How to Update and Upgrade Ubuntu Software

Keeping Ubuntu updated is essential for security, stability, and access to the latest features. This guide covers all methods to update and upgrade your system.

Key Concepts

update – Refreshes package list from repositories
upgrade – Installs newer versions of installed packages
dist-upgrade – Handles changing dependencies (major upgrades)
do-release-upgrade – Upgrades to next Ubuntu release

Method 1: Command Line (Terminal)

Basic Update & Upgrade

sudo apt update

Fetches the latest package lists from all configured repositories.

sudo apt upgrade -y

Upgrades all upgradable packages. Add -y to skip confirmation prompts.

Single Command

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Tip: This is the most commonly used command combination.

Method 2: Software Update GUI

Open Software Updater

update-manager

Or search for “Software Updater” in the app menu.

Using Software & Updates

Go to Settings → About → Software Updates
Or search “Software & Updates”
Configure update frequency and repositories

Update via Settings

Settings → System → Updates
Click “Check for Updates”
Click “Install Now”

Security Updates Only

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confdef"

Or use unattended-upgrades for automatic security updates:

sudo apt install unattended-upgrades
sudo dpkg-reconfigure unattended-upgrades

Full System Upgrade

Distribution Upgrade

sudo apt full-upgrade -y

Handles changing dependencies; may remove obsolete packages.

Upgrade to Next Ubuntu Release

sudo do-release-upgrade

For LTS to LTS upgrades or non-LTS releases:

sudo do-release-upgrade -d

Warning: A release upgrade is a major operation. Backup your data first!

Update Snap Packages

Refresh All Snaps

sudo snap refresh

Refresh Specific Snap

sudo snap refresh snap-name

List Revisions

snap list

Update Flatpak Packages

flatpak update -y

Update Firmware

sudo fwupdmgr refresh
sudo fwupdmgr update

Check for Available Updates

List Upgradable Packages

sudo apt list --upgradable

Count Available Updates

apt list --upgradable 2>/dev/null | wc -l

Useful Commands

Search for a Package

apt search [package-name]

Show Package Info

apt show [package-name]

Clean Package Cache

sudo apt autoclean
sudo apt clean

Remove Unused Dependencies

sudo apt autoremove -y

Hold a Package (Prevent Update)

sudo apt-mark hold [package-name]

Unhold a Package

sudo apt-mark unhold [package-name]

Automatic Updates (Unattended)

sudo apt install unattended-upgrades
sudo dpkg-reconfigure --priority=low unattended-upgrades

Configure Unattended Upgrades

sudo nano /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50unattended-upgrades

Enable ${distro_id}:${distro_codename}-security
Optional: enable -updates and -backports

Troubleshooting

Lock Error

Error: Unable to lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock

sudo fuser -vki /var/lib/dpkg/lock
sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock
sudo dpkg --configure -a

Broken Packages

sudo apt --fix-broken install
sudo dpkg --configure -a

Repository Not Found

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:bad-ppa
sudo apt update

Partial Upgrade

sudo apt update --fix-missing

One-Liner All Updates

Update everything (APT + Snap + Flatpak + Firmware):

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y && sudo snap refresh && flatpak update -y && sudo fwupdmgr update

Conclusion

Regular updates keep your system secure and stable. Best practices:

Run sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y weekly
Enable unattended-upgrades for security patches
Reboot after kernel updates
Backup before major release upgrades

Pro Tip: Schedule updates via cron: sudo crontab -e and add 0 3 * * 0 apt update && apt upgrade -y