How to Upgrade to Linux Mint 20.3 TechRadar

With Linux Mint 20.3 now available, you might be wondering how to upgrade – here's how!

You can upgrade Linux Mint 20.1 or 20.2 to Linux Mint 20.3. If you are using an older 19.x version, you will need to upgrade to Mint 20 first in order to upgrade to the latest point release.

But before you update anything, you have to be reasonable: back up all important files. You should also use the Time Shift utility (provided with Linux Mint) to create a system snapshot. This way, you can quickly roll back to a working version of the operating system if something goes wrong during the upgrade process (but don't panic: it rarely does).

Additionally, Linux Mint recommends that you upgrade all Cinnamon "spices" (i.e. applets, desklets, themes, etc.) before beginning the upgrade process .

Once you're backed up and updated, you can move on to the main task: upgrading to Linux Mint 20.3 “Una”.

Upgrading to Linux Mint 20.3 is easy

How To Upgrade To Linux Mint 20.3 - Tech Tribune France

I'm going to assume you're connected to the internet, have a stable connection, and have the ability to download and unzip the upgrade itself.

Open the Mint Menu and launch the Update Manager tool. When this opens, click the Refresh button to check for remaining updates or a new version of mintupdate or mint-upgrade-info. If any updates show as available, download and install them first.

Next, click on the “Edit” option on the Application Update Manager toolbar. Look for the option: “Upgrade to “Linux Mint 20.3 Una””, as shown in the screenshot a few paragraphs above.

Click on this option and follow the instructions that appear in the window that opens:

This bit is mostly about clicking next, next, next, and apply, but since you're getting links to view release notes and system requirements changes, you can also:

If you are prompted to keep or replace configuration files during the upgrade process, it is recommended that you choose to "replace" them. If you don't ask yourself this question, there is nothing wrong. It just shows up in certain situations.

As soon as the upgrade process begins (you will be prompted to enter your password), you can walk away from your machine as staring at an upgrade bar is proven to slow it down. Just let the upgrade tool do the hard work. Go for a coffee or check out the latest posts on your favorite Linux blog (ahem).

When everything is done, a prompt to restart your computer will appear. Access this request to complete the upgrade process. When your machine reboots and you start Linux Mint, you will come to the login screen.

Finally, log in to Linux Mint 20.3 to start enjoying its new look, new features, and nifty new apps.

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