, users must accept slower performance. OMG Ubuntu said that when it tested a beta version on a laptop with 2 GB of RAM, it ran but was noticeably slow.

This is not the first time Ubuntu has raised its minimum memory requirement. In Ubuntu 18.04 LTS in 2018, the minimum memory increased from 1 GB to 4 GB, and the latest adjustment comes about 8 years later.

There are also alternatives for users of low-spec systems. Lubuntu, a lightweight Ubuntu-based distribution, can run with 1 GB of RAM, a 1 GHz CPU and less than 10 GB of storage. It is currently available up to 24.04 LTS, and support is expected to continue for the next several years.

The change is seen as a broader shift driven by changes in how software is used, rather than a problem with a specific operating system. As demand grows for web browsers, desktop environments and simultaneous tasks, minimum specifications are rising. Older-hardware users now face a choice of accepting performance degradation or moving to a lighter distribution.