How to Upgrade Mesa Drivers on Ubuntu (24.04, 22.04)

Q: Is the Kisak Mesa PPA available on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS?

No. Both Kisak PPAs (kisak-mesa and turtle) return a Release-file error for the resolute suite. Ubuntu 26.04 users should stay on the default Mesa 25.3.x packages until the maintainer publishes resolute builds.

Q: How do I check the Mesa version on Ubuntu?

From a desktop session, run glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version" to see the active runtime Mesa version. Over SSH or headless, run apt-cache policy libgl1-mesa-dri to check installed and candidate package versions. Install the mesa-utils package first if glxinfo is not available.

Q: What is the default Mesa version on Ubuntu 24.04?

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ships Mesa 25.2.x through noble-updates. Ubuntu 26.04 LTS provides Mesa 25.3.x from the resolute repositories, and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS includes Mesa 23.2.x from jammy-updates. Run apt-cache policy libgl1-mesa-dri to check the exact version on your system.

Q: Does Mesa include Vulkan drivers on Ubuntu?

Yes. The mesa-vulkan-drivers package provides Vulkan support for AMD and Intel GPUs, while libgl1-mesa-dri handles OpenGL. Both ship by default on Ubuntu desktop installations and upgrade together from a Kisak PPA.

Q: Which package provides the glxinfo command on Ubuntu?

The mesa-utils package provides glxinfo. Install it with sudo apt install mesa-utils, then run glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version" to check the active Mesa version from a desktop session.

Q: Do I need mesa-utils to upgrade Mesa drivers on Ubuntu?

No. The upgrade uses APT and PPA packages. Install mesa-utils only if you want glxinfo for runtime version checks after the upgrade.

Q: What is the mesa-utils-extra package on Ubuntu?

The mesa-utils-extra package no longer exists on Ubuntu 22.04 and later. Its tools, including es2_info, es2gears, eglinfo, and vkgears, moved into the mesa-utils-bin package. Install it with sudo apt install mesa-utils-bin if you need EGL, OpenGL ES, or Vulkan diagnostic utilities beyond the glxinfo provided by mesa-utils.

Mesa provides the open-source OpenGL and Vulkan graphics stack that most AMD and Intel GPU setups rely on in Ubuntu. Ubuntu 26.04 LTS ships Mesa 25.3.x, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ships Mesa 25.2.x, and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS ships Mesa 23.2.x from the default repositories. Adding a Kisak PPA lets you upgrade Mesa drivers on Ubuntu beyond those defaults for better game compatibility, newer Vulkan features, and rendering bug fixes. If you use the proprietary NVIDIA driver, follow our guide to install NVIDIA drivers on Ubuntu instead, because Mesa updates do not replace NVIDIA’s proprietary kernel driver.

The two Kisak PPA tracks each offer a different update cadence: kisak-mesa (fresh) for the newest Mesa point releases and turtle (stable) for slower, lower-risk updates. Both can be rolled back with ppa-purge if a regression appears.

On this page hide

Upgrade Mesa Drivers on Ubuntu with Kisak PPAs

Troubleshoot Mesa Upgrades on Ubuntu

Remove Kisak Mesa PPA and Restore Ubuntu Mesa Packages

Mesa Upgrade on Ubuntu FAQs

Conclusion

Upgrade Mesa Drivers on Ubuntu with Kisak PPAs

Start by checking the Mesa version you already have, then pick one Kisak PPA based on your Ubuntu release and how aggressively you want Mesa updates.

How to Check Mesa Version on Ubuntu (Desktop and SSH)

The table below shows the default Mesa branch in Ubuntu’s official repositories for each supported LTS release:

Ubuntu Release	Default Mesa	Package Source
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS	Mesa 25.3.x	`resolute/main`
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS	Mesa 25.2.x	`noble-updates/main`
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS	Mesa 23.2.x	`jammy-updates/main`

Use the check that matches your environment:

Desktop session: Run glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version" to confirm the active runtime Mesa version.
SSH or headless: Run apt-cache policy libgl1-mesa-dri to confirm installed and candidate Mesa package versions.

Install mesa-utils first so you can use glxinfo to check the active Mesa version in a desktop session:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install mesa-utils -y

These commands use sudo when root privileges are required. If your user is not in the sudoers file yet, follow our guide on how to add a new user to sudoers on Ubuntu before continuing.

