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How to upgrade ubuntu from 18.04 to 20.04

Ahsan MahmoodApril 16, 20241 min read

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Ahsan Mahmood
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April 16, 2024
Published
July 8, 2026
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How to upgrade ubuntu from 18.04 to 20.04
How to upgrade ubuntu from 18.04 to 20.04 article image
How to upgrade ubuntu from 18.04 to 20.04 - preserved image from the migrated article.

Overview

To upgrade Ubuntu 18.04 to Ubuntu 20.04, follow the steps below:

  • Update your system: Before starting the upgrade process, it’s recommended to update your system to ensure you have the latest packages and security patches. Open a terminal and run:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt dist-upgrade
  • Install update-manager-core: If you haven’t already installed the package, run:
sudo apt install update-manager-core
  • Check the release upgrade prompt: Run the following command to check if a new Ubuntu release is available:

Key steps and notes

sudo do-release-upgrade -c

If a new release is available, you will see a message like: “New release '20.04' available.”

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  • Run the release upgrade: Start the upgrade process using:
sudo do-release-upgrade

This will launch the release upgrader, which will guide you through the process. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the upgrade.

  • Reboot your system: Once the upgrade process is complete, reboot your system:

Final notes

sudo reboot

That’s it! Your Ubuntu 18.04 system should now be successfully upgraded to Ubuntu 20.04.

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