How to Seamlessly Upgrade Ubuntu 20.04 to 22.04 Without Breaking Your Environment

Upgrading your Linux operating system can be a daunting task. While Ubuntu 22.04 (Jammy Jellyfish) brings important security enhancements, improved hardware support, and general performance boosts over 20.04 (Focal Fossa), the upgrade process has pitfalls that can disrupt your workflows if you're not careful.

Most online tutorials dive straight into command-line instructions without addressing the practical risks or preparatory steps necessary to ensure a smooth transition. This guide takes a pragmatic approach to help you upgrade Ubuntu 20.04 LTS to 22.04 LTS while safeguarding your data, customizations, and productivity.

Why You Should Upgrade to Ubuntu 22.04

Ubuntu 22.04 is a Long-Term Support release that will receive updates until April 2027, making it a stable choice for both desktops and servers. Some highlights include:

• Kernel 5.15 with enhanced hardware and filesystem support
• Updated GNOME 42 offering better desktop responsiveness
• Improved security patches closing known vulnerabilities
• Faster boot times and better system resource management

Upgrading unlocks these benefits but only if done correctly.

Pre-Upgrade Checklist: Don’t Skip These Crucial Steps!

Before upgrading, take these preparatory actions seriously:

1. Backup Everything Important

No matter how confident you feel, always back up your home directory, configuration files, databases, and any critical data.

For example:

# Backup home directory to external USB or remote server
rsync -avh --progress /home/username /mnt/usbbackup/home_backup/

Or use tools like Deja Dup for GUI backups.

2. Update Current System Completely

Before jumping to the new release, ensure the current system packages are fully updated:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y && sudo apt dist-upgrade -y
sudo apt autoremove -y

Restart afterward if the kernel or critical services were updated.

3. Check Third-Party Repositories & PPAs

Third-party PPAs or repos might not yet be compatible with Ubuntu 22.04.

List enabled PPAs:

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

Consider disabling or removing problematic ones temporarily:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:some/ppa-name

You can re-add them later once they officially support Jammy.

4. Review Installed Software Compatibility

If you rely on niche or legacy software (e.g., proprietary drivers, Docker containers), check their compatibility with Ubuntu 22.04 before proceeding.

Step-by-Step Guide to Upgrade Ubuntu 20.04 to 22.04

Once you’ve checked all the above, follow these steps carefully:

Step 1: Install Update Manager Core (if missing)

Ensure the upgrade tool itself is installed:

sudo apt install update-manager-core -y

Step 2: Modify Your Release Upgrade Prompt Setting

Edit /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades

Make sure it contains this line:

Prompt=lts

This tells Ubuntu to look specifically for LTS release upgrades.

Step 3: Initiate the Upgrade Process

Run:

sudo do-release-upgrade -d

The -d flag upgrades to the latest development version; since Ubuntu 22.04 is stable now, this flag ensures detection of Jammy if your current setup doesn’t find it automatically.

Alternatively, omit -d if prompted correctly:

sudo do-release-upgrade 

Follow on-screen instructions carefully — answer prompts about services restarting or replacing config files calmly; choose to keep existing configs if unsure but review afterwards.

Handling Common Issues During Upgrade

Broken Dependencies Found

If you encounter dependency errors mid-upgrade:

sudo apt --fix-broken install
sudo dpkg --configure -a

Then rerun upgrade command.

Network Disconnections / Download Failures

Stable internet connection is key; consider wired Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi during upgrade.

Post-Upgrade Cleanup & Verification

Once upgraded and rebooted into Ubuntu 22.04:

1. Verify new kernel version:

uname -r 
# Example output: 5.15.x-generic  

1. Check OS release info:

lsb_release -a 
# You should see `Release:    22.04`

1. Review third-party software compatibility and re-enable necessary PPAs carefully.

2. Clean up obsolete packages left hanging after upgrade:

sudo apt autoremove -y 
sudo apt clean

1. Test critical work applications thoroughly before resuming regular workload.

Summary: Best Practices for Zero-Downtime Ubuntu Upgrades

• Always backup first, no exceptions.
• Update your current system fully.
• Remove or disable untrusted PPAs before upgrading.
• Use do-release-upgrade tool with conservative prompts.
• Have reliable network connection during download.
• Carefully review upgrade prompts about config files or services.
• Perform post-upgrade verification before trusting production systems again.

By following this practical roadmap, you’ll leverage Ubuntu’s latest innovations securely and keep your environment stable — no surprises, no lost data, just a smooth experience from start to finish!

Ready for more Linux tips? Feel free to share your upgrade challenges or successes in the comments below!