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How do I update Ubuntu using terminal

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Author: Vivek Gite Last updated: July 6, 2024 12 comments

I am a new Ubuntu Linux user. I need to update Ubuntu Linux, but do not have GUI installed
on my AWS/Google cloud server. How do I update Ubuntu using terminal? How can I
upgrade Ubuntu using terminal command line?

Introduction: Ubuntu Linux is a free and open source operating system based on GNU
userland and Linux kernel. Ubuntu is well known for ease of use. It is popular on both
desktop and servers. One can update Ubuntu Linux using terminal bash shell. This page
shows how to upgrade all installed Ubuntu apps using terminal session.
Tutorial details
Difficulty level Easy
Root privileges Yes
Requirements Linux terminal
Category Package Manager
OS compatibility Debian • Mint • Pop!_OS • Ubuntu • WSL
Est. reading time 3 minutes

How do I update Ubuntu using terminal?

1. Open the terminal application
2. For remote server use the ssh command to login. For example:ssh user@server-
name
3. Fetch update software list by running the sudo apt-get update command
4. Update Ubuntu software by running the sudo apt-get upgrade command
5. Finally, reboot the Ubuntu box by running the sudo reboot command.

Let us see all commands in details with examples.

How do I upgrade Ubuntu using terminal?

You need to use either apt command or apt-get command. The apt command provides a high-
level command line interface for the package management system. One can install new
packages, update packages, remove/delete packages and performer other sysadmin duties for
package management using apt.

How to sync the package index files from their sources via Internet

First, open the terminal application. Then run the following command:

sudo apt-get update

OR
sudo apt update
You can list available upgrades as follows:

apt list -a --upgradable

You will see it as follows:

Listing... Done
tzdata/focal-updates,focal-updates 2024a-0ubuntu0.20.04.1 all [upgradable
from: 2024a-0ubuntu0.20.04]
tzdata/focal-security,focal-security,now 2024a-0ubuntu0.20.04 all
[installed,upgradable to: 2024a-0ubuntu0.20.04.1]
tzdata/focal,focal 2019c-3ubuntu1 all

How to install the newest versions of all installed packages on Ubuntu

Next, execute the following command to apply package updates and patches:

sudo apt-get upgrade

OR
sudo apt upgrade
Sometimes a new Linux kernel is installed to fix security bugs at the kernel level. Hence, you
may need to reboot the Ubuntu Linux server if kernel was updated. Issue the following
shutdown command or reboot command for your cloud server or desktop. Before you reboot
the box, note down Linux kernel version as follows:
uname -r
Then:
sudo reboot
After reboot again see new Linux kernel version, type uname command:

uname -r

How to update already installed package named nginx

Want to upgrade existing packages to fix security or other issues? No problem. The syntax is
as follows:

sudo apt install PackageNameHere

Alternatively, you can use the following syntax too:
sudo apt-get install PackageNameHere
Now, let us upgrade nginx package:
sudo apt install nginx
If nginx package is already installed it will try to update to latest version:

Reading package lists... Done

Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
nginx is already the newest version (1.10.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.2).
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.

Conclusion
You learned how to update or upgrade Ubuntu Linux using terminal based session for all
installed apps using the CLI. The apt command or apt-get command have many more options.
Therefore, I suggest that you consult the following manual pages using the help command or
man command:

man apt
man apt-get

apt --help

This entry is 6 of 13 in the Debian/Ubuntu apt-get Tutorial series. Keep reading the rest of the
series:

1. Ubuntu 18.04 update installed packages for security

2. How Do I Update Ubuntu Linux Softwares Using Command Line?
3. Ubuntu Linux: Upgrade Linux Kernel
4. Ubuntu Enable & Setup Automatic Unattended Security Updates
5. Linux: Update All Packages Command
6. How do I update Ubuntu using terminal command line
7. Debian upgrade or update a single package using apt-get
8. Ubuntu upgrade or update a single package using apt-get
9. How do I see what packages are installed on Ubuntu Linux?
10. What does sudo apt-get update command do on Ubuntu/Debian?
11. Ubuntu Linux – How Do I install .deb Packages?
12. apt-get hold back packages on Ubuntu / Debian Linux
13. Ubuntu 20.04 LTS update installed packages for security

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Hi! �
I'm Vivek Gite, and I write about Linux, macOS, Unix, IT, programming, infosec, and open
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12 comments… add one

 Imogen Mar 13, 2022 @ 12:35

Helped a lot with my Ubuntu 18.04 AWS pro server. Thank you.

↩∞

 leilaB Apr 4, 2022 @ 6:50

Very simple to the point and helpful. Thanks :D

↩∞

 MasKoko May 9, 2022 @ 23:58

I use these command line:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade && sudo apt full-upgrade && sudo
apt dist-upgrade && sudo apt-get check && sudo apt -f install && sudo
apt -y clean && sudo apt -y autoclean && sudo apt autoremove && sudo
dpkg --configure -a && sudo apt --fix-broken install

↩∞

 Raquel May 30, 2022 @ 15:17

Thank you so much.

I was having a hard time connecting a second monitor with HDMI , and using theses
commands simply solved it:

Fetch update software list by running the sudo apt-get update command
Update Ubuntu software by running the sudo apt-get upgrade command
Finally, reboot the Ubuntu box by running the sudo reboot command.

p.s. im a freshly fresh newbie ;)

↩∞

 Lionel Jul 14, 2022 @ 4:25

Very helpful

↩∞

 Kenny Millar Jan 24, 2023 @ 14:21

 This does not upgrade Ubuntu – just some optional packages

↩∞

o � Vivek Gite Apr 10, 2023 @ 19:14

No, it upgrades all installed packages, such as Linux kernel, bash, and gnome
apps. Are you looking to upgrade your OS next release? Maybe see how to
upgrade Ubuntu 20.04 to 22.4 page: https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/upgrade-
ubuntu-20-04-lts-to-22-04-lts/

↩∞

 Linx Apr 10, 2023 @ 18:33

Thankyou so much for detailed tutorial.

↩∞

 Danny Aug 7, 2023 @ 21:05

Thank you

↩∞

 Anonymous Mar 20, 2024 @ 19:18

Hi
I tried this on my Chromebook, and it deleted all my Linux files and refused to start. It
says Penguin Not Found.
DO NOT TRY ON CHROMEBOOKS!

(By the way, You should have tried this on a virtual Chrome OS to test that this works
or not)

↩∞

o � Vivek Gite Mar 20, 2024 @ 19:36

Are you using Ubuntu on your Chromebook? The ChromOS is Linux based
but it does not allow to run Linux command directly. This has nothing to do
with Ubuntu.

↩∞

 don Jul 6, 2024 @ 1:24

great info for old farts thanks

↩∞
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