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JWNWSA
Asked: 2019-07-24 10:11:48 +0800 CST

When do you run "apt-get update?" [duplicate]

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When do I run "apt-get update" on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS? Is it ever necessary under Long Term Support?

After reading the suggested duplicates I don't believe my question is a duplicate. I already know what apt-get update does, but that wasn't my question.

command-line updates

2 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    If you have set System settings (icon in the Launcher) > Software and updates > / Updates \ > Automatically check for updates: to something else than "Never", then you shouldn't need to do anything from the command line.

    $ sudo apt-get update will launch a process to check for available updates "now".
    $ sudo apt-get upgrade will install the updates based on what was found.
    $ sudo apt-get dist-upgrade simplified: if any packages were "held back" during the upgrade, this will install them.

    For upgrade and dist-upgrade, and also anything install, remove or purge:
    Do check thoroughly what it says before actually letting it to do its thing.
    There MIGHT be surprises.

    Links worth a look:
    What does "sudo apt-get update" do?
    https://askubuntu.com/a/694412/22949

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  2. To answer your question quickly; right after a fresh install of the operating system, before installing software, after adding new repositories to install software, and as often as possible.

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