Upgrade Ubuntu 20.04 to 24.04 LTS safely (in-place)
Windows & Ubuntu Guides · 2 views · 🧭 Guided walkthrough
This goes 20.04 → 22.04 → 24.04, one step at a time. Do each step fully and confirm before moving on. Keep it plugged in the whole time.
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Ubuntu 20.04 LTS is reaching end of standard support — move to 24.04 LTS. This upgrades your existing install in place (keeps files and apps). Allow ~an hour on a good network, plugged into power.
1. Back up to Google Drive/external; use wired or stable Wi-Fi; keep the charger connected.
2. Fully update 20.04: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade && sudo apt dist-upgrade then reboot.
3. Upgrade to 22.04: sudo apt install update-manager-core then sudo do-release-upgrade (keep default config files; reboot). Verify with lsb_release -a.
4. Upgrade to 24.04: repeat sudo do-release-upgrade from 22.04. Verify lsb_release -a shows 24.04.
5. After: sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade then sudo apt autoremove.
The supported path is 20.04 → 22.04 → 24.04, one step at a time. If it won't boot after upgrading, see the Ubuntu rescue article or raise a ticket.
1. Back up to Google Drive/external; use wired or stable Wi-Fi; keep the charger connected.
2. Fully update 20.04: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade && sudo apt dist-upgrade then reboot.
3. Upgrade to 22.04: sudo apt install update-manager-core then sudo do-release-upgrade (keep default config files; reboot). Verify with lsb_release -a.
4. Upgrade to 24.04: repeat sudo do-release-upgrade from 22.04. Verify lsb_release -a shows 24.04.
5. After: sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade then sudo apt autoremove.
The supported path is 20.04 → 22.04 → 24.04, one step at a time. If it won't boot after upgrading, see the Ubuntu rescue article or raise a ticket.
ubuntuupgrade20.0424.04ltsdo-release-upgradelinux