How to Upgrade to Ubuntu 22.04
Tags: ubuntu, linux, beginners, tutorial
Published: 2022-07-11 17:24:19


[Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Jammy Jellyfish](https://releases.ubuntu.com/22.04?ref=techvblogs.com)  is due to release on April 21, 2022. However, users of  [Ubuntu 20.04](https://releases.ubuntu.com/20.04?ref=techvblogs.com)  and  [Ubuntu 21.10](https://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/21.04?ref=techvblogs.com)  can upgrade to the latest release right now.

This tutorial will cover the step-by-step instructions to upgrade your Ubuntu system to version 22.04  **Jammy Jellyfish**, the latest long-term support release. Are you ready to enjoy all the new features of Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish? Follow our step-by-step instructions below, and you will be upgraded to the latest version of Ubuntu in no time.

### New Features in  **Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Jammy Jellyfish**

-   Apache 2.4.52
-   BIND 9.18
-   Corosync 3.16
-   Django 3.2.12
-   Firefox 99 (Firefox is now only provided in Ubuntu as a snap)
-   GNOME has been updated to include new features and fixes from GNOME 41 and GNOME 42
-   LibreOffice 7.3
-   Linux kernel v5.15.0-25
-   MySQL 8.0.28
-   NetworkManager 1.36
-   nftables is default as a backend for the firewall
-   Pacemaker 2.1.2
-   Perl v5.34.0
-   PHP 8.1.2
-   PostgreSQL 14.2
-   Python 3.10.4
-   Ruby 3.0
-   Samba 4.15.5
-   ssh-rsa is now disabled by default in OpenSSH.
-   Thunderbird 91

#### Step 1 - Prerequisites

The upgrade operation must be run with superuser privileges. You must be logged in as a root or a user with Sudo privileges. Generally, the user-created when Ubuntu is first installed has superuser privileges by default.

You can upgrade directly to version 22.04 from Ubuntu 20.04 or Ubuntu 21.10. If you run any previous release, you must first upgrade to Ubuntu 20.04 or 21.10.

Be sure you have a working Internet connection.

#### Step 2 - Backup Your Data

Before attempting a significant upgrade on any system, you should ensure you won’t lose data if the promotion goes awry. The best way to accomplish this is to make a backup of your entire filesystem. Failing that, ensure you have copies of user home directories, custom configuration files, and data stored by services such as relational databases.

On a DigitalOcean Droplet, one approach is to power down the system and take a snapshot (powering down ensures that the filesystem will be more consistent). See How to Create Snapshots of Droplets for more details on the snapshot process. After you have verified that the Ubuntu update was successful, you can delete the snapshot so that you will no longer be charged for its storage.

For backup methods which will work on most Ubuntu systems, see How To Choose an Effective Backup Strategy for your VPS.

#### Step 3 - Upgrade Ubuntu to the latest release

Open the terminal application. For remote servers, log in using the ssh command. First, find all packages that are on hold, and type the apt-mark command:

```bash
#! /bin/bash
sudo apt-mark showhold
```

If you see an empty output, there are no held-back packages, and you can proceed safely. Otherwise, using the apt-mark command, you need to remove a hold on packages. For instance, unhold the packages as follows (replace pkg1 pkg2 with actual names):

```bash
#! /bin/bash
sudo apt-mark unhold pkg1 pkg2
```

Next, update the current system using the apt-get command:

```bash
#! /bin/bash
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
```

Reboot the Ubuntu Linux box if a new Linux kernel is installed on the system using the shutdown command or reboot command:

```bash
#! /bin/bash
sudo reboot
```

Login once again and verify that you are running the latest Ubuntu 20.04, which should be  **Ubuntu 20.04.4**.

You can verify this using the command:

```bash
#! /bin/bash
lsb_release -a
```

```bash
#! Output
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID:	Ubuntu
Description:	Ubuntu 20.04.4 LTS
Release:	20.04
Codename:	focal
```

#### Step 4 - Begin Upgrade

To initiate the actual upgrade, run the following command:

```bash
#! /bin/bash
sudo do-release-upgrade -d
```

The  `do-release-upgrade`  command will disable all third-party repositories and change the apt list to the “jammy” repositories. You will be prompted several times to confirm that you want to continue the upgrade when asked whether you want the services to be automatically restarted during the upgrade type  `y`.

During the upgrade process, the command will ask you various questions, like whether you want to keep an existing configuration file or to install the package maintainer’s version. If you didn’t make any custom changes to the file, it should be safe to type  `Y`. Otherwise. It is recommended to keep the current configuration. Read the questions carefully before making a selection.

The upgrade runs inside a GNU screen session and will automatically re-attach if the connection drops.

The process may take some time, depending on the number of updates and your Internet speed.

Once the new packages are installed, the update tool will ask you if you want to remove the obsolete software. Suppose you are unsure, type  `d`  and check the list of obsolete packages. Generally, it is safe to enter  `y`  and remove all obsolete packages.

When the upgrade process is complete and assuming all went well, you’ll be asked to reboot your machine. Type  `y`  to continue:

```bash
#! Output
System upgrade is complete.

Restart required

To finish the upgrade, a restart is required.
If you select 'y' the system will be restarted.

Continue [yN] y
```

#### Step 5 - Confirm the Upgrade

Wait for a few moments until your system boots up and log in.

As a desktop user, you will be greeted with a new graphical boot splash and login screen.

You can also check the Ubuntu version by running the following command:

```bash
#! /bin/bash
lsb_release -a
```

```bash
#! Output
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID:	Ubuntu
Description:	Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
Release:	22.04
Codename:	jammy
```

**Thank you** for reading this blog.