How to Update Everything on Ubuntu With One Terminal Command

Originally published on Tutomod.

Clicking through update popups is fine, but the terminal does the whole job in one line and shows you exactly what's happening.

Updated August 08, 2026, after a fresh review, with updated visuals and links.

If you use Ubuntu, Mint or any Debian based distro, these commands keep your apps, security patches and system fresh in under a minute.

Short version: Open a terminal first, then refresh the package list. Details below.

Doing it properly

Open a terminal. Press Ctrl + Alt + T, or search 'Terminal' in the apps menu.
Refresh the package list. Type sudo apt update and press Enter. This doesn't install anything. It just asks the servers what's new, like checking the menu before ordering.
Upgrade installed packages. Run sudo apt upgrade. You'll see a list of what will change and how much will be downloaded. Type Y to confirm, then let it work.
- The two commands chain nicely: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
- If something needs a reboot, Ubuntu tells you at the end
Clean up leftovers. Finish with sudo apt autoremove. It deletes old kernels and packages nothing needs anymore. Free space for zero effort.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels

Pro tips without the attitude

The classic one liner: sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y handles even updates that hold packages back.
Snap apps update themselves in the background, but sudo snap refresh forces it right now.
Flatpak user? flatpak update does the same job for those apps.

Quick answers

How often should I run this?
Once a week is a great habit. Security updates land constantly.

Is the terminal really faster than the GUI updater?
For a habit, yes. One command covers everything, and you see problems immediately instead of a silent spinner.