The -y flag automatically confirms the install prompt so APT proceeds without waiting for confirmation. The mesa-utils package is not required to upgrade Mesa packages, but it provides glxinfo, which is the easiest way to confirm the runtime Mesa version from a desktop session.

Check the Active Mesa Version on Ubuntu (Desktop Session)

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

The grep filter narrows the output to the OpenGL version line, which includes the active Mesa version. For additional pattern-filtering examples, see our grep command guide for Linux:

OpenGL version string: 4.6 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 25.2.x-0ubuntu0.24.04.x

Check the Mesa Package Version on Ubuntu (SSH or Headless)

If you are connected over SSH or do not have an active desktop session, check the Mesa package version instead:

apt-cache policy libgl1-mesa-dri

libgl1-mesa-dri:
  Installed: 25.2.x-0ubuntu0.24.04.x
  Candidate: 25.2.x-0ubuntu0.24.04.x
  Version table:
 *** 25.2.x-0ubuntu0.24.04.x 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-updates/main amd64 Packages

glxinfo shows the active runtime driver version, while apt-cache policy shows the installed and available package versions. Use both when you want to confirm that APT upgraded Mesa and your desktop session is actually using it.

Choose the Right Kisak Mesa PPA for Ubuntu

The Kisak project maintains two Mesa PPAs with different update strategies. Pick one based on your Ubuntu release and how much risk you want to take on newer Mesa builds.

PPA	Ubuntu 26.04	Ubuntu 24.04	Ubuntu 22.04	Best For
kisak-mesa (fresh)	Not available	Supported (Mesa 26.0.x)	Discontinued (no upgrade)	24.04 users wanting newest Mesa
kisak/turtle (stable)	Not available	Supported (Mesa 25.3.x)	Supported (Mesa 25.0.x)	Lower-risk updates, or 22.04 users

Use this quick decision guide before you run any PPA commands:

Ubuntu 26.04: Neither Kisak PPA has published a resolute suite yet. Stay on Ubuntu’s default Mesa 25.3.x packages.
Ubuntu 24.04: Use ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa for the newest Mesa point releases, or ppa:kisak/turtle for a slower update pace.
Ubuntu 22.04: Use ppa:kisak/turtle only. The fresh PPA’s Jammy line is discontinued and does not offer newer Mesa candidates.

Use only one Kisak Mesa PPA at a time. Enabling both ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa and ppa:kisak/turtle on the same system mixes Mesa package candidates from two different tracks.

If Ubuntu 26.04 returns a 404 Release-file error for resolute after adding either PPA, remove the PPA and stay on Ubuntu’s default Mesa packages.

Update Ubuntu Before Adding a Kisak Mesa PPA

Update Ubuntu first to reduce dependency conflicts before Mesa-related libraries and LLVM packages are upgraded from a PPA:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

If the upgrade installs a new kernel, reboot before continuing. Mesa userspace packages and kernel graphics drivers work together, and testing a new Mesa stack against an old kernel can cause confusing graphics issues.

For a broader APT maintenance workflow outside this Mesa-specific upgrade path, see our guide to updating packages via the Ubuntu command line.

Upgrade Mesa Drivers on Ubuntu 24.04 with the Kisak-Mesa Fresh PPA

The kisak-mesa fresh PPA tracks the newest Mesa point releases and is the main upgrade path for Ubuntu 24.04 users who need Mesa beyond noble-updates.

Starting with Mesa 26.0, the fresh PPA merges mesa-va-drivers into the main Mesa packages. If your system previously had mesa-va-drivers installed separately, APT handles the transition automatically during the upgrade.

Add the Kisak-Mesa Fresh PPA on Ubuntu

Add the PPA using Ubuntu’s repository helper. The -y flag automatically confirms the prompt:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa -y

You can review package details and maintainer notes on the kisak-mesa fresh PPA Launchpad page.

Confirm the Fresh PPA Mesa Candidate on Ubuntu

Refresh APT metadata, then check whether the PPA offers a newer Mesa candidate than Ubuntu’s default:

sudo apt update
apt-cache policy libgl1-mesa-dri

The apt update output confirms the Kisak PPA metadata was fetched:

Get:1 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/kisak/kisak-mesa/ubuntu noble InRelease [24.x kB]
Reading package lists...

libgl1-mesa-dri:
  Installed: 25.2.x-0ubuntu0.24.04.x
  Candidate: 26.0.x~kisak1~n
  Version table:
     26.0.x~kisak1~n 500
        500 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/kisak/kisak-mesa/ubuntu noble/main amd64 Packages

If the candidate does not change or no ~kisak version appears, do not continue yet. On Ubuntu 22.04, that usually means the fresh PPA is not the right choice anymore and you should use the turtle stable PPA instead.

