Upgrade Windows Subsystem Linux - Ubuntu 18.04 to Ubuntu 19.10
Tags: beginners, webdev, productivity, linux
Published: 2020-01-28 17:57:51

---
title: Upgrade Windows Subsystem Linux - Ubuntu 18.04 to Ubuntu 19.10
published: true
tags: beginners, webdev, productivity, linux
canonical_url: https://scottspence.com/2020/01/28/update-wsl-ubuntu-from-18.10-to-19.10/
---

In this guide I'm going to detail upgrading a Windows Subsystem Linux (WSL) Ubuntu install from the current version 18.04 to 19.10 this is an intermediary release before Ubuntu 20.04 is released on 2020 April 23.

I have documented [this process in the past] for moving from Ubuntu version 18.04 to 18.10. You can see [my comments] as I went through the process back then.

## 📺 Here's a video detailing the process

{% youtube IErQ4RnzPOg %}

## Check the current Ubuntu version

Ok, to check the current installed version of Ubuntu from the terminal I enter `lsb_release -a` to get the currently installed Ubuntu version displayed.

> LSB stands for Linux Standard Base and the '-a' is for 'all information'

```bash
lsb_release -a
```

The output looks like this:

![current-version](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/f8uriyirhdvjydcxhcxb.png)


## Do the release upgrade!

To start the upgrade I enter the terminal command `do-release-upgrade`.

```bash
sudo do-release-upgrade
```

![do-release-upgrade](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/6d2ht8x7ljs2sgjbsvkz.png)

This will prompt me if my `release-upgrades` file isn't set to `normal`.

## Set release upgrades to normal

Open the `release-upgrades` file path to edit, in this example I'm using [Nano] to edit the file.

```bash
sudo nano /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades
```

In the file I change the `Prompt` from `Prompt=lts` to `Prompt=normal`.

![release-upgrades-normal](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/2ttw1kabhwzg0a74twcd.png)

To save the file in Nano I use Ctrl+o to write out the file, confirm (Enter/Return) then to close use I Ctrl+x.

## Do the release upgrade, for realsies

Now the `release-upgrades` file is set to `normal` I can do the [do-release-upgrade].

![release-upgrade-for-realsies](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/cvli550bk556h8suhxud.png)

You may be aware of an [lxd error] that occurs on the Ubuntu 18.04 to Ubuntu 18.10 upgrade. This is where there is a prompt saying ["Your system is unable to reach the snap store"].

I'm going to skip this during the upgrade but you can _**optionally**_ run this when doing this for yourself, here's the command:

```bash
sudo dpkg --force depends -P lxd; sudo dpkg --force depends -P lxd-client
```

Pick the same command again in the terminal, if I arrow up a a couple of commands I can use it again.

```bash
sudo do-release-upgrade
```

I'm now prompted with the details of what is going to happen in the upgrade:

![upgrade-confirmation](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/7mbclacla2ns0bbki368.png)

I respond with `y` to continue and start the upgrade.

## Warnings and configs

When I'm prompted about `libc6` for restarting services during package upgrades I use the tab key to select `<Yes>` then return to continue.

![config-libc6](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/fg05dtrbzcl4dpfs8g0t.png)

Next I have the `Lxd` warning I mentioned earlier, in this case I'm going to arrow down and select the option to `<Skip>` then hit return to continue.

![lxd-warning](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/vmiv88wfd6rgvslgoo0h.png)

In the following screens I'm being asked about package configuration, I'm going to be picking the option to `install the package maintainer's version` for all of them.

Same with `openssh-server` arrow up key to to `install the package maintainer's version` and hit return to continue.

![openssh-servier-config](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/1kry4hua4yttilscyu4b.png)

Then there's the `release-upgrades` configuration and yeah I'm going to select to `install the package maintainer's version` and confirm to continue.

![release-upgrades-config](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/ifnkf2evjfvhrd869f4v.png)

## Finish up install

One of the last few prompts is to confirm the removal of the obsolete packages, confirm `y` to continue.

![finish-up-install](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/ms5xtoec8jkf0rfnu1x7.png)

Restart is required now, so I confirm with `y`.

![restart-prompt](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/kf0t93u90lfdnrxghd1o.png)

Now I have the confirmation that the do release upgrade completed successfully. I press Ctrl+c

![finish-upgrade](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/shez4sqqwjr1ewuf4u2t.png)

Then have to press `x` to destroy!

![press x](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/4m610bkzd68s6xl7bt43.png)

That takes me back to the regular prompt where I can check with `lsb_release -a` what version I'm now on.

![done](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/jp1kjq6kmj0ddcrebeec.png)

Confirmation the Windows Subsystem Linux version of Ubuntu I'm using is now on 19.10.

## Wrap up!

That's it! I upgraded a WSL Ubuntu version from 18.04 to 19.10.

First, I changed the default behaviour of the release upgrader from `lts` to `normal`.

Then `do-release-upgrade`, and I skipped the `Lxd` configuration. It isn't needed on WSL but is part of the Ubuntu image on the Microsoft Store 🤔

I accept `install the package maintainer's version` on any configuration prompts.

Done.

## Thanks for reading 🙏

Please take a look at my other content if you enjoyed this.

Follow me on [Twitter] or [Ask Me Anything] on GitHub.

<!-- Links -->

[twitter]: https://twitter.com/spences10
[ask me anything]: https://github.com/spences10/ama
[this process in the past]: https://thelocalhost.blog/2019/04/01/update-wsl-from-18.04-18.10/
[my comments]: https://dev.to/spences10/comment/9n19
[do-release-upgrade]: https://help.ubuntu.com/lts/serverguide/installing-upgrading.html
[nano]: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Nano
[lxd error]: https://dev.to/spences10/comment/9n3j
["your system is unable to reach the snap store"]: https://askubuntu.com/questions/1119301/your-system-is-unable-to-reach-the-snap-store