How to Upgrade Ubuntu 18.04 LTS to Ubuntu 26.04 LTS

Ubuntu 26.04 LTS is a Long-Term Support release that delivers improved stability, stronger security, updated software, and enhanced system performance. If your server is still running Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, upgrading to Ubuntu 26.04 LTS is recommended to benefit from the latest features and ongoing security updates.

Before performing the upgrade, make sure to back up your server. While many VPS providers offer the option to reinstall the operating system, doing so removes all existing files, applications, and configurations. Creating a snapshot or using your preferred backup solution allows you to restore your server if any issues arise during the upgrade.

Start by updating your current Ubuntu 18.04 installation. Install all available package updates and reboot the server afterward by running:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y && sudo reboot

Once the system has restarted, remove any obsolete packages that are no longer required:

sudo apt --purge autoremove

Next, ensure the release upgrade utility is installed. If it is not already present, install it with the following command:

sudo apt install update-manager-core

After your system is fully updated, you can begin the distribution upgrade by executing:

sudo do-release-upgrade

If the upgrade tool reports that no new LTS release is available, you can instruct it to look for development releases by using:

sudo do-release-upgrade -d

Follow the prompts displayed throughout the upgrade process. The installer will download the required packages, replace outdated components, and ask for confirmation when necessary. Once the installation is complete, restart the server to finalize the upgrade.

After the reboot, verify that the new release has been installed successfully by checking the operating system version:

lsb_release -a

A successful upgrade should return output similar to the following:

Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 26.04 LTS
Release: 26.04
Codename: [Ubuntu 26.04 Codename]

Your server has now been successfully upgraded from Ubuntu 18.04 LTS to Ubuntu 26.04 LTS. You can now take advantage of the latest security improvements, updated packages, and long-term support available in the new release.