Ubuntu 26.10 adds certified‑hardware check to Settings panel

Ubuntu 26.10 (code‑named Stonking Stingray) introduces a new option in Settings → System → About that lets users verify whether their laptop or desktop is officially Ubuntu Certified. Selecting the option runs the com.ubuntu.hwctl service and displays one of six possible statuses – Certified, Certified for a different Ubuntu version, Not certified but similar to a certified model, Not certified, Unable to check, or Status unknown.

The feature also offers an optional periodic check that sends hardware details to Canonical for status updates. It is bundled in gnome‑control‑center 1:51~alpha‑0ubuntu2 and appears in daily builds ahead of the stable October release. The addition aims to make certification information accessible via a graphical interface rather than command‑line tools.