How to Upgrade to Ubuntu 22.04
You upgrade to Ubuntu 22.04 LTS directly through your existing Ubuntu system using command-line tools. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, codenamed “Jammy Jellyfish,” is a significant Long Term Support release, offering five years of ongoing security and maintenance updates from Canonical.
This latest LTS version is built upon the robust Linux kernel 5.15 and brings exciting new features like the GNOME 42 desktop environment and Wayland as the default display server. You’ll also benefit from improved compatibility with modern hardware and software.
You can perform this upgrade seamlessly from either Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or Ubuntu 21.10, ensuring a smooth transition to the enhanced capabilities of 22.04.
Upgrade to Ubuntu 22.04 LTS using the command line by first updating your system with `sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade`. Then, run `sudo do-release-upgrade` to begin the upgrade process. Reboot after completion to finalize the installation.
How to upgrade to Ubuntu 22.04 from Ubuntu 20.10 or Ubuntu 20.04
Ubuntu 22.04, which just came out, is an LTS version. This means it’ll be supported for five whole years. You can upgrade directly to it from Ubuntu 20.04 or 21.10.
To perform this upgrade, you’ll need root privileges. This means you have to be logged in as the root user or be a member of the sudoers file, which grants administrative permissions.
How to Back up Ubuntu
Before you upgrade Ubuntu, your first task should be to back up your current system. That way, you can restore it if something unexpected happens during the upgrade.
How to back up Ubuntu
How to update Ubuntu
Also, you should update your currently installed packages before upgrading to the latest Ubuntu version, if new versions are available.
If packages are held back, you may want to release the hold and upgrade to the latest version. Run the commands below to see any packages being held back from the upgrade.
sudo apt-mark showhold
To release the hold, run the commands below. Remember to replace package_name with the name of the package being held back.
sudo apt-mark unhold package_name
Next, run the commands below to update all your currently installed packages.
sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade
Next, run the commands below to complete an upgrade and remove packages that might be preventing your machine from upgrading.
sudo apt full-upgrade sudo apt --purge autoremove
Upgrade to Ubuntu 22.04
Now that your system has been updated and rebooted, you can start upgrading to the latest version of Ubuntu.
Ubuntu includes an upgrade package called “update-manager-core,” which is installed by default on both desktop and server versions. If it’s not already installed, you can run the commands below.
sudo apt install update-manager-core
Once the package is installed, make sure the default upgrade policy in the /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades file is set to “Prompt=normal” or “Prompt=lts.”
If the option is set to its but you can’t upgrade, change it to normal and try again.
Finally, run the commands below to begin the upgrade process.
sudo do-release-upgrade
During the upgrade, you’ll be prompted to choose between keeping your existing configuration file or installing the package maintainer’s version.
You can safely type Y for Yes if you haven’t made many custom configurations.
Wait for the upgrade process to finish. Once it’s done, you’ll be asked to reboot.
After rebooting, run the commands below to confirm that your Ubuntu system has been upgraded.
lsb_release -a
You should see something similar to the lines below:
No LSB modules are available. Distributor ID: Ubuntu Description: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Release: 22.04 Codename: jammy
Related post:
How to upgrade the Ubuntu desktop
Conclusion:
- Upgrading to Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish) from Ubuntu 20.04 or 21.10 is straightforward and well-supported.
- It’s crucial to back up your current system before performing the upgrade to ensure you can restore it if anything unexpected occurs.
- Updating the currently installed packages and releasing any held-back packages is necessary before upgrading.
- Once the system is updated, installing the update-manager-core package and adjusting the upgrade policy will allow you to start the upgrade process with the sudo do-release-upgrade command.
- During the upgrade, you may be prompted to confirm certain actions, and after completion, it’s essential to reboot and verify the Ubuntu version to ensure a successful upgrade.
Was this guide helpful?
About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
No comments yet — be the first to share your thoughts!