Upgrade Mesa Packages from the Fresh PPA on Ubuntu

sudo apt upgrade -y

APT upgrades Mesa libraries and related graphics stack packages from the PPA. Reboot afterward if your desktop session becomes unstable or if a kernel update was also applied.

Verify the Fresh PPA Mesa Upgrade on Ubuntu

Check the active Mesa version again from your desktop session:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

OpenGL version string: 4.6 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 26.0.x~kisak1~n

The ~kisak suffix confirms the runtime Mesa stack came from the Kisak PPA rather than Ubuntu’s default repositories. If you are verifying over SSH, re-run apt-cache policy libgl1-mesa-dri instead of glxinfo.

Upgrade Mesa Drivers on Ubuntu 24.04 or 22.04 with the Kisak/Turtle Stable PPA

The kisak/turtle PPA moves slower than the fresh PPA and is the recommended upgrade path for Ubuntu 22.04 users who want newer Mesa packages than the default repositories provide.

The turtle PPA is intentionally conservative and the maintainer states it comes with no active support. If you hit a regression, revert with ppa-purge and reproduce the issue with a newer Mesa build before reporting it upstream.

Add the Kisak/Turtle Stable PPA on Ubuntu

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kisak/turtle -y

Review current packages and release availability on the kisak/turtle PPA Launchpad page.

Confirm the Stable PPA Mesa Candidate on Ubuntu

sudo apt update
apt-cache policy libgl1-mesa-dri

The repository refresh confirms the turtle PPA metadata was fetched. On Ubuntu 22.04:

Get:1 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/kisak/turtle/ubuntu jammy InRelease [18.x kB]
Reading package lists...

On Ubuntu 24.04, the output shows noble instead of jammy. The policy output differs by release:

Ubuntu 22.04:

libgl1-mesa-dri:
  Installed: 23.2.x-0ubuntu0.22.04.x
  Candidate: 25.0.x~kisak3~j
  Version table:
     25.0.x~kisak3~j 500
        500 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/kisak/turtle/ubuntu jammy/main amd64 Packages

Ubuntu 24.04:

libgl1-mesa-dri:
  Installed: 25.2.x-0ubuntu0.24.04.x
  Candidate: 25.3.x~kisak1~n
  Version table:
     25.3.x~kisak1~n 500
        500 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/kisak/turtle/ubuntu noble/main amd64 Packages

In both cases, confirm a ~kisak candidate exists before running the upgrade.

Upgrade Mesa Packages from the Stable PPA on Ubuntu

sudo apt upgrade -y

Verify the Stable PPA Mesa Upgrade on Ubuntu

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

OpenGL version string: 4.6 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 25.0.x~kisak3~j

On Ubuntu 24.04, the version string shows a ~n suffix instead of ~j. The ~kisak suffix in either case confirms the runtime Mesa stack came from the PPA rather than Ubuntu’s default repositories.

Troubleshoot Mesa Upgrades on Ubuntu

Fix glxinfo Command Not Found on Ubuntu

If glxinfo is missing, Ubuntu does not have the mesa-utils package installed:

glxinfo: command not found

Check the package status first:

apt-cache policy mesa-utils

mesa-utils:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 9.0.0-2

Install the package, then verify that the binary is available:

sudo apt install mesa-utils -y
command -v glxinfo

/usr/bin/glxinfo

Resolve Kisak Mesa PPA Not Available for Ubuntu 26.04

If you try either Kisak PPA on Ubuntu 26.04 and see the error below, the maintainer has not published a resolute suite yet:

E: The repository 'https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/kisak/kisak-mesa/ubuntu resolute Release' does not have a Release file.

