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The safest Ubuntu release upgrade follows a deliberate sequence: read the target release notes, finish all updates on the current release, confirm you have enough free disk space and time, make a separate backup, account for disabled third-party repositories, then run Ubuntu’s supported release upgrader. On Desktop you can use Software Updater or sudo do-release-upgrade; on Server and cloud images, Ubuntu recommends sudo do-release-upgrade. If power is interrupted and the machine still boots, Ubuntu documents sudo dpkg --configure -a followed by sudo apt --fix-broken install. If you cannot log in, use GRUB recovery mode to reach a root shell, and contact Ubuntu support if those limited repairs do not resolve the problem.
What a safe Ubuntu release upgrade involves
A release upgrade changes the operating-system base, not merely a few applications. The upgrader downloads hundreds of packages—potentially several gigabytes—removes or replaces packages, disables third-party software sources during the process, and may stop for questions that require your response. Treat it as a planned maintenance operation rather than an unattended update.
Ubuntu’s upgrader performs checks and shows a summary of proposed package changes before you accept. Read that summary, keep the computer powered, and do not start the process when you cannot remain available for prompts. A release upgrade is also different from an ordinary security update: it changes the release that supplies the system packages, so compatibility and repository support matter.
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Prepare before you start
Read the target release notes
Review the release notes for the Ubuntu version you intend to install. They describe known issues, changes, and release-specific blockers. Availability is phased: an LTS-to-LTS upgrade becomes available with the first point release, while an interim-release upgrade may appear a few days after launch while critical issues are addressed. Therefore, two otherwise identical computers may not receive the upgrade prompt at the same time.
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Use the release notes to confirm that your intended path is the one Ubuntu currently supports. If a known issue affects your hardware, installed software, or upgrade route, delaying the operation can be safer than forcing the prompt. A missing notification by itself is not evidence that the system is damaged.
Finish updates on the current release
Do not begin a release upgrade with a partially updated system. On Ubuntu Desktop, open a terminal and run:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgradeAllow both commands to finish successfully. Reboot if Ubuntu requests it or if the update process requires it. If either command reports an error, resolve that error first; changing releases while the package database is already inconsistent makes diagnosis harder.
On Ubuntu Server, use the documented sequence:
sudo apt update
sudo apt dist-upgrade -o APT::Get::Always-Include-Phased-Updates=trueAgain, wait for completion and address failures before attempting the release change. The command-line sequence is appropriate for a server where there may be no graphical updater, and it ensures phased updates are included as specified in Ubuntu’s Server guidance.
Check disk space and schedule enough time
Because the upgrader downloads hundreds of new packages and may use several gigabytes, check that the system has substantial free space before launching it. Leave room for downloaded archives, unpacked files, configuration work, and temporary data rather than checking only whether the current files fit.
Reserve uninterrupted time as well. Interactive questions can pause progress, and the total duration varies with the connection, storage, and number of installed packages. A slow-looking screen may simply indicate that packages are being unpacked or that the process is waiting for an answer. Do not begin immediately before travel, a meeting, or a period when you cannot monitor the machine.
Make a separate, usable backup
Ubuntu recommends backing up because an upgrade can go wrong. Keep the copy separate from the disk being upgraded so that a damaged installation does not also destroy your only backup. An external USB drive is one practical destination; choose a capacity and connection that your computer supports. Ubuntu does not certify a particular drive or capacity.
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Account for third-party repositories and packages
Ubuntu disables PPAs and other third-party repositories during a release upgrade. Installed third-party software may remain on the computer, but those packages and their sources are a common cause of upgrade problems. Do not assume that every external application will work on the new release.
Before starting, make a mental or written list of external software you depend on. After the system is stable, check each repository against the target release and re-enable a source only when its publisher supports that release. Reinstall or replace applications that do not have a compatible version. Immediately restoring every disabled source can recreate dependency conflicts and obscure whether the base Ubuntu upgrade itself succeeded.
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Choose the supported upgrade method
| Computer | Recommended starting method | Strength and trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Desktop | Software Updater, or sudo do-release-upgrade in a terminal |
The graphical path provides windows for availability, review, and prompts; the terminal path gives a direct, repeatable interface and detailed text output. |
| Ubuntu Server | sudo do-release-upgrade |
Ubuntu’s Server guidance specifically recommends the command-line release upgrader because a graphical updater is normally unavailable. |
| Ubuntu cloud image | sudo do-release-upgrade |
Use the command-line upgrader recommended for cloud images and keep the session available for prompts and any final restart instructions. |
Both Desktop options invoke Ubuntu’s release-upgrade process rather than merely installing routine updates. Choose by edition and by the interface you can monitor reliably, not by trying to bypass the upgrader’s checks.
