1. Be Patient
Wait until the supported release-upgrade window opens. Your system will prompt you.
- 25.10 users: Your window opens a few weeks.
- 24.04 users: Your window opens in August.
You’ll see bad advice telling you to use do-release-upgrade -d. Don’t do it…unless you want to be a tester and know how to troubleshoot and report bugs properly.
Using the 26.04 installer won’t upgrade your system. The installer will overwrite your system, erasing all data and configuration.
2. Backup your data
[Optional] If things go wrong, you will be very happy you did. It turns a catastrophe into a minor annoyance.
3. Make a 26.04 LiveUSB installer
[Optional] This is a great way for folks with edgy hardware to test the new kernel before committing. It’s also a toolkit in case something goes wrong.
4. Return your deb sources and packages to stock condition
Disable all non-Ubuntu (unoficial) deb sources, including disabling PPAs. Uninstall the deb packages that those sources provided. Return your deb packages to as close to stock condition as possible.
- Keep deb packages that came from the official Ubuntu repositores. Those are supported.
- Keep non-deb software, like Snaps, Brews, Flatpaks, Wheels, etc. We can’t guarantee that they will work under 26.04, but they won’t break the release-upgrade.
The #1 cause of broken upgrades is deb packages from non-Ubuntu sources. It’s 100% preventable.
5. Ensure your system is ready
Run:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
Read the output.
All sources should be official Ubuntu sources.
There should be no errors or warnings.
All Ubuntu-provided packages must be fully-upgraded before proceeding.
- If any packages are “held” or “kept back”, then the release-upgrade will abort.
The #2 cause of broken upgrades is non-Ubuntu sources. Preventable.
6. Run the release-upgrade
When you are on reliable mains power and have a reliable network connection, run:
do-release-upgrade
Check the screen every few minutes. If the system asks you a question, the release-upgrade will pause while awaiting your reply.
7. Test your new system
Check that your newly-upgraded system is fully functional. Stream a movie. Test your printer. Check your microphone. Test your workflow now, while your backup is fresh.
8. Re-install your non-Ubuntu software
You might not need all of your non-Ubuntu software. The updated Ubuntu repos might have what you want. Some non-Ubuntu sources might not have 26.04-compatible deb packages yet, so check with those sources.
