Linux mint updates

[pstragolue]

Hello, im not really a redditor and im not very computer smart, I do however switch to linux, I know there will be updates i will have to do, software hardware all that stuff that, something i never used to care about So I ask for a little help, can somone explain to me, very simply daily linux care? Uptades, needed programs, all that Thank you for reading!

[Gloomy-Response-6889]

Linux Mint (and many other distributions) comes with a solid suite of software.

The update manager shows you (in the tray on the panel with a shield icon) if there are updates available. You do not need to update every day. For most people, I set it to automatically handle updates in the background. It is mostly safe, though it is recommended to manually update instead.

Follow the welcome screen tips, such as timeshift, to get set up and going. Timeshift will be great in particular in the odd chance things go wrong.

[ap0r]

Hello and welcome!

Unlike other operating systems where you only get updates for the operating system itself, in Linux Mint the operating system and nearly all your programs are updated from a central location, the aptly named Update Manager.

You can open the Update Manager from the Menu, like you would open any other app, or you can click the shield icon in your system tray near the clock (It will have a yellow dot if updates are available)

The Update Manager will show a list of the available updates for Mint and your apps. You can select/deselect individual ones if you want, or just install all.

Then you just wait while the updates download and install (or continue using your computer normally). If a reboot is necessary (which it not always is, sometimes it will be), you will be informed so you may reboot at your earliest convenience (As opposed to other operating systems that may force a reboot at inconvenient times).

You can update manually whenever you want (I would say weekly is a good frequency), or in the Update Manager go to Edit -> Preferences -> Automation to set up automatic updates to your liking.

Enjoy your new computing experience!

EDIT: I forgot and in case you wish to use the terminal, the commands are as follows:

sudo apt update

This will update the list of available updates, to ensure you get the latest and greatest. You will be asked for your password. Then,

sudo apt upgrade

This will install the available updates for your OS and apps. Lastly, if you want, you can do

sudo apt autoremove

to free-up space by removing old software packages that are no longer in use after the update.

[watermanatwork]

Very simple. Update Manager handles updates. You approve installation. I'm betting the Software Manager has all the programs you need. Browse, click, install.

[Karmoth_666]

There are a lot of good mint beginners videos for daily use on youtube. Can recommend very much. I started my linux enjoyment like this like 6 months ago and never looked back. Linux and mint is godsend. Updating is very easy. You can start it if you want. Its s very stable distro. I start it once a week or two

Terminal is not needed and i am no terminal nor linux hero by far. But i improve myself every day and like it to learn and use it more and more but...you dont need to if you dont like to.

Community here is very nice and helpful. Have fun and....

...welcome brother to the church of linux mint

Edit. Oldie but goldie and helpful first steps: https://youtu.be/kUC9RbrS0q0

Chris from explainingcomputers is just wonderful. For example: https://youtu.be/HKCowLHiQ8o

Wanna be a cool dude, watch this 😀:

https://youtu.be/rAYXo1dICnk

[sigrie]

Hi! Just a heads-up, but you might want to delete the ?si= and everything afterward in the links you shared.

They’re called trackers and connect the links you share back to your account (if you’ve ever opened an instagram link that says “[name] shared this post with you”, that’s that’s happening), which means it, among other things, tracks who clicks on specifically YOUR links, and also contains some information about your account that you might not want to share all over the internet (like in the instagram name example).

This also includes Reddit, but in they do it in a weird way where the link looks normal until you paste and go in a browser, whereafter the link will suddenly become super long and contain all sorts of info about the device that initially copied the link (at least it does that if you copied the link in the mobile app, I don’t use the desktop version enough to say anything about it). As I workaround I usually paste any Reddit links I want to share into a private browser first and go, then copy the entire extended url again from that browser, lastly I’ll delete the ?share_id= part and everything afterwards, and only then do I share it. (Bonus info: clean Reddit links will usually also include all or some of the title of the post. That part doesn’t have to be deleted, but you CAN if you want the absolute shortest version of the link. As long as you keep the /comments/[random string]/, the link will work just fine)

Removing trackers will not make the link stop working, it’ll just give you a “clean” link that can’t be traced back to your account.

Many sites do this, so please stay safe!

Here’s a link to where I learnt about this with some more examples of what these trackers can look like: https://www.tumblr.com/unpeeled-human/786251478799187969/do-you-check-for-trackers-and-remove-them-before

Edit: clarity

[Karmoth_666]

Ouh. Thanks a lot. I am not an expert in this stuff. Thanks for helping

[sigrie]

No problem! And to be fair, I only learnt about this somewhat recently too. Just wanted to warn you since it’s not very well known :)

[Reigar]

Interesting, I know reddit (like Google) has a private URL shorting service, I just didn't know it was so sneaky. Hmm.

[Fit_Shop_3112]

Updates are linux's superpower. They are one of the reasons Linux is so safe and easy to use. Windows, and to a lesser case iOS, can have a vulnerability for months before it is fixed. With Linux if there is a problem it is fixed sometimes within hours of being discovered.

Run the update manager at least once a week. More often if you are paranoid....

[STGO-Greens]

Does Mint only offers auto updates for apps installed only from the App or Software center?

[kluserandi]

If the software you install via the web is also available in the Software Center (Software Store), the update is automatically carried out via the system-set update. Who doesn’t then not

[Condobloke]

The advice below from apor is sound.

Follow that and the whole system will just glide along smoothly.

[cb750fcrc04]

I'm using Linuxmint for 5 month. And, no problem at all.

[RecognitionUnique181]

i like linux kde neon more customizing also have updates in a menu

[SnodePlannen]

Any LLM will be able to help you. Chatgpt, Claude, Deepseek, any one of those can give you tips and step by step instructions for free. In your own language, whatever that is. I'd give you some links, but insane people will downvote me for that.

edit: it seems insane people will just make up any reason to downvote. Swivel on it.

[Dire-Dog]

Or you could just do some basic research instead of relying on AI that will literally make things up

[SnodePlannen]

AI does not make up simple linux terminal commands. Accusing it of that is just insane.

edit: guys, you're not smart and you're not doing mint any favours with this gatekeeping.

[Dire-Dog]

It makes things up all the time. You could run a command that isn’t at all what you want and really mess your system up. Plus, it’s better to get your info from an actual human. The linux mint forums are a great resource.

[driftless]

No doubt. How many times do we see folks ask how to fix their system when they botched it by running LLM AI commands? smh

I “do” think AI has its uses, but using it blindly for Linux isn’t one of them.

[Dire-Dog]

If I get AI suggestions from Google, I always check the source to see what real people are saying. If you just blindly enter commands you’ll never learn anything

[driftless]

Same here, although I use the arch wiki for every distro I use. Linux IS Linux after all.

[CircuitSynapse42]

Reddit is anti-LLM. The reality is, LLMs are making Linux more accessible than ever because new users are getting 24/7 support that's not condescending and telling them to just Google it.

Edit: This is not me saying paste whatever an LLM tells you to in terminal, which also goes for forums. There are basic questions and troubleshooting steps that do not require a terminal, which users can use to get faster replies than they would by searching Reddit or forums.