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Keep the system up to date

Install security fixes and enable essential automatic updates.

Beginner7 min readUpdated July 18, 2026
1

Update packages

Refresh the package index, review available updates, then install them during a maintenance window.

sudo apt update
apt list --upgradable
sudo apt upgrade
2

Automate security fixes

unattended-upgrades automatically installs security updates according to your distribution settings.

sudo apt install unattended-upgrades
sudo dpkg-reconfigure -plow unattended-upgrades
systemctl status unattended-upgrades
3

Manage reboots

if [ -f /var/run/reboot-required ]; then cat /var/run/reboot-required; fi
sudo apt autoremove

Before rebooting

Confirm that a recent backup exists and your services start automatically.