Pop!_OS 21.10 was released and saw the introduction of GNOME 40, Linux kernel 5.15. One of the latest features introduced by the Pop!_OS team is the Refresh install option which will keep user accounts and files but reset the system and apps to a mostly refreshed boot.
This version also saw the inclusion of a New App Library, and a more excellent search window replaced the full-screen app menu. In the following tutorial, you will learn to upgrade your existing Pop!_OS 21.04 system to the latest version 21.10.
Prerequisites
- Recommended operating system: Pop!_OS 21.04 .
- User Account: A user account with sudo or root access.
- Internet access
Update the operating system
Update your Pop!_OS 21.04 operating system to make sure all existing packages are up to date:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgradeThe tutorial will use the sudo command and assume you have sudo status.
To check the sudo status on your account:
sudo whoamiExample output showing the sudo state:
[joshua@popos ~]$ sudo whoami
rootTo set up an existing or new sudo account, visit our tutorial on adding a User to Sudoers on Pop!_OS.
To use the root account, use the following command with the root password to log in.
suThe tutorial will use the terminal for installation found in Activities> Show apps> Terminal.
Scenario:
Optional. Run the Recovery Partition
Before upgrading, it is good to create a recovery point if you cannot afford to wipe your system due to a bad upgrade. Usually, this can be ignored, but it is ideal for people who cannot afford any complications.
In your terminal, run the following command.
sudo pop-upgrade recovery upgrade from-releaseRun the Upgrade Manager
First, make sure you’re on Pop!_OS 21.04. The following command is useful for users new to Linux and unsure which version they have installed. Remember that you must be at version 21.04 to upgrade to 21.10 successfully.
lsb_release -aExample output:
To start the upgrade process from Pop!_OS 21.04 to 21.10, use the following command in your terminal.
sudo pop-upgrade release upgradeNote, make sure all existing packages are up to date according to the instructions at the start of the tutorial.
The command will start fetching (downloading) all required files before beginning the actual process. This may take several minutes, depending on your hardware and internet connection.
Example:
After the files have successfully downloaded, you will be prompted to begin the upgrade process. To start this, you need to restart.
sudo rebootExample:
Upon restarting, you will notice the automatic upgrade process, which will take you back to your login screen when completed.
Example:
Verify the Installation
Now that you are back on your system check your Pop!_OS system version, which should now be 21.10.
hostnamectlOr you can use the lsb_release command.
lsb_release -aExample output:
You can also use the following neofetch command to display nice output of your system specs in the terminal.
neofetchExample output:
If neofetch is missing, it can be installed using the following command.
sudo apt install neofetch -yOptional – Remove Old Obsolete Packages
After the upgrade, if all went well and no errors occurred, and you did not remove the old obsolete packages when prompted during the initial upgrade, you can clean up your system using the following command to remove and clean up the operating system.
sudo apt autoremove --purgeExample:
Go through the list, make sure you are happy to purge the list. This should be safe to do most of the time, especially if you’ve taken a recovery save point.
Comments and Conclusion
The tutorial taught you how to upgrade your existing Pop!_OS 21.04 to the next short-term Pop!_OS 21.10 release by following Ubuntu release cycles.
Pop!_OS 21.10 is a good addition, especially when it comes to hardening upgrades to avoid conflict issues. Next up will be Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS should be seen around the middle of next year after Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is released around April 2022.
