Ubuntu releases receive a development codename ("Kinetic Kudu") and are organized by release year and month. For example, Ubuntu 22.10 was released in October 2022, and 21.04 (Hirsute Hippo) was released in April 2011.
LTS or "Long Term Support" versions are released every two years in April. LTS releases are "enterprise grade" versions of Ubuntu, with 95% of them being LTS releases.
A temporary version of Ubuntu is released every six months between LTS releases, and the latest example is 22.10. These are production quality releases and are supported for 9 months, providing enough time for users to update. These releases do not take the long-term commitment of LTS releases.
There are 3 different version commits in Ubuntu:
- Hardware and maintenance updates
- Interim release Standard Support
- Extended Security Maintenance (ESM)
In this article, we will explain the steps to downgrade from Ubuntu 21.04 to 20.04 released with the Interim release Standard Support.
How to downgrade Ubuntu 21.04 to 20.04?
Sometimes the upgrade is done on purpose, sometimes the operating system is upgraded unconsciously. In this case, downgrade is required if there is no new LTS version.
As in version upgrade, root authorized user should be used in version downgrade or operations should be performed with sudo.
foc@foc-ubuntu21:~$ sudo su [sudo] password for foc: root@foc-ubuntu21:/home/foc#
Current version information:
root@foc-ubuntu21:/home/foc# cat /etc/os-release NAME="Ubuntu" VERSION="21.04 (Hirsute Hippo)" ID=ubuntu ID_LIKE=debian PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu 21.04" VERSION_ID="21.04" HOME_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/" SUPPORT_URL="https://help.ubuntu.com/" BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/" PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/legal/terms-and-policies/privacy-policy" VERSION_CODENAME=hirsute UBUNTU_CODENAME=hirsute
Current kernel information:
root@foc-ubuntu21:/home/foc# uname -a
Linux foc-ubuntu21 5.11.0-49-generic #55-Ubuntu SMP Wed Jan 12 17:36:34 UTC 2022 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
Current repository information:
root@foc-ubuntu21:/# grep -wv "#" /etc/apt/sources.list #deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 21.04 _Hirsute Hippo_ - Release amd64 (20210420)]/ hirsute main restricted deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hirsute main restricted deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hirsute-updates main restricted deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hirsute universe deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hirsute-updates universe deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hirsute multiverse deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hirsute-updates multiverse deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hirsute-backports main restricted universe multiverse deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hirsute-security main restricted deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hirsute-security universe deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hirsute-security multiverse
If you cannot get updates with the current repository, edit the sources.list file with the following command:
root@foc-ubuntu21:/ sed -i -e 's/us.archive/old-releases/g' /etc/apt/sources.list
Then update the package list and get an upgrade:
root@foc-ubuntu21:/ apt update -y && apt upgrade -y
We are no longer dealing with the previous version. Actions after this step include downgrading.
Step-1: Backup the old sources.list file
Back up the old sources.list file with the following commands:
root@foc-ubuntu21:~# cd /etc/apt/
root@foc-ubuntu21:/etc/apt# mv sources.list sources.list-old
Step-2: Add Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal Fossa) repository
Now add the official Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal Fossa) repository information:
root@foc-ubuntu21:/etc/apt# nano sources.list deb http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal main restricted #deb-src http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal main restricted deb http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted #deb-src http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted deb http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal universe #deb-src http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal universe deb http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates universe #deb-src http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates universe deb http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal multiverse #deb-src http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal multiverse deb http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates multiverse #deb-src http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates multiverse deb http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse #deb-src http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse deb http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-security main restricted #deb-src http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-security main restricted deb http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-security universe #deb-src http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-security universe deb http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-security multiverse #deb-src http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-security multiverse
Step-3: Create preferences file
The part files /etc/apt/preferences.d/ in the APT preferences file can be used to control which package versions are selected for installation.
APT assigns a priority to each available version, and subject to dependency restrictions, apt-get selects the version with the highest priority for installation.
APT preferences override the priorities that APT assigns to package versions by default, thus giving the user control over which one is selected for installation.
