You can now upgrade to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS from Ubuntu 23.10 using the standard GUI updater — no command-line developer flags required.

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS released on April 25 but distro delayed in-place upgrades because of bugs, one very serious. While those issues didn’t affect all those who upgraded (many did it from the command-line successfully) the risks were enough to require a delay.

Now, with the pesky bugs fixed, Canonical has flicked the switch to enable upgrades to the Noble Numbat, adding Ubuntu 24.04 LTS to the meta-release file that older versions of the distro check to know if a new release is available.

This means:

  • If you use Ubuntu 23.10 you will be shown an upgrade prompt
  • If you use Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, you won’t see an upgrade prompt until August

As is standard practice, Ubuntu LTS to LTS upgrades are only enabled once the first point release in the new LTS series is released. In this instance that’s Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS, which is due to be released on August 15, 2024.

Ubuntu LTS releases check for upgrades to new LTS releases in the meta-release-lts file and while Ubuntu 24.04 is a new LTS release it doesn’t get added to that file until the first point release is out.

You can upgrade to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS from 22.04 LTS before August using the command-line — but be aware before proceeding that the following method is not recommended for novices.

  • Install all pending updates
  • Open Software & Updates tool
  • Click on the ‘Updates tab
  • Set the option at the bottom to check ‘for any new version’
  • Open a Terminal and run an update check
  • Run sudo do-release-upgrade -d
  • Follow the prompts

Before upgrading be sure to backup any important files/settings first.

Again: the steps above above is not advised — as difficult as waiting for the official upgrade route to open, it’s worth it.

Will you be upgrading?

Ubuntu 23.10 ‘Mantic Minotaur’ users don’t need to do the above steps. An upgrade prompt will appear on desktops from today onwards, and an upgrade button will appear in the Software Updater.

And as Ubuntu 23.10 support ends in July, it’s perhaps best to make the leap sooner rather than later.

So, if you’ve been waiting for the official nod before you undertake your upgrade to the Noble Numbat you’re now good to go — be sure to drop a comment to let me (and others) know what you think of the latest release once you’ve had time to try it.

Thanks Ivan!