---
name: "nala-upgrade"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "nala"
version: "0.16.0"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/nala-upgrade"
---

# nala-upgrade(8)

Update the package list and upgrade the system

## NAME

nala-upgrade - Update the package list and upgrade the system

## SYNOPSIS

**nala upgrade** \[*--options*\]

## DESCRIPTION

There are 3 modes to an upgrade with apt.

- Only Upgrade packages, do NOT Install or Remove any packages.

  (**nala upgrade** / **apt-get upgrade**)

- Upgrade and Install NEW packages if required, but do NOT remove any.

  (**apt upgrade**)

  **python3-apt** does not support this mode, there is no **nala** equivalent.

- Upgrade and Install NEW packages and Remove packages if necessary.

  (**nala full-upgrade** / **apt full-upgrade** / **apt-get dist-upgrade**)

By default **nala** will only upgrade packages and autoremove.

Some upgrades, such as getting a new release **nala** may need to install or remove packages. This can be handled using the *--full* switch as below, or using **upgrade** aliases like **nala dist-upgrade** or **nala full-upgrade**

- If you are just looking to update the package cache and not actually perform an upgrade you can use:

  **nala update**

## OPTIONS

- **--exclude**

  Specify packages to exclude during upgrade. Accepts globs\*

  - *--exclude* only takes one package as an argument, but can be specified multiple times:

    **nala upgrade** *--exclude* **apt** *--exclude* **dpkg**

  NOTE: Due to the way that excusions are handled, you may want to additionally supply *--no-full* to ensure **Nala** doesn't remove packages you plan to keep.

- **--full**, **--no-full**

  - *--full*

  This will run the equivalent of **apt full-upgrade**

- *--no-full*

  This will run the equivalent of **apt-get upgrade**

  This variant is the **default**

- **--purge**

  Purge any packages that would removed during the transaction.

- **--debug**

  Print helpful information for solving issues. If you're submitting a bug report try running the command again with *--debug* and providing the output to the devs, it may be helpful.

- **--raw-dpkg**

  Force **nala** not to format **dpkg** output.

  This disables all formatting and it would look as if you were using **apt**.

  A more indepth explanation for what this switch does, **nala** will fork a tty instead of a pty for **dpkg**.

  **nala** will also not display a progress bar for **dpkg** with this turned on. Additionally the language of the output will not be forced into English for this mode.

- **-d**, **--download-only**

  Packages are only retrieved, not unpacked or installed.

- **--remove-essential**

  Allow the removal of essential packages.

  This is very dangerous, but we thought you should have the option.

- **--assume-yes**, **--assume-no**

  *-y*, *--assume-yes*

  Automatically select *yes* for any prompts which may need your input.

  If the configuration option *assume\_yes* is true, this switch will set it back to default behavior

  *-n*, *--assume-no*

  Automatically select *no* for any prompts which may need your input.

- **--simple**, **--no-simple**

  *--simple*

  Show a more simple and condensed transaction summary.

  *--no-simple*

  Show the standard table transatction summary with more information.

  This variant is the **default**

- **-o**, **--option**

  Set options to pass through to **apt**, **nala**, or **dpkg**.

  - Example:

    Force **dpkg** to install new config files without prompting:

    **nala install --option** *Dpkg::Options::="--force-confnew"*

    Disable scrolling text for **nala**

    **nala install --option** *Nala::scrolling\_text="false"*

    Allow **nala** to **update** unauthenticated repositories:

    **nala install --option**\* *APT::Get::AllowUnauthenticated="true"*

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  Disable scrolling text and print extra information

- **-h**, **--help**

  Shows this man page.

- **--autoremove**, **--no-autoremove**

  - *--autoremove*

    Automatically remove any packages that are no longer needed.

    This variant is the **default**

    *--no-autoremove*

    Do **NOT** Automatically remove any packages

- **--update**, **--no-update**

  - *--update*

    Update the package list before the requested operation.

    Example:

    **nala install** *--update* **neofetch**

    is equivalent to

    **apt update** && **apt install neofetch**

    \[Default for: **upgrade**\]

    *--no-update*

    Do **NOT** update the package list before the requested operation.

    \[Default for: **install**, **remove**, **purge**, **autoremove**, **autopurge**\]

- **--install-recommends**, **--no-install-recommends**

  - *--install-recommends*

    Recommended packages will be installed.

    This variant is the **default** unless changed with the **apt** config.

    *--no-install-recommends*

    Recommended package will **NOT** be installed.

    If this option is selected **nala** will display the recommended packages that will not be installed.

- **--install-suggests**, **--no-install-suggests**

  - *--install-suggests*

    Suggested packages will be installed.

    This variant is the **default**

    *--no-install-suggests*

    This variant is the **default** unless changed with the **apt** config.

    If this option is selected **nala** will display the suggested packages that will not be installed.

- **--fix-broken**, **--no-fix-broken**

  - *--fix-broken*

    Attempts to fix broken packages.

    This variant is the **default**

    *--no-fix-broken*

    Stops **nala** from performing extra checks.

    *This can result in a broken install*!

    If you just want to fix broken packages:

    **nala install** *--fix-broken*

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright (C) 2021, 2022 Blake Lee