Create a file for focal under the /etc/apt/preferences.d directory and write the following information:
root@foc-ubuntu21:/etc/apt# nano /etc/apt/preferences.d/focal Package: * Pin: release n=focal Pin-Priority: 1001 Package: * Pin: release n=focal-updates Pin-Priority: 1002 Package: * Pin: release n=focal-security Pin-Priority: 1003
Step-4: Start Downgrade
Now we start downgrading with the new repository:
root@foc-ubuntu21:/etc/apt# apt update -y
Install the aptitude package for downgrade:
root@foc-ubuntu21:/etc/apt# apt install aptitude -y
Then start the downgrade:
root@foc-ubuntu21:/etc/apt# aptitude dist-upgrade -y
During the downgrade, the downgrade process may be interrupted:
... Processing triggers for libgdk-pixbuf-2.0-0:amd64 (2.42.2+dfsg-1build1) ... Errors were encountered while processing: cups-ipp-utils systemd-sysv gir1.2-freedesktop:amd64 gir1.2-gtk-3.0:amd64 cups-filters-core-drivers libcupsimage2:amd64 gir1.2-pango-1.0:amd64 gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0:amd64 gnome-shell ubuntu-session gdm3 libpam-systemd:amd64 cups-filters gir1.2-vte-2.91:amd64 gir1.2-gnomebluetooth-1.0:amd64 xserver-xorg-legacy gnome-settings-daemon gjs dbus-user-session printer-driver-foo2zjs cups Current status: 8 (+8) broken, 47 (-2) upgradable.
In this case, the downgrade process is repeated:
root@foc-ubuntu21:/etc/apt# aptitude dist-upgrade -y
Fix bad packages in package downgrade with the following command:
root@foc-ubuntu21:/etc/apt# apt --fix-broken install
Depending on the packages installed on Ubuntu 21.04 and their dependencies, you may receive errors in the installation. Here is an example error and its solution:
dpkg: error processing archive /var/cache/apt/archives/libgamemode0_1.5.
1-0ubuntu3.1_amd64.deb (--unpack):
trying to overwrite '/usr/libexec/cpugovctl', which is also in package
gamemode-daemon 1.6.1-1
Solution:
root@foc-ubuntu21:/etc/apt# dpkg -i --force-overwrite /var/cache/apt/archives/libgamemode0_1.5.1-0ubuntu3.1_amd64.deb
Then the downgrade process is repeated:
root@foc-ubuntu21:/etc/apt# aptitude dist-upgrade -y
The downgrade continues until you see the following message:
No packages will be installed, upgraded, or removed.
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B of archives. After unpacking 0 B will be used.
Downgrade completed successfully, release version:
root@foc-ubuntu21:/etc/apt# cat /etc/os-release NAME="Ubuntu" VERSION="20.04.5 LTS (Focal Fossa)" ID=ubuntu ID_LIKE=debian PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS" VERSION_ID="20.04" HOME_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/" SUPPORT_URL="https://help.ubuntu.com/" BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/" PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/legal/terms-and-policies/privacy-policy" VERSION_CODENAME=focal UBUNTU_CODENAME=focal
The operating system became Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS (Focal Fossa).
Step-5: Delete unnecessary packages
Finally after installation the unused packages are deleted:
root@foc-ubuntu21:/etc/apt# apt autoremove -y
Summary
Upgrade is a difficult process, but downgrade is more difficult. If you want to downgrade your Ubuntu 21.04 operating system to 20.04, this article will do the trick. But you should know that you will encounter errors and problems.
Reinstallation is recommended if possible.
References
askubuntu.com -Â How to roll back Ubuntu to a previous version?
askubuntu.com -Â dpkg: error processing
I followed the instructions to downgrade from 24.10 to 2
4.04 after many apps started crashing with 24.10 that worked fine with 24.04. However, after following the instructions, I lost internet connection with both wifi and Ethernet disabled. Also, gui and many other apps are not functional. I tried to get back 24.10 with backed up file, and that is also not working. Any fix in addressing this problem?
I can not downgrade from 22.10 to 22.04 , how do this it?
For raspberry 4, LTS 22 to LTS 20 some changes are needed:
I had no issues at all. Only needed to repeat dist-upgrade twice.
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing this!
A great thank you.
The last Ubuntu (23.04) crashed my laptop, and I was able to downgrade to 22.10 which worked.
You gave me a way to avoid nightmares… and reinstall from scratch.
Thanks a lot
Thanks. Worked downgrading from 22.04 LTS to 20.04 LTS.
Excellent! It worked perfectly fine from lunar-lobster to kinetic. Thanks
how do you install Ubuntu desktop?
I can’t get the ip or internet connection after downgrade.
ifconfig only shows the “lo” entry.
I used this for 22 to 20. Worked like a charm. Also had a few panic moments when booting again was a bit longer then expected.
10/10 would attempt to brick a server again.
This is doe af, I lost a few stuff though but it was great. And I had a mini scare when I lost my Ubuntu desktop while downgrading… but you just need to continue the downgrade and reinstall the Ubuntu desktop when you have finished the downgrade. PS have this article opened somewhere els
Hi Beth,
If you could tell me how to install Ubuntu Desktop after downgrading, it will be helpful. I can’t get the ip or internet connection after downgrade.can’t able to download anything using apt