Upgrading your Linux system to the latest and greatest release is generally an exciting and simple process. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, the fun of upgrading versions is thwarted by incompatibilities or intolerable changes.
You’re not alone if you just want to roll your system back to the previous stable release—and luckily, you’re able to downgrade Linux with just a few simple steps.
Prepare to Downgrade Your System
Downgrading isn’t quite the same as upgrading. In essence, distribution upgrades are essentially non-reversible. Packages and configuration files are all updated to be compatible with the new distribution—and there isn’t exactly a built-in method to reconfigure them to be compatible with your old system again.
In most cases, the easiest way to downgrade your system isto reinstall Linux. You’ll need to prepare before you do that. You should transfer all of your important personal files to an external drive or a cloud storage website before you reinstall Linux.
If you don’t have an external drive, consider installing the old version side-by-side with the new in a dual-boot configuration so that you can keep your files.
You can back up your files manually by copying them to an external drive or uploading them to an online cloud storage drive, but it isn’t always feasible if you have a large amount of files.
If you prefer to automate the process,consider using Déjà Dup. This application will allow you to back up any selected folders to an external drive or cloud storage drive within minutes.
Consider Using System Snapshots to Downgrade
If youuse an application like Timeshiftto automatically create system snapshots, you might not have to completely reinstall Linux. Timeshift stores backups of all of your system files—meaning that you can effectively downgrade your Linux system by restoring it to a backup that was taken before you upgraded.
Restoring your system to an older snapshot is relatively simple with Timeshift. After you’ve opened the application, you’ll need to scroll through your listed snapshots until you find one that was captured before the upgrade. Select it and clickRestore.
After confirming the restoration defaults are appropriate, clickNextand watch as your Linux system is taken back to its original glory.
Take a snapshot immediately before attempting to downgrade. If restoring your system to an old snapshot somehow ruins it, you’ll be able to restore it to the upgraded system.
Determine What Version to Downgrade To
If you’re planning to downgrade through a manual reinstall, your next step will be determining what version to downgrade to. In most cases, you’ll want to downgrade to the version you were using previously—but this isn’t advisable if it’s a short-term release.
You’ll need to download this release from the archive on the distribution’s official website. Search for “[distribution] release archive” and navigate to the website where your distribution is officially released. Download the installation media and prepare to use it.
Create a Bootable Linux Drive
Once you’ve downloaded your desired version of Linux, you’re ready to reinstall it—and all that’s left to do is to create a bootable drive. The easiest way to accomplish this involves an application called UNetbootin. While the specific command may vary depending on the package manager your distribution uses, you’re able to install UNetbootin with:
Next, connect an empty USB drive to your computer and launch UNetbootin. Verify that the USB drive is empty of any files you’d like to preserve, as turning it into a bootable drive will irreversibly destroy any files stored on the drive.
Open the UNetbootin window and select the ISO image you would like to install from your files. (Alternatively, select a distribution from UNetbootin’s list of presets.)
At the bottom of the UNetbootin prompt, you’ll need to select your USB drive. You must select the right drive—if you aren’t sure, check your file manager and consider disconnecting and reconnecting the drive so that you know which one it is. ClickOKand allow UNetbootin to extract the necessary files and turn your USB drive into a bootable installer.
UNetbootin isn’t the only software you can use to create a bootable drive. Startup Disk Creator, Fedora Media Writer, and balenaEtcher are just a few of the other excellent options available to you.
Downgrade Linux Through Distro Reinstallation
After you’ve created a bootable drive, you’re finally ready to downgrade your Linux system. You’ll be delighted to find that it’s an incredibly easy process from here.
If you haven’t already, you should back up any important files on an external drive or cloud server. Next, shut down and reboot your PC. You’ll need to interrupt the boot to access BIOS.
Wait until the manufacturer logo appears on your computer screen and begin to rapidly tap your boot key. The boot key may vary depending on your computer, but it’s likely to beF2, F10, F12, Del, orEsc. You should google “[computer model] boot key” if you aren’t sure.
Navigate to the Boot Order section of BIOS and adjust the configuration so that your PC will boot to your USB drive.
Exit BIOS and allow your computer to reboot. It should automatically recognize the installation media and boot into an options menu.
If you aren’t sure whether you’d like to install the OS, you can temporarily try the distribution through the USB drive without damaging your files in any way. Otherwise, click through the prompts to reinstall and downgrade your distro.
You don’t have to delete your system when reinstalling Linux. If you’d like to preserve it, you can install the new OS side-by-side in a dual boot setup.
Downgrade to Your Preferred Linux Release
While it might not be as simple as upgrading your operating system, downgrading to your preferred release is a great way to take control of your system. Remember to follow basic cybersecurity principles and, if you’re using an unsupported release, update your system package source to the right URL.
Using older versions of Linux might come with a few challenges, but the familiarity and ease of use make it more than worthwhile.
