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sudodus
Asked: 2020-07-21 05:22:35 +0800 CST

How can I keep Ubuntu updated automatically?

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I want help to

  • make Ubuntu 'update && upgrade' itself automatically,
  • select the settings for this automatic system.

How can I do it? Please advice about

  • where to find the menu (GUI) or file (command line) to do it,
  • what settings that can be recommended (if different from the default).

As a bonus, please describe how different types of program packages are treated,

  • program packages from Ubuntu repositories and PPAs
  • snap packages
  • flatpak packages
  • other kinds of programs/packages.
package-management ppa apt snap flatpak

1 Answers

  1. Introduction

    Individual programs do not check for updates in Ubuntu, but there is another method, that works for programs that are installed by default and from the repositories and PPAs. This includes not only snap packages, but all programs except those that you have installed manually from external sources.

    See a detailed discussion in a thread at the Ubuntu Forums, particularly (but not only) the following two posts,

    Livepatch

    In Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (the newest LTS release), you get an offer to activate 'Livepatch'. This is offered with a graphical user interface when you log in the first time after installation.

    The original task of Livepatch is to patch the kernel on the fly, so that it can be updated without turning off the computer. This can be very valuable for servers, and nice but not necessary for desktop computers. Other update & upgrade tasks have been merged into the software package, that is shown by the small shield-like widget near the top right corner of Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.

    I think it will do what you want, to tell you that there are important updates (for security and also other updates), and even to perform the updates automatically, if you wish.

    The following screenshot shows what it looks like for me (when active),

    enter image description here

    When you click on 'Livepatch settings...' you can select what kind of updates you want, as illustrated in the next screenshot,

    enter image description here

    Sorry for the mixture with some non-English text, but this is in my installed system. 'Program & uppdateringar' means 'Software & Updates'.

    Software Updater

    In a system, where Livepatch is not activated, you can access 'Software & Updates' from the Settings menu, and you start the Settings menu at the top right corner of the desktop.

    In this case a window pops up soon after you boot and log in,

    enter image description here

    and also from this window you access 'Software & Updates',

    enter image description here

    This time I can show things in English, which makes it easier to recognize.

    Command line method

    There is also a rather simple command line method, described in the accepted answer at this very old but still valid link:

    If not installed, run

    sudo apt install unattended-upgrades

    then do it

    sudo unattended-upgrade -d --dry-run
sudo unattended-upgrade -d # Idem --debug

    If you want to run it quietly instead:

    sudo unattended-upgrade
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