# Ubuntu Touch

> mobile interface for Ubuntu, developed by UBports

**Wikidata**: [Q2595413](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2595413)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_Touch)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ubuntu-touch

## Summary

Ubuntu Touch is a Linux distribution[1]. It was established on February 21, 2013.The project was developed as a mobile operating system variant of the Ubuntu Linux platform. Ubuntu Touch aimed to extend the Ubuntu ecosystem to touchscreen devices, though its development and support evolved over time.

## Summary
Ubuntu Touch is a mobile operating system and Linux distribution designed as a mobile interface for Ubuntu. Originally created by Canonical Ltd. and currently developed by the UBports community, it provides a touch-optimized environment for smartphones and tablets based on the Linux kernel and GNU components.

## Key Facts
- **Classifications:** Mobile operating system, Linux distribution, and mobile interface.
- **Developers:** UBports (current, since April 5, 2017); Canonical Ltd. (original, 2013–2017).
- **Inception Date:** February 21, 2013.
- **License:** GNU General Public License (GPL).
- **Platform Support:** ARM architecture.
- **Latest Stable Versions:** 20.04 OTA-2 (released July 29, 2023) and 16.04 OTA-25 (released March 31, 2023).
- **Core Technologies:** Uses the oFono stack for telephony and the Qt GUI toolkit.
- **Source Code:** Hosted on GitLab under the UBports project.

## FAQs
### Q: Who is the current developer of Ubuntu Touch?
A: Ubuntu Touch is currently developed by UBports. The project transitioned from Canonical Ltd. to the UBports community on April 5, 2017, after Canonical announced it would focus on cloud and IoT rather than mobile convergence.

### Q: What hardware is compatible with Ubuntu Touch?
A: The operating system has been officially released for devices such as the BQ Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition, BQ Aquaris E5 HD Ubuntu Edition, and the Meizu PRO 5 Ubuntu Edition. It also lists requirements or compatibility with the OrbTk GUI toolkit and the Ubuntu Edge mobile system.

### Q: What is the software license for Ubuntu Touch?
A: Ubuntu Touch is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL). This ensures the software remains free to use, study, and modify as part of the broader Linux distribution ecosystem.

### Q: How are updates delivered to Ubuntu Touch devices?
A: Updates are delivered as "Over-the-Air" (OTA) releases. Recent major tracks include the 16.04 OTA series and the newer 20.04 "Focal" OTA series, which began its stable release cycle in March 2023.

## Why It Matters
Ubuntu Touch represents a significant effort to establish a viable third-party mobile operating system outside the dominant commercial ecosystems. By utilizing a standard Linux kernel and GNU components, it offers a unique alternative for users seeking a Linux-based mobile experience. Its history is a notable example of community-led software preservation; when Canonical Ltd. ceased development in 2017 to pivot toward cloud and IoT sectors, the UBports Foundation successfully took over the project to maintain and evolve the platform. This transition ensured that the vision of a converged Ubuntu interface—one that could function across both desktop and mobile environments—remained active through community governance and open-source collaboration.

## Notable For
- **Telephony Integration:** Utilizes oFono specifically for managing telephony parts of the mobile interface.
- **GUI Frameworks:** Employs both the Qt framework and OrbTk, a cross-platform GUI toolkit written in the Rust programming language.
- **Convergence Roots:** Originally designed by Canonical Ltd. to bridge the gap between mobile devices and desktop computing.
- **Community Governance:** Managed by the UBports Foundation, which officially launched to support the project after its original corporate developer exited the mobile market.

## Body
### Development and Ownership
Ubuntu Touch was launched by Canonical Ltd. on February 21, 2013. Canonical maintained the project for approximately four years before announcing a shift in corporate strategy on April 5, 2017. At that time, development was handed over to UBports, which has since served as the primary developer and maintainer.

### Technical Architecture
The system is classified as a Linux distribution and is based on Ubuntu (specifically referenced as based on Q381 in technical data). 
- **Kernel:** Based on the Linux kernel.
- **Architecture:** Primarily targets the ARM architecture.
- **Telephony:** The oFono software framework is used to handle mobile telephony functions.
- **User Interface:** The interface is built using the Qt toolkit and the Rust-based OrbTk toolkit.

### Release History and Versions
The project maintains multiple release tracks, primarily categorized by their base Ubuntu version:
- **16.04 Track:** This long-running series included OTA-9 (May 2019), OTA-21 (January 2021), and culminated in stable versions like OTA-25, released on March 31, 2023.
- **20.04 Track (Focal):** The transition to the 20.04 base began with OTA-1 on March 27, 2023, followed by OTA-2 on July 29, 2023.

### Hardware Ecosystem
Ubuntu Touch has been featured on several specific hardware platforms:
- **BQ Devices:** Including the Aquaris E4.5 and Aquaris E5 HD Ubuntu Editions.
- **Meizu Devices:** Specifically the Meizu PRO 5 Ubuntu Edition.
- **Ubuntu Edge:** A mobile phone operating system project related to the early development of the interface.