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Desktop: Software Updater
On a Desktop installation, let Software Updater check for a new Ubuntu release. If the release is offered, follow the on-screen review and confirmation steps. The graphical route is useful when you prefer an interface that displays the available release and questions in windows.
Read each warning and the proposed package changes. If the updater says no release is available, first consider the phased timing described in the release notes and availability guidance. Do not treat a delayed offer as a reason to force a development release onto a normal work computer.
Desktop, Server, or cloud: the command line
Run:
sudo do-release-upgradeRead every warning and the package summary before accepting. Keep the terminal session open and answer prompts as they appear. Ubuntu documents this command as the recommended method for Server edition and cloud images, and it is also a supported option on Desktop.
Record any important warning or error text while it is visible. If you later need support, knowing which check failed and at what stage is more useful than a general report that “the upgrade broke.”
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The Desktop troubleshooting documentation lists --devel-release for moving to a development release. That release is unsupported and may break the system. It is not a routine way to obtain a normal production upgrade sooner, and it is particularly inappropriate when the only problem is that the standard offer has not appeared yet.
What happens during the upgrade
- Pre-flight checks: The upgrader examines package state, repositories, and other prerequisites. It can identify conditions that must be addressed before proceeding.
- Change review: It presents a summary of packages to install, upgrade, remove, or otherwise change. Read the list and any warnings before approval; a summary is your opportunity to stop if the proposed changes do not match your expectations.
- Repository handling: PPAs and other third-party sources are disabled for the release transition. Their software may remain installed, but compatibility with the new release is not guaranteed.
- Downloads and unpacking: Hundreds of packages may be downloaded and processed. The required amount of data can reach several gigabytes, and the machine may become noticeably slower while storage and network resources are busy.
- Interactive decisions: Some configuration questions require your response. Do not walk away expecting the process to finish unattended; an apparently idle window may simply be waiting for input.
- Completion and restart: Follow the final instructions and restart when Ubuntu requests it. Do not assume the transition is complete until the upgrader says so.
Avoid powering off, closing the terminal, or forcibly resetting the computer while packages are being unpacked or configured. Keep the computer connected to reliable power and avoid unrelated workloads. If the system appears slow, allow the current stage time to continue rather than assuming it has frozen.
When the upgrade is not offered
Check release timing first
An absent prompt does not necessarily indicate a fault. LTS-to-LTS upgrades are offered with the first point release, and interim releases can be held back for a few days while critical problems are addressed. Check the target release notes and the documented availability policy before changing settings or using a different path.
Confirm the current system is ready
Complete the apt update and upgrade sequence for your edition, resolve errors, and reboot if requested. A machine with unfinished updates is not a good candidate for a release transition. Recheck available disk space and confirm that you can remain present for the package questions once the offer appears.
Use the development option only knowingly
sudo do-release-upgrade --devel-release targets a development release. Ubuntu warns that development releases are unsupported and can break the installation, so this option should not be used on a production computer merely because the normal prompt is delayed. A supported release offered later is safer than an unsupported path taken early.
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If the system is slow during or after the attempt
Release upgrades can be disk- and network-intensive. Downloads, package unpacking, and configuration may make the desktop or terminal respond slowly. Keep the computer connected to power, avoid launching unrelated workloads, and wait for the upgrader to finish its current stage.
Check whether a prompt is waiting before concluding that the process stopped. If prompts are waiting for input, respond to them; an apparently idle window may simply be waiting for your decision. Do not interrupt a slow package operation solely because the user interface is less responsive than usual.
If the system powered off during the upgrade
First, try a normal start
Ubuntu’s documented response to a power interruption is to start the computer again. The upgrade may resume automatically. Give it time to reach the login screen or continue its package work before taking additional action.
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Open a terminal and run these commands in order:
sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo apt --fix-broken installdpkg --configure -a attempts to configure packages that were unpacked but not configured. apt --fix-broken install then attempts to repair broken dependencies. Let each command finish and read any error it reports. Running them in this order follows Ubuntu’s documented response for the interrupted-upgrade case.
Understand the limits of these commands
These commands address the documented interrupted-upgrade case. They are not a universal repair for every bootloader, disk, hardware, filesystem, or repository failure. They also do not guarantee that third-party applications will work on the new release. If either command fails, preserve the exact error text and move to Ubuntu’s support channels rather than repeatedly guessing at package removals or forcing unrelated changes.
