This week, about three weeks behind his usual schedule, Clem ad the release of a new version of the operating system created by the project he leads. In the release note he always leaves the topic of updates for later, and has already published the official guide on how to update to Linux Mint 21.3 "Virginia" from previous versions that are supported to upload directly. We, as usual, publish a translated article based on the original.
The screenshots in this guide have been obtained from the update process from Linux Mint 21.2 in its Cinnamon edition. I mention this because updates are supported from 21 to 21.2, and each one is in Cinnamon, MATE and Xfce. Since the applications themselves are XApps, the interface and where each button is must be exactly the same, but it doesn't hurt to remember it. Let's go with the guide to upgrade to “Virginia”.
How to upgrade to Linux Mint 21.3
As we just explained, it is possible to update from Linux Mint 21, 21.1 and 21.2 to 21.3. The process to follow is the following:
- We create a backup. To do this, we go to the start menu, open TimeShift and create a snapshot. If we have never used it, we will have to configure it first. Related article.
- Next we have to prepare the update, which means that we have to update applets, desklets, extensions and themes, which are also called "spices". It can be updated from the system settings.
Update process
- It's time to update the operating system. We can open the update manager from the shield icon that appears at the bottom right or by searching for it from the start menu.
- If there are updates to be applied, we install them. This could also be considered part of step 2. We wait for the process to finish and then restart. It may not always be necessary, but it doesn't hurt and it is best if you have updated, for example, the kernel to a higher revision.
- After restarting, we launch the update manager again. We click on "Reload" and check that there is nothing pending.
- Then we will "Edit" and "update to Linux Mint 21.3 'Virginia'".
- The update wizard will appear. In the first window we will only see a presentation that the update exists and that we are going to start it. If at any step in the process you ask whether to keep or replace the configuration files, you must choose to replace them. Click on "Next":
- Afterwards, the same. It is a window in which we are invited to read the release notes. We can do it, but to update you have to click "Next."
- We repeat the previous step, but in this one it informs us about the news.
- The following is similar, but not the same. We have to check the checkbox that we understand the risks we run when updating, then we click "Apply" and enter our user's password.
- The process has already begun. We wait.
- When you see the next window, everything would be there.
Optional step and restart
The official guide tells us about an optional step that is choose a topic from the theme settings (search in the start menu). There are light, dark, mixed and new accent color combinations. If anyone wants to go back to how it looked in 20.2, it's available under the "Mint-L" theme.
What cannot be avoided is Reiniciar for the changes to take effect, and it is even advisable to do so before choosing the new theme.
For versions prior to Linux Mint 21, they have not provided any data. The general rule is that you have to update to a supported version. For example, from 20.3 to 21 and then go up to 21.3. In this link There is official information that may be useful, and among the steps that must be taken it is necessary to install the package mintupgrade.
And this is what you have to do to use the latest version of Linux Mint without installing from scratch. To those who have done it, enjoy it.