Stay on Top of Your Raspberry Pi Software with These Easy Steps

Learn how to check your Raspberry Pi operating system (OS) version and update it using the command line interface. Keeping your Raspberry Pi up-to-date is essential for security and performance. …


Updated October 2, 2023

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Learn how to check your Raspberry Pi operating system (OS) version and update it using the command line interface. Keeping your Raspberry Pi up-to-date is essential for security and performance.

Are you running the latest version of Raspberry Pi OS on your device? With new updates being released regularly, it’s important to stay current with the software on your Raspberry Pi to ensure optimal performance and security. In this article, we will show you how to check your Raspberry Pi OS version and update it using the command line interface.

Checking Your Raspberry Pi OS Version

To determine what version of Raspberry Pi OS you are currently running, open a terminal window by clicking on the “Terminal” icon in the menu bar or by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T. Once the terminal is open, type the following command and press Enter:

cat /etc/os-release

This will display information about your operating system, including the version number. Look for a line that starts with VERSION_ID, which will show the OS version. For example, if you are running Raspberry Pi OS Buster (version 10), it should look like this:

VERSION_ID="10"

Updating Your Raspberry Pi OS

Before updating your Raspberry Pi OS, it’s a good idea to back up any important files. To update the software on your device, follow these steps:

  1. Open a terminal window and update the package list by typing the following command and pressing Enter:
sudo apt-get update
  1. Next, upgrade all installed packages to their latest versions with this command:
sudo apt-get upgrade -y
  1. After the upgrade is complete, reboot your Raspberry Pi by typing:
sudo reboot
  1. Once your device has restarted, check the version again using the cat /etc/os-release command to ensure you are running the latest software.

That’s it! You have now checked and updated your Raspberry Pi OS. Remember to regularly update your system to stay secure and to enjoy the best performance possible from your device.