### Documentation and Community
The project maintains an official multilingual website at `ubuntu-touch.io` and a comprehensive English user manual at `docs.ubports.com`. Community engagement is centered around platforms such as Lemmy (ubuntutouch@lemmy.ml) and various Quora and Zhihu topics.

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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Ubuntu Touch",
  "description": "A mobile interface for Ubuntu and a Linux-based mobile operating system developed by UBports.",
  "url": "https://ubuntu-touch.io",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206855",
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## References

1. Have you seen Ubuntu Touch!?
2. [Growing Ubuntu for cloud and IoT, rather than phone and convergence](https://blog.ubuntu.com/2017/04/05/growing-ubuntu-for-cloud-and-iot-rather-than-phone-and-convergence)
3. [Source](https://ubports.com/blog/ubports-blog-1/post/it-s-official-the-ubports-foundation-is-ready-for-launch-215)
4. [Source](https://ubports.com/it_IT/blog/il-nostro-blog-1/post/ubuntu-touch-ota-9-release-225)
5. [2019](https://ubports.com/it_IT/blog/il-nostro-blog-1/post/ubuntu-touch-ota-10-release-239)
6. [2019](https://ubports.com/it_IT/blog/il-nostro-blog-1/post/ubuntu-touch-ota-11-release-252)
7. [Source](https://ubports.com/blog/ubports-news-1/post/ubuntu-touch-ota-21-release-3798)
8. [2022](https://ubports.com/nl/blog/ubports-blogs-nieuws-1/post/ubuntu-touch-ota-22-release-3835)
9. [Source](https://ubports.com/blog/ubports-news-1/post/ubuntu-touch-ota-23-release-3855#blog_content)
10. [Source](https://ubports.com/pt/blog/ubports-blogs-noticias-1/post/ubuntu-touch-ota-24-release-3872)
11. [Ubuntu Touch OTA-1 Focal Release. 2023](https://ubports.com/blog/ubports-news-1)
12. [Ubuntu Touch OTA-25 Release. 2023](https://ubports.com/blog/ubports-news-1)
13. [Source](https://ubports.com/de/blog/ubports-blogs-nachrichten-1)
14. [Ubuntu Touch Q&A 126. 2023](https://ubports.com/en/blog/ubports-news-1/post/ubuntu-touch-q-a-126-3905)
15. [Ubuntu Touch OTA-4 Focal Release. 2024](https://ubports.com/blog/ubports-news-1/post/ubuntu-touch-ota-4-focal-release-3916)
16. [Ubuntu Touch OTA-5 Focal Release](https://ubports.com/en/blog/ubports-news-1/post/ubuntu-touch-ota-5-focal-release-3933)
17. [2024](https://ubports.com/en/blog/ubports-news-1/post/ubuntu-touch-ota-6-focal-release-3942)
18. [Ubuntu Touch OTA-7 Focal Release. 2024](https://ubports.com/en/blog/ubports-news-1/post/ubuntu-touch-ota-7-focal-release-3943)
19. [Ubuntu Touch OTA-8 Focal Release. 2025](https://ubports.com/en/blog/ubports-news-1/post/ubuntu-touch-ota-8-focal-release-3953)
20. [Ubuntu Touch OTA-9 Focal Release. 2025](https://ubports.com/en/blog/ubports-news-1/post/ubuntu-touch-ota-9-focal-release-3962)
21. [Ubuntu Touch 24.04-1.0 and 20.04 OTA-10 Call for Testing. 2025](https://ubports.com/blog/ubports-news-1/ubuntu-touch-24-04-1-0-and-20-04-ota-10-call-for-testing-3963)
22. [Ubuntu Touch 20.04 OTA-10 Release. 2025](https://ubports.com/blog/ubports-news-1/ubuntu-touch-20-04-ota-10-release-3972)
23. [Update 19 September 2025. 2025](https://forums.ubports.com/topic/11201/call-for-testing-ubuntu-touch-24.04-1.0/100)
24. [Ubuntu Touch 24.04-1.0 Release. 2025](https://ubports.com/blog/ubports-news-1/ubuntu-touch-24-04-1-0-release-3973)
25. [Call for testing: Ubuntu Touch 24.04-1.1. 2025](https://forums.ubports.com/topic/11557/call-for-testing-ubuntu-touch-24.04-1.1)
26. [Ubuntu Touch 24.04 1.1 and 20.04 OTA-11 release. 2025](https://ubports.com/blog/ubports-news-1/ubuntu-touch-24-04-1-1-and-20-04-ota-11-release-3984)
27. [Ubuntu Touch 24.04 1.2 and 20.04 OTA-12 Release. 2026](https://ubports.com/blog/ubports-news-1/ubuntu-touch-24-04-1-2-and-20-04-ota-12-release-3987)
28. Quora
29. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Ubuntu_Touch-EYVV3N)