The direct upgrade path from Ubuntu 24.04 LTS to Ubuntu 26.04 LTS opened on September 29, 2026, with the 26.04.1 point release. We covered the announcement in the news. This guide is the practical version: how to prepare, how to run the upgrade on a desktop or a server you only reach over SSH, and how to recover if it goes wrong.

Should you upgrade yet?

You do not have to. 24.04 is supported until 2029 under standard support. Reasons to upgrade now:

• You want newer software, desktop features, or hardware support
• You are setting up a machine you plan to keep for years

Reasons to wait:

• It is a production server and you have not tested the upgrade on a copy
• You depend on third-party software that has not published 26.04 packages yet

What changes in 26.04

Knowing what changes helps you spot problems afterwards:

• Linux 7.0 kernel and GNOME 50
• Rust coreutils for most basic commands, with cp, mv, and rm kept on GNU for 26.04; see Rust coreutils explained
• sudo-rs as the default sudo; see run0 vs sudo-rs vs sudo
• Newer versions of nearly everything: Python, compilers, databases, and libraries

Scripts that parse command output, and services pinned to specific library versions, are the usual things to check.

Step 1: back up

This is the step that turns a failed upgrade from a disaster into an inconvenience. There is no downgrade path; your way back is a backup.

• Files: back up /home and anything you care about under /etc and /srv; see our automated backups guide
• Whole system: a snapshot is better. On Btrfs, Timeshift takes one in seconds. On a VM or cloud server, snapshot the instance. On bare metal, Clonezilla can image the disk
• Databases: dump them separately; a filesystem copy of a running database is not a reliable backup

Step 2: bring 24.04 fully up to date

sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade
sudo apt autoremove
sudo reboot

The upgrader refuses to run on a system with pending updates, and starting from a clean, current state avoids a whole class of problems.

Step 3: review third-party software

List extra repositories:

ls /etc/apt/sources.list.d/

The upgrader disables all of these during the upgrade. For each one, check whether it publishes packages for 26.04 (“resolute” is the 26.04 codename). Note anything important that does not, and decide how you will replace it: the official Ubuntu package, a Flatpak, or a container.

Also check:

snap list          # snaps upgrade separately and usually just keep working
flatpak list       # unaffected by the upgrade
dpkg -l | grep '^ii' | wc -l   # how many packages the upgrade will touch

Packages installed manually from .deb files with no repository are worth noting too; they may conflict with 26.04’s libraries.

Step 4: check free space

The upgrade downloads and unpacks a lot. Have at least 5 GB free on /, and space in /boot for a new kernel:

df -h / /boot

Our disk usage guide helps find what to clean up. A full /boot is a classic cause of failed upgrades; sudo apt autoremove --purge removes old kernels.

Step 5: run the upgrade

On a desktop

Open Software Updater. Once the system is current, it offers “Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS is now available”. Click Upgrade and follow the prompts. Close other applications first; the screen lock is disabled during the upgrade.

From the command line (desktop or server)

Make sure the release upgrader is set to look for LTS releases:

grep Prompt /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades
# Prompt=lts

Then:

sudo do-release-upgrade

Over SSH

Run it inside tmux or screen, so a dropped connection does not kill the upgrade halfway through:

tmux new -s upgrade
sudo do-release-upgrade
# if disconnected: ssh back in and run  tmux attach -t upgrade

Our tmux guide covers the basics. The upgrader also offers to start a backup SSH daemon on port 1022; accept it and make sure your firewall allows that port during the upgrade, so you have a second way in.

Step 6: answer the prompts

During the upgrade you will be asked about:

• Modified configuration files: if you edited a file under /etc and the package ships a new version, you choose between keeping yours and taking the new one. Keeping yours is usually right for files you deliberately changed; view the differences with the D option first
• Services to restart
• Obsolete packages to remove: review the list before agreeing, looking for anything you rely on

Step 7: reboot and check

lsb_release -a            # should report 26.04
uname -r                  # new kernel
systemctl --failed        # any failed services
journalctl -b -p err      # errors from this boot

Then:

• Re-enable third-party repositories that support 26.04, and run sudo apt update
• Test the things you use: web server, database, containers, VPN, printing, and any scripts that run from cron
• Check /etc for .dpkg-dist and .dpkg-old files, which are the versions you did not choose at config prompts; compare them to what is in place

sudo find /etc -name '*.dpkg-*' -o -name '*.ucf-*'

Our guides to journalctl and managing services with systemctl help with anything that did not come back.

If it goes wrong

The upgrade stopped partway. Do not reboot yet if you can avoid it. Try finishing the interrupted package work:

sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo apt -f install
sudo apt full-upgrade

The system will not boot. Choose the previous kernel from the GRUB menu (under Advanced options). If that fails, boot a live USB and use our chroot rescue guide to repair packages from inside the installed system.

It boots but things are broken and you cannot fix them. Restore your snapshot or backup. That is what step 1 was for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I upgrade directly from Ubuntu 24.04 to 26.04?

Yes. Ubuntu supports direct upgrades between consecutive LTS releases, and the 24.04 to 26.04 path opened on September 29, 2026 with the 26.04.1 point release. You do not need to pass through the interim releases in between.

Why does Software Updater not offer the upgrade?

Usually because the system is not fully updated, or because /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades is set to never. Run sudo apt update and sudo apt full-upgrade, reboot, and make sure the Prompt line says lts. The offer also appears gradually, so it can take a few days to show up on every machine.

How long does the upgrade take?

Typically 30 minutes to over an hour, depending on how many packages are installed, the speed of your connection, and the disk. Servers with few packages finish faster than desktops with many applications.

Will my PPAs keep working after the upgrade?

The upgrader disables third-party repositories during the upgrade. Afterwards you need to re-enable each one, and only if it publishes packages for 26.04. Software from a PPA without 26.04 packages may be removed or need replacing.

Can I downgrade back to 24.04 if something breaks?

There is no supported downgrade. The way back is restoring a backup or snapshot taken before the upgrade, which is why taking one first is the most important step.

Do I have to upgrade now?

No. Ubuntu 24.04 LTS receives standard support until 2029, and longer with Ubuntu Pro. Desktops can upgrade whenever convenient, and production servers should be tested on a staging copy before upgrading.