If normal login fails
Enter GRUB recovery mode
- Restart the computer and open the GRUB menu. The key and timing depend on firmware and configuration, so the way the menu appears can vary.
- Select Advanced options.
- Choose the recovery-mode entry for the appropriate kernel.
- Select Drop to root shell prompt.
The recovery shell gives you diagnostic and repair access when the normal login path does not work. It is an access route, not proof that one command sequence will repair the upgrade; the underlying cause may be a package, storage, boot, or hardware problem.
When recovery mode is unavailable
If GRUB cannot be reached, recovery mode will not start, or the cause remains unclear, use Ubuntu support channels. Include the release you started from, the target release, the stage at which the upgrade stopped, whether the machine powers on, whether a login screen appears, and the complete error messages from any commands you ran. Those details help distinguish an interrupted package operation from a boot or hardware problem.
Third-party software after the upgrade
Because PPAs and other external repositories are disabled during the release change, review your software sources after the system is stable. Do not immediately re-enable every source. Confirm that each repository supports the new Ubuntu release, because an incompatible source can reintroduce dependency conflicts.
For applications that are essential to your work, verify that the publisher provides a version for the target release before relying on it. Installed software that remains present is not automatically validated for the new base system. Re-enable or reinstall sources deliberately, one at a time if practical, so a new problem can be associated with the change that caused it.
A practical decision checklist
- Have you read the target release notes and checked whether this upgrade path is currently available?
- Did the complete update sequence for your edition finish without errors?
- Did you reboot when Ubuntu requested or required it?
- Is there enough free space for downloads and temporary package data?
- Can you remain at the computer to answer prompts?
- Is the computer connected to reliable power?
- Do you have a separate, accessible backup containing the files you would need to restore?
- Have you identified PPAs and other third-party repositories that may need later review?
- Are you using Software Updater or the supported
do-release-upgradecommand rather than a development-release shortcut? - Do you know where to find the exact errors if the process stops?
When to stop and seek help
Stop experimenting when the machine cannot boot, the documented package-repair commands fail, or errors point beyond package configuration. Ubuntu’s guidance recommends seeking support in those cases. Provide the release you started from, the target release, the exact point of failure, whether login is possible, and verbatim errors. That information is more useful than repeatedly rerunning commands that may change the package state.
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Support is also appropriate when you cannot reach GRUB recovery mode or when you are unsure whether a prompt is requesting a safe configuration choice. A separate backup gives you an additional recovery option, but it does not make an unsupported development-release upgrade or blind repository changes safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I wait if Ubuntu does not offer the LTS upgrade yet?
Yes. Ubuntu makes LTS-to-LTS upgrades available with the first point release. Interim-release offers may be delayed a few days while critical issues are addressed. Check the target release notes and finish current-release updates before considering any other action.
Is Software Updater better than the command line?
On Desktop, both Software Updater and sudo do-release-upgrade are supported starting methods. Choose the interface you can monitor and use reliably. Ubuntu specifically recommends sudo do-release-upgrade for Server edition and cloud images.
What happens to my PPAs during an upgrade?
Ubuntu disables PPAs and other third-party repositories during the release upgrade. Installed software may remain, but compatibility is not guaranteed. Afterward, confirm that each source supports the target release before re-enabling or reinstalling it.
How much free space and time do I need?
Ubuntu says the upgrader downloads hundreds of packages and potentially several gigabytes. Check for substantial free space, keep reliable power connected, and reserve enough uninterrupted time to answer interactive prompts and allow package configuration to finish.
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Try starting the computer normally; the upgrade may resume. If you can log in, run sudo dpkg --configure -a, then sudo apt --fix-broken install. These are limited documented repairs. If they fail or you cannot log in, seek Ubuntu support.
How do I reach a root shell when normal login fails?
In GRUB, select Advanced options, choose the recovery-mode entry for the appropriate kernel, and select Drop to root shell prompt. Menu access varies by firmware and configuration, and recovery mode does not guarantee that the underlying failure can be fixed there.
Can I use --devel-release to get the upgrade sooner?
You can invoke it to target a development release, but Ubuntu warns that development releases are unsupported and may break the system. It is not a routine shortcut for a production computer.
The Bottom Line
Read the target release notes, fully update the current release, check space and timing, make a separate backup, and expect third-party sources to be disabled. Use Software Updater on Desktop or sudo do-release-upgrade—the recommended method for Server and cloud images. After an interruption, try the documented dpkg and apt repairs only when you can log in; use GRUB recovery mode or Ubuntu support when those limited steps are not enough.
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