Ubuntu Update Manager
Ubuntu Update Manager is a graphical frontend for apt, Ubuntu’s package management system.
What Ubuntu Update Manager is
Ubuntu Update Manager is a graphical frontend for apt, Ubuntu’s package management system. It installs available updates and is designed for routine system upgrades and moves to newer Ubuntu releases. It can run without options for daily system upgrading, or check whether a new distribution release is available. A separate development-release option can upgrade from the latest supported release to the development release. During a version upgrade, it may reinstall ubuntu-desktop, change sources.list entries, and add the default user to new groups when needed. Ubuntu identifies it in the desktop menu as Software Updater and describes it as a GNOME application for managing apt updates. Ubuntu says its bundled installation tools validate packages during installation to check for manipulation during download. Update Manager is free and runs on Linux. The manpage credits Michael Vogt and other contributors with its development.
Good
- Free to use.
- Graphical interface for apt update actions.
- Can check for new distribution releases.
- Can upgrade to development releases.
Watch out
- Listed platform is Linux only.
- A version upgrade may change sources.list entries.
- Development-release upgrades target a development version.
Who it suits
It suits Ubuntu users who want a graphical way to install updates or upgrade their system. It is also intended for users moving to a newer Ubuntu release.
Verdict
Ubuntu Update Manager provides a graphical route to routine apt updates and Ubuntu release upgrades. Its release-check and development-upgrade options may be useful to users managing system transitions.
Plans and prices
From Ubuntu Update Manager's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Update Manager | Free | Ubuntu package management frontend; graphical updates and system upgrades |
The facts
Each one read from Ubuntu Update Manager's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Automatic updates
- The documentation says unattended-upgrades is included by default on Ubuntu Desktop and Server from 18.04 LTS to apply security updates daily; by default security updates are installed after 24 hours and normal updates after 7 days.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Compatibility context
- Ubuntu Desktop can be installed in place of Windows or alongside it, and Ubuntu is available through Windows Subsystem for Linux.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Daily updates
- The manpage says it can be launched without options for daily use so the system is upgraded.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Desktop role
- Ubuntu documentation identifies Update Manager as “Software Updater” in the desktop menu and says it installs available updates.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Developer and contributors
- The manpage credits Michael Vogt and various contributors with developing update-manager.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Development upgrades
- The `--devel-release` option can upgrade from the latest supported release to the development release.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Update Manager is a frontend for the apt package management system.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- The manpage describes routine system upgrading and migration to a newer Ubuntu release as its primary uses.checked 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The manpage states that the software may be redistributed under the GNU General Public License and provides no warranty.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Package integration
- The Ubuntu package listing describes update-manager as a GNOME application that manages apt updates.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Update Manager is a graphical frontend for apt that performs some apt-get actions and is especially designed for system upgrades or migrations to a newer version.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Release checks
- Its --check-dist-upgrades option checks whether a new distribution release is available.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Security context
- Ubuntu says software installation tools bundled with Ubuntu, including Update Manager, validate packages when installed to check they have not been manipulated during download.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security delivery
- Standard security updates are delivered through special-purpose pockets in the Ubuntu archive, including the security pocket.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Security updates
- Ubuntu releases receive security updates as backported patches during their support window, with security support depending on the package repository component.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- Canonical offers 24/7 support for Ubuntu Desktop and Server deployments with comprehensive security coverage and management tooling.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Update notifications
- Ubuntu Desktop notifications are provided by update-notifier, and Update Manager (shown in the desktop menu as Software Updater) installs available updates.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Upgrade actions
- During a new-version upgrade, it may reinstall ubuntu-desktop, switch to updated sources.list entries, and add the default user to new groups if needed.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Upgrades
- It is especially designed to upgrade a system or migrate it to a newer release.checked 4 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker
- Canonical's company page says it has nurtured the Ubuntu community since 2004.checked 9 Oct 2026
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