Updates and Images

Updating RakuOS

RakuOS doesn't update by itself. Update from time to time, in one of two ways:

  • Software Center: open Add/Remove Software, go to Updates, and install everything. When the system part is ready, the tray tells you to reboot.
  • Terminal:
sudo rum system-upgrade

This updates your installed packages, then your Flatpaks, then downloads the new system image. Reboot to start using it. (The shell command update does the same thing.)

Don't use sudo rum upgrade for this: it only updates the packages you installed yourself, never the system.

If you installed extra drivers (VirtualBox, OpenRazer and others), a system update that brings a new kernel first switches them to the builds for that kernel. Driver updates for a kernel you aren't running yet don't show up as package updates; they come with the system update. See Drivers.

Moving to a new RakuOS release

When an update moves to a new RakuOS release, your installed packages have to be rebuilt for it. The Software Center and rum system-upgrade download them for the new release before updating the system: "This update moves to … Preparing your installed packages for the new release…". If that fails, nothing changes and the update isn't started; check your network and try again.

The first boot of the new release then reinstalls your packages ("Installing user applications…" on the boot screen). Keep the network connected.

Automatic update settings

The Software Center's settings can install package and Flatpak updates automatically from the tray. The setting "Automatically apply bootc image updates" currently only checks for a new system image once a week; it doesn't install it. Update the system yourself as above.

Keeping up with what changed

Release notes and changelogs are on the blog, and staging news on Discord.

If something goes wrong

  • The new image doesn't boot: pick the previous one in the boot menu. See Rolling back.
  • After the reboot you're still on the old image: see Boot problems.
  • The boot stops at "Installing user applications…" every time: see Rescue mode.