How to Update Ubuntu Linux

Think your Linux is out of date? This article will show you how to update your Ubuntu Linux system.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Command Line Interface

  1. Image titled Update Ubuntu Linux Step 1
    1
    Update your repository list. You can do this by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T. Then type in sudo apt-get update. You will be prompted for your root password. All this command does is updates the list of programs in your repository.
    • Some distros do this automatically.
  2. Image titled Update Ubuntu Linux Step 2
    2
    Install upgrades. After apt-get is done, run sudo apt-get upgrade. Again, enter your password and wait 2-3 seconds. You will see a list of packages which should be installed to upgrade.
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  3. Image titled Update Ubuntu Linux Step 3
    3
    Confirm your command. You will be asked if you want to upgrade those packages, if yes, press Y and hit ↵ Enter. If you don't want to upgrade then press N and press ↵ Enter to abort.
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    4
    Apt-get will now download and install all of these packages. Bear in mind that this can be a very large download, and might take a considerable time, depending on your internet connection speed.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Graphical User Interface

  1. 1
    Open Software updater.
  2. 2
    If there is any software to update, select Install Now.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Ubuntu 11 is no longer supported. I have no idea what the passwords are. Can you help me?
    LexingtonMineral Blaine
    LexingtonMineral Blaine
    Community Answer
    Sorry, you will have to chalk this one up to a learning experience and install Ubuntu 18.04. If you happen to find your password, you could go in the terminal and reset it. Go to ubuntu.com and select the option for a password reset.
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Warnings

  • Caution: Using "sudo" allows you to have root/administrator privileges, check what you type before hitting enter as serious damage can be done as root/administrator
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 13 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 67,798 times.
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Co-authors: 13
Updated: June 4, 2020
Views: 67,798
Categories: Ubuntu
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