How to Upgrade Fedora 38 to Fedora 39

Introduction

Before we begin talking about how to upgrade Fedora 38 to Fedora 39, let's briefly understand – What is Fedora?

Fedora is a popular Linux-based operating system known for its stability, security, and user-friendly interface. It is maintained by a community of developers and enthusiasts who collaborate to provide regular updates and improvements.

Fedora 39 is the latest version, offering enhanced performance, updated software, and innovative features. With a focus on security and privacy, Fedora 39 ensures a seamless and reliable computing experience.

In this tutorial, you will understand how to upgrade Fedora 38 to Fedora 39. We will also address a few FAQs on how to upgrade Fedora 38 to Fedora 39.

Advantages of Fedora

  1. Stability: Fedora provides a stable and reliable platform for everyday use, allowing users to trust their system's performance.
  2. Security: With regular security updates and a proactive approach to software vulnerabilities, Fedora prioritizes user safety and privacy.
  3. User-friendly interface: Fedora offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free computing experience.
  4. Community-driven development: Being a community project, Fedora benefits from a diverse range of contributors, resulting in continuous improvement and innovation.
  5. Cutting-edge software: Fedora embraces the latest software and technologies, providing users with access to the most up-to-date features and applications.

How to Upgrade Fedora 38 to Fedora 39

For those who are still on Fedora 38, there are two ways to update your system to Fedora 39, using the graphical update from GNOME Software or using a command-line technique.

Upgrading Fedora 38 Using Command-Line

The dnf-plugin-system-upgrade plugin, which is linked with the DNF package manager to enable a smooth upgrading of your system to the most recent Fedora version, can be used to upgrade from Fedora 38 to Fedora 39 via the command line.

Step 1: Update Fedora 38 (Required)

It's crucial to upgrade your Fedora 38 system packages to the most recent and compatible versions before switching to the new version.

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Getting the signing keys of newer releases and resolving any issues that may arise during the upgrade process need updating your system.

Step 2: Install the DNF-plugin-system-upgrade Package on Fedora

After the system upgrade is finished, you can install the command-line program dnf-plugin-system-upgrade plugin to update Fedora systems to a new major version.

sudo dnf install dnf-plugin-system-upgrade

Step 3: Download Fedora 39 Release

It's now time to download Fedora 39 using the system-upgrade command.

sudo dnf system-upgrade download --releasever=39

The aforementioned command downloads every package needed for the upgrade. Remember that depending on your internet speed and the quantity of packages to be downloaded, the process could take some time.

Consider to include the --allowerasing option in your upgrade command if conflicts arise during the upgrade. This will allow DNF to remove any packages that might be creating issues.

sudo dnf system-upgrade download --releasever=39 --allowerasing

To start the last installation step, restart your computer when the program has finished downloading.

sudo dnf system-upgrade reboot

A progress bar indicating the final installation status will appear after rebooting.

Upgrading Fedora System

Step 4: Verify Fedora 39 Release

After the Fedora 39 upgrade is complete and you log in, the user interface will seem different.

Upgrading Fedora 38 Using GUI

This section will guide you through the process of updating Fedora 38 to Fedora 39 via the Gnome program, a graphical application.

Step 1: Update Fedora 38 (Required)

When the next stable release of Fedora Workstation is ready, a graphical notification similar to the update notifications will appear. To upgrade your system using an easy-to-use graphical interface, click this notification or use the Gnome Software application and go to the Updates pane.

Update Fedora Software

To ensure that the software is up-to-date with the most recent updates, click the Refresh button after that. To completely update your current system, if any unapplied updates are displayed, kindly click the Download button next to them. When the Restart & Update button appears, click it as well.

Installing Fedora Updates

Please don't skip this step; it's really crucial.

Step 2: Initiate Fedora 38 Upgrade

Following the GNOME Software on-screen directions, you should be able to initiate the upgrading process by selecting the "Download" option after system updates have been installed.

Download Fedora Updates

You will be guided through the download and installation process by the system, so be sure you have a strong internet connection because this step requires retrieving a large amount of data.

Downloading Fedora Updates
Restart and Update
Installing Updates

GNOME Software will restart your computer automatically after the upgrade is finished.

Step 4: Check the Fedora 39 Release

Click on "Activities" and search for "About" to verify that you are running Fedora 39. This will usually yield information about your Fedora version, system requirements, and other pertinent details.

Check Fedora About

Fresh Installation of Fedora 39 Server

Sometimes, rather than updating, users decide to install Fedora 39 Server from scratch. This way ensures that your system gets the most recent features without retaining any remnants of the previous version.

FAQs to Upgrade Fedora 38 to Fedora 39

Is it necessary to upgrade to Fedora 39? 

Upgrading is not mandatory, but highly recommended as Fedora releases provide improved performance, new features, and security updates.

Will my data be preserved during the upgrade? 

Yes, your data and installed packages will be preserved during the upgrade process. However, it is always a good practice to backup important files.

Are there any system requirements for Fedora 39? 

Fedora 39 has similar system requirements to Fedora 38. Typically, a 1 GHz processor, 2 GB RAM, and 20 GB disk space are recommended.

Can I downgrade back to Fedora 38 after upgrading? 

Downgrading from Fedora 39 to Fedora 38 isn't officially supported. It is advised to back up your data before upgrading to avoid any unforeseen issues.

Can I upgrade directly from Fedora 38 to Fedora 39 skipping other intermediate versions? 

Yes, you can directly upgrade from Fedora 38 to Fedora 39 using the DNF system upgrade plugin.

Can I use the graphical interface for the upgrade? 

Yes, you can use the GNOME Software tool for upgrading Fedora. Launch it, go to the Updates tab, and follow the instructions for the upgrade.

How long does the upgrade process take? 

The duration of the upgrade process can vary depending on factors such as internet speed and system performance. On average, it may take around 30 minutes to several hours.

Conclusion

We hope this tutorial helped you understand how to upgrade Fedora 38 to Fedora 39. For more detailed information, refer to Fedora Official Documentation.

If you have any queries, please leave a comment below, and we’ll be happy to respond to them for sure.