How to Upgrade to Linux Mint 21.1 from Mint 21

This article guides you through all the steps to upgrade your current Linux Mint 21 "Vanessa" system to Linux Mint 21.1 "Vera."

As we announced earlier, Linux Mint 21.1 “Vera” is now available for download and installation. This is the best Mint release yet, with many aesthetic and functional enhancements, so switching to it is strongly recommended.

Fortunately, because this is a minor upgrade if you are currently running Mint 21 “Vanessa,” upgrading to Mint 21.1 “Vera” is simple and seamless. Here’s how to do it.

1. Backing Up Your System

We urge you never to upgrade your operating system without ensuring that youโ€™ll be on the right side if something goes wrong.

Mint’s Timeshift app is an excellent solution for creating a reliable backup. It will take a snapshot of your system, which implies that you can restore your entire system, including its data, to its prior and working state at any time.

So, before upgrading, launch Timeshift from the application menu to take a snapshot of your current Mint 21 system.

Launch the Timeshift app
Launch the Timeshift app

To start, click the โ€œCreateโ€ button. After successfully making the snapshot, you can close the Timeshift app.

2. Update All Currently Installed Packages

Ensure your current Linux Mint 21 system is fully upgraded and has no packages waiting to be updated.

Linux Mint 21 "Vanessa"
Linux Mint 21 “Vanessa”

If there are any, install them first, reboot if required, and then proceed to the next step.

In addition, disable your screensaver, and if you installed some additional Cinnamon spices such as applets, desklets, extensions, or themes, upgrade them from the System Settings.

3. Upgrade to Linux Mint 21.1 from Mint 21

Everything is now in place to begin the upgrade to Linux Mint 21.1. First, Launch the Update Manager app and choose “Edit” -> “Upgrade to Linux Mint 21.1 Vera” from the menu.

Update Manager
Update Manager

This action will open a new window that will take you through the upgrade process. Click the “Next” button.

The following two screens, “Release notes” and “New features,” are entirely informative, so keep pressing the “Next” button to proceed.

Tick the checkbox confirming that you are aware of the risks and click the “Apply” button to proceed.

A new subwindow will prompt you for your password when running sudo commands.. Enter it and click the “Authenticate” button to confirm.

The actual upgrade process will start. Because downloading and installing the updates will take some time, be patient and wait for the process to complete.

When the process is finished, the tool will notify you that the upgrade has succeeded. So, you can safely close the window now.

Thatโ€™s all. Your system has been successfully upgraded to Linux Mint 21.1 “Vera.” Reboot and login into your newly upgraded Mint system.

Successfully upgraded to Linux Mint 21.1 from Mint 21
Successfully upgraded to Linux Mint 21.1 from Mint 21

Conclusion

This guide shows how to upgrade to Linux Mint 21.1 “Vera” from Linux Mint 21 “Vanessa.” Now you can enjoy the latest packages and hardware support from the newest Linux Mint release.

In addition, I recommend you check the official documentation for additional help or valuable information.

Bobby Borisov

Bobby Borisov

Bobby, an editor-in-chief at Linuxiac, is a Linux professional with over 20 years of experience. With a strong focus on Linux and open-source software, he has worked as a Senior Linux System Administrator, Software Developer, and DevOps Engineer for small and large multinational companies.

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