---
name: "dnf5-system-upgrade"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "dnf5"
version: "5.4.6.0-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dnf5-system-upgrade"
---

# dnf5-system-upgrade(8)

System-Upgrade Command

## NAME

dnf5-system-upgrade - System-Upgrade Command

## SYNOPSIS

**dnf5 system-upgrade \<subcommand\> \[options\]**

## DESCRIPTION

The **system-upgrade** command is used to upgrade the system to a new major release. First, the **download** subcommand downloads packages while the system is running normally. Then, the **reboot** subcommand reboots the system into a minimal "offline" environment to apply the upgrades.

**dnf5 system-upgrade** is a recommended way to upgrade a system to a new major release. Before you proceed, ensure that your system is fully upgraded (**dnf5 --refresh upgrade**).

**system-upgrade** shares many subcommands with the offline subcommand \<#offline-command-ref-label\>.

## SUBCOMMANDS

- **clean**

  ```
  See dnf5-offline(8), Offline command <#offline-command-ref-label>
  ```

- **download**

  ```
  Downloads all packages needed to upgrade to a new major release and checks that they can be installed.
  ```

- **log**

  ```
  See dnf5-offline(8), Offline command <#offline-command-ref-label>
  ```

- **reboot**

  ```
  See dnf5-offline(8), Offline command <#offline-command-ref-label>
  ```

## OPTIONS

- **--releasever=\<version\>**

  ```
  Required. The version to upgrade to. Sets $releasever in all enabled repos. Usually a number, or rawhide.
  ```

- **--no-downgrade**

  ```
  Behave like dnf5 update: do not install packages from the new release if they are older than what is currently installed. This is the opposite of the default behavior, which behaves like dnf5 distro-sync, always installing packages from the new release, even if they are older than the currently-installed version.
  ```

- **--allowerasing**

  ```
  Allow removing of installed packages to resolve any potential dependency problems.
  ```

- **--number=\<boot number\>**

  ```
  See dnf5-offline(8), Offline command <#offline-command-ref-label>
  ```

- **--poweroff**

  ```
  See dnf5-offline(8), Offline command <#offline-command-ref-label>
  ```

## ENVIRONMENT

See **[dnf5-offline(8)](/dnf5-offline/8.md)**, Offline command \<#offline-command-ref-label\>.

## EXAMPLES

### Typical upgrade usage

**dnf5 --refresh upgrade**

**dnf5 system-upgrade download --releasever 40**

**dnf5 system-upgrade reboot**

### Show logs from last upgrade attempt

**dnf5 system-upgrade log --number=-1**

## SEE ALSO

```
dnf5-offline(8), Offline command <#offline-command-ref-label>
<https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/systemd/SystemUpdates>
```

## Author

See AUTHORS.md in dnf5 source distribution.

## Copyright

Contributors to the dnf5 project.