Remove the PPA you added and return to the default Ubuntu repositories. Replace the PPA name if you tested ppa:kisak/turtle instead:

sudo add-apt-repository -y --remove ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa
sudo apt update

Then verify your Mesa packages are coming from Ubuntu again:

apt-cache policy libgl1-mesa-dri

libgl1-mesa-dri:
  Candidate: 25.3.x-1ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 25.3.x-1ubuntu1 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu resolute/main amd64 Packages

Fix kisak-mesa Fresh PPA Not Upgrading Mesa on Ubuntu 22.04

On Ubuntu 22.04, the kisak-mesa fresh PPA may add successfully but still not provide a newer Mesa candidate than jammy-updates. The maintainer currently marks Jammy as discontinued in the fresh PPA notes.

Confirm which source is winning the package candidate:

apt-cache policy libgl1-mesa-dri

libgl1-mesa-dri:
  Installed: 23.2.x-0ubuntu0.22.04.x
  Candidate: 23.2.x-0ubuntu0.22.04.x
  Version table:
 *** 23.2.x-0ubuntu0.22.04.x 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy-updates/main amd64 Packages

If the candidate stays on the Ubuntu version and no ~kisak package appears, remove the fresh PPA and use ppa:kisak/turtle instead.

Fix Graphics Issues After a Mesa Upgrade on Ubuntu

If you see screen corruption, crashes, or rendering problems after upgrading Mesa, revert to Ubuntu’s packages with ppa-purge:

sudo apt install ppa-purge -y
sudo ppa-purge ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa

A successful rollback shows ppa-purge disabling the PPA and restoring Ubuntu package candidates:

Updating packages lists
PPA to be removed: kisak kisak-mesa
Package revert list generated:
 libegl-mesa0:amd64/noble libgbm1:amd64/noble libgl1-mesa-dri:amd64/noble
 libglx-mesa0:amd64/noble libllvm20:amd64/noble mesa-libgallium:amd64/noble
 mesa-vulkan-drivers:amd64/noble xwayland/noble
PPA purged successfully

Replace ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa with ppa:kisak/turtle if you used the stable PPA. If you want a broader cleanup walkthrough, use our guide on removing a PPA from Ubuntu after you restore the Mesa packages.

Reboot after the rollback, then verify the Mesa version again with glxinfo from a desktop session.

Fix Kernel Compatibility Issues After a Mesa Upgrade on Ubuntu

Newer Mesa releases can expose kernel-side graphics issues on older kernels. Check your kernel version, install pending Ubuntu updates, and reboot before assuming the PPA itself is broken:

uname -r
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

6.x.x-xx-generic

If the issue only appears on Ubuntu 22.04, test the turtle PPA (or revert to Ubuntu defaults) before filing upstream Mesa bug reports.

If your current kernel branch is part of the issue, review our guide to install the HWE kernel on Ubuntu before retesting Mesa behavior.

Verify Mesa Vulkan Drivers After a PPA Upgrade on Ubuntu

Mesa provides both OpenGL and Vulkan support through separate packages. After adding a Kisak PPA and upgrading, confirm the Vulkan drivers also updated:

apt-cache policy mesa-vulkan-drivers

The candidate version should show a ~kisak suffix matching the OpenGL package version:

mesa-vulkan-drivers:
  Installed: 26.0.x~kisak1~n
  Candidate: 26.0.x~kisak1~n

If mesa-vulkan-drivers is not installed, add it manually with sudo apt install mesa-vulkan-drivers -y. The package is part of Ubuntu’s default desktop installation and is required for Vulkan rendering in games and applications.

Remove Kisak Mesa PPA and Restore Ubuntu Mesa Packages

Use ppa-purge to remove the Kisak PPA and downgrade Mesa packages back to Ubuntu’s versions. This is safer than removing the source file manually because it restores the package versions at the same time.

Install ppa-purge for Mesa PPA Rollback on Ubuntu

sudo apt update
sudo apt install ppa-purge -y

Remove the kisak-mesa Fresh PPA from Ubuntu

sudo ppa-purge ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa

Remove the kisak/turtle Stable PPA from Ubuntu

sudo ppa-purge ppa:kisak/turtle

Clean Up Unused Packages After Mesa Rollback on Ubuntu

After ppa-purge downgrades the Mesa packages, remove unused dependencies and refresh APT metadata. For a broader cleanup reference, see our guide on removing packages on the Ubuntu command line:

sudo apt autoremove
sudo apt update

Reading package lists...
Building dependency tree...
Reading state information...
All packages are up to date.

