Ubuntu

How to Upgrade Ubuntu 20.04 LTS to Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is the latest edition of the Ubuntu, launched on 21st April 2022. This version comes with a much-improved performance and the latest security updates. It includes several new features such as an improved Dark mode layout due to GNOME 42 desktop environment, the inclusion of multitasking feature, upgraded Linux Kernel 5.15, accent colour selection and much more.

If you are using Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, you should need a system upgrade so that you will be able to enjoy the latest features and security updates of the software.

This tutorial will guide you in upgrading Ubuntu 20.04 LTS to Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.

How to Upgrade Ubuntu 20.04 LTS to Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

If you have previously installed Ubuntu 20.04 LTS on your system, you can easily upgrade the previous version to the latest one. There are several methods to upgrade the system, but we will provide you with the easiest way in this tutorial. The below-given steps are required to be completed to upgrade the system successfully.

Step 1: Update your system

Initially, you will need to ensure whether the packages on Ubuntu 20.04 are up to date through the following command:

$ sudo apt update

If some packages require to be upgraded, you can use the following command to upgrade them.

$ sudo apt upgrade

You can also perform full system upgrade in case if it’s required using the following command:

$ sudo apt dist-upgrade

The above command may remove some packages that may prevent you from upgrading the system.

Step 2: Remove Unused Dependencies

Now, remove unused dependencies which are no longer required for your system using the following command:

$ sudo apt autoremove

If you want to check the version of an operating system you are using, the following command will be used:

$ lsb_release -d

Step 3: Upgrade Ubuntu 20.04 LTS to Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

After ensuring the system is up to date, you can then start the upgrading process. This step requires executing the following command to open the update manager:

$ update-manager -c -d

The above command will check the available update using the update manager, and if an update is available, you can see a pop-up window regarding the software update. Click on the “Install Now” button to perform the update.

After the installation, your system may reboot. Once the system restarts, you can again execute the above command and it will open the following popup window. It gives you the choice to upgrade your system to the latest Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. Click on the “Upgrade” option.

Enter your system password.

Click on the “Upgrade” option.

This begins upgrading Ubuntu 20.04 to Ubuntu 22.04. The setup process will take time.

During the installation, another popup screen will appear that needs your confirmation on whether to upgrade the system. Select the “Start Upgrade” option to confirm the upgrade.

This will continue installing remaining options as shown in the image below.

During the installation process, the Firefox configuration window will appear and you will need to click on the “Next” button at the top right corner to continue the installation.

After a few minutes, another popup window will appear on the screen that needs your acceptance of whether to replace the system configuration file. As you upgrade to the latest version, you will have to choose the “Replace” option to replace the new configuration file with the old one.

After performing the above task, the upgrade process will finalize the installation, which may take half an hour or more. At that time, you will see the following window on the screen that needs your permission to remove the outdated packages. Do it by clicking on the “Remove” button.

After this, the setup process finalizes the settings.

Wait till you see a pop-up window that tells you to restart the system to complete the upgrade. Go for it by clicking on the “Restart Now” option.

After the restart, once you login to your account you will see the Ubuntu 22.04 LTS desktop.

This ends the upgrade and now you have successfully turned Ubuntu 20.04 to Ubuntu 22.04.

You can confirm the version using the following command in the terminal.

$ lsb_release -d

Conclusion

With the latest release of Ubuntu 22.04, the Ubuntu users need to upgrade their system from Ubuntu 20.04 LTS to Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. An upgraded version enables them to enjoy the latest features and security updates missing in the previous release. You can easily upgrade to Ubuntu 22.04 through a simple command line. The above guide will help you upgrade your system without needing to install it from scratch.

About the author

Awais Khan

I'm an Engineer and an academic researcher by profession. My interest for Raspberry Pi, embedded systems and blogging has brought me here to share my knowledge with others.