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Ubuntu documented a direct upgrade from 21.04 to 21.10, but that route is now historical: Ubuntu 21.04 reached end of life on January 20, 2022, and 21.10 on July 14, 2022. Do not treat 21.10 as a supported security destination today. If your computer still runs 21.04, back up first and follow Ubuntu’s end-of-life guidance for your specific release and flavor before choosing an upgrade or reinstall.
Could you upgrade directly from Ubuntu 21.04 to 21.10?
Yes. At the time, Ubuntu’s documented route was a direct upgrade. In a December 6, 2021 announcement, Ubuntu Release Team member Brian Murray wrote, “The supported upgrade path from Ubuntu 21.04 is via Ubuntu 21.10.” That statement described the supported path then; it does not mean either release remains supported now. Ubuntu Release Team announcement
Ubuntu 21.04, codenamed Hirsute Hippo, was released on April 22, 2021, and reached end of life on January 20, 2022. Ubuntu 21.10, Impish Indri, was released on October 14, 2021, and reached end of life on July 14, 2022. Ubuntu release list
Historical desktop upgrade procedure
The following steps reproduce Ubuntu’s version-specific instructions for upgrading a standard Ubuntu Desktop installation from 21.04 to 21.10. They are not a general recommendation for upgrading an unsupported system today. Ubuntu advised installing all available 21.04 updates and reviewing the 21.10 release notes for known issues and workarounds first. Ubuntu 21.10 upgrade instructions
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- LIVE OR INSTALL - On supported hardware, start the Ubuntu live environment to evaluate it or launch the installer.
- PLATFORM BOUNDARY - Not designed to boot Apple Silicon or other ARM-based computers. Confirm CPU architecture and USB-boot support before purchase.
- BOOT SETTINGS VARY - Boot-menu keys and UEFI settings differ by manufacturer; consult the computer maker's instructions if the USB is not listed.
- BACK UP BEFORE INSTALLING - Disk-partition and installation choices can erase files or operating systems. Disconnect nonessential drives and preserve the USB until it is no longer needed for installation or recovery.
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Open Update Manager, then open Settings and select the Updates tab.
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Set Notify me of a new Ubuntu version to For any new version, then close Settings.
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In Update Manager, check for updates. Install any available updates, then check again.
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Open a terminal and run
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The -d option is part of this old, release-specific procedure; do not reuse it as a general present-day upgrade command.
Historical Ubuntu Server procedure
Ubuntu’s instructions gave Server installations a separate path. The commands below describe the old 21.04-to-21.10 procedure only. Ubuntu 21.10 upgrade instructions
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If needed, install the release-upgrade tool with
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Edit
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Run
sudo do-release-upgrade -dand follow the prompts.
What to do if your computer still runs Ubuntu 21.04
Begin with Ubuntu’s end-of-life upgrade guidance and identify both the installed Ubuntu release and its flavor. Back up disks or partitions before attempting an upgrade. End-of-life releases may require Ubuntu’s old-releases archive, and flavor-specific procedures can differ; the standard Ubuntu Desktop steps should not be assumed to work unchanged for every flavor. Ubuntu’s guidance does not establish one universal, current command sequence from every 21.04 installation to a supported release.
Ubuntu later documented 22.04 LTS as the next supported path from 21.10, but that historical step does not make the old 21.04 instructions a currently supported one-step route to 22.04. Ubuntu 22.04 upgrade instructions
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An in-place upgrade can retain configuration. A fresh installation offers a clean platform and may be easier and faster when several release upgrades would otherwise be needed. Ubuntu’s EOL guide recommends testing the target release with a live boot to check hardware compatibility; a live session runs from removable media without changing the installed system. Ubuntu end-of-life upgrade guidance
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Preserving configuration matters: an in-place upgrade may suit you, provided you follow guidance that matches your exact release and flavor.
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Several releases must be crossed: consider whether a fresh installation is the simpler route, after making a backup.
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Hardware compatibility is uncertain: test the intended release in a live session before changing the installed system.
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Flavor users need flavor-specific instructions
Ubuntu flavors have their own lifecycle details and upgrade instructions. Check the guidance for your flavor rather than applying the standard Ubuntu Desktop procedure automatically; in some cases, a flavor’s upgrade path may not be supported. Ubuntu’s general EOL guidance discusses these differences. Ubuntu end-of-life upgrade guidance
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