Verify Mesa Packages Were Restored on Ubuntu

Confirm the package candidate is back to Ubuntu and the runtime Mesa string no longer shows a ~kisak suffix:

apt-cache policy libgl1-mesa-dri
glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

libgl1-mesa-dri:
  Candidate: 25.2.x-0ubuntu0.24.04.x
  Version table:
 *** 25.2.x-0ubuntu0.24.04.x 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-updates/main amd64 Packages

OpenGL version string: 4.6 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 25.2.x-0ubuntu0.24.04.x

The Kisak PPA maintainer recommends removing the Mesa PPA before a full Ubuntu release upgrade. Running ppa-purge first reduces package conflicts and makes the distribution upgrade path cleaner.

Mesa Upgrade on Ubuntu FAQs

Is the Kisak Mesa PPA available on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS?

No. Both Kisak PPAs (kisak-mesa and turtle) return a Release-file error for the resolute suite. Ubuntu 26.04 users should stay on the default Mesa 25.3.x packages until the maintainer publishes resolute builds.

Why does kisak-mesa not upgrade Mesa on Ubuntu 22.04?

The fresh Kisak PPA marks Jammy as discontinued. Even though add-apt-repository succeeds, no newer Mesa candidate appears. Use the kisak/turtle PPA instead, which actively supports Ubuntu 22.04.

How do I check the Mesa version on Ubuntu?

From a desktop session, run glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version" to see the active runtime Mesa version. Over SSH or headless, run apt-cache policy libgl1-mesa-dri to check installed and candidate package versions. Install the mesa-utils package first if glxinfo is not available.

What is the default Mesa version on Ubuntu 24.04?

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ships Mesa 25.2.x through noble-updates. Ubuntu 26.04 LTS provides Mesa 25.3.x from the resolute repositories, and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS includes Mesa 23.2.x from jammy-updates. Run apt-cache policy libgl1-mesa-dri to check the exact version on your system.

Does Mesa include Vulkan drivers on Ubuntu?

Yes. The mesa-vulkan-drivers package provides Vulkan support for AMD and Intel GPUs, while libgl1-mesa-dri handles OpenGL. Both ship by default on Ubuntu desktop installations and upgrade together from a Kisak PPA.

Which package provides the glxinfo command on Ubuntu?

The mesa-utils package provides glxinfo. Install it with sudo apt install mesa-utils, then run glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version" to check the active Mesa version from a desktop session.

What is the difference between Kisak and Oibaf Mesa PPAs on Ubuntu?

Kisak PPAs rebuild stable Mesa point releases for Ubuntu, offering tested packages on a predictable update cadence. The Oibaf PPA (ppa:oibaf/graphics-drivers) tracks upstream Mesa git builds more aggressively, which provides the newest code but carries a higher risk of regressions. Most users should start with a Kisak PPA for a safer upgrade, and only consider Oibaf when testing bleeding-edge Mesa features.

Do I need mesa-utils to upgrade Mesa drivers on Ubuntu?

No. The upgrade uses APT and PPA packages. Install mesa-utils only if you want glxinfo for runtime version checks after the upgrade.

Does upgrading Mesa drivers on Ubuntu improve AMD GPU performance?

Mesa is the primary graphics driver stack for AMD GPUs on Ubuntu. Upgrading Mesa through a Kisak PPA gives AMD users newer OpenGL and Vulkan implementations, which can improve frame rates, fix rendering bugs, and add support for newer games. Intel integrated GPU users also benefit. NVIDIA GPU users running the proprietary driver are not affected by Mesa upgrades.

What is the mesa-utils-extra package on Ubuntu?

The mesa-utils-extra package no longer exists on Ubuntu 22.04 and later. Its tools, including es2_info, es2gears, eglinfo, and vkgears, moved into the mesa-utils-bin package. Install it with sudo apt install mesa-utils-bin if you need EGL, OpenGL ES, or Vulkan diagnostic utilities beyond the glxinfo provided by mesa-utils.

Conclusion

Your Ubuntu system now runs a newer Mesa build from the Kisak PPA you selected, verified with glxinfo or apt-cache policy, and reversible with ppa-purge if a regression appears. Remove the PPA before a full release upgrade to avoid repository conflicts. For gaming, the upgraded Vulkan and OpenGL support pairs well with install Steam on Ubuntu or install Wine on Ubuntu. For GPU hardware details beyond version strings, install GPU Viewer on Ubuntu.