UBports has shipped Ubuntu Touch 24.04-1.3, a maintenance update to its community-driven mobile Linux operating system that improves how the platform handles traditional desktop applications. The headline change lets users launch X11 apps outside of the Lomiri shell, opening the door for a broader range of Linux desktop software to run on supported phones and tablets. GTK4 application launching has also been fixed, and the update resolves an issue where placeholder windows and phantom launcher entries would linger after opening X11 apps.
Beyond desktop app improvements, version 24.04-1.3 addresses several practical annoyances. Devices connected to docks with external input hardware, such as the NexDock, now handle input devices more reliably. AMR voice messages received via MMS play back correctly again, and a subtle scaling bug that caused certain Qt and webview-based apps to render at slightly wrong sizes has been squashed. A fix for shutdown hangs on some devices rounds out the more notable changes, along with the usual batch of security patches.
Ubuntu Touch remains one of the few actively developed Linux-based mobile operating systems, built on a 24.04 LTS foundation with experimental features like personal data encryption introduced in earlier releases. The project supports a range of devices from the Fairphone 4 to Volla phones and PINE64 hardware. A full list of compatible devices and installation instructions is available on the UBports devices page, and further details can be found in the release announcement.
