How to set up unattended upgrades?

General Help
1

I have installed Zorin OS 18 in a VM, want to test it out for office usage. It would be important to install at least security updates automatically and without requiring the root password.

To ever consider Zorin OS as a windows alternative, unattended upgrades should work out of the box. I don't even know if there's some built-in recovery when an update messes up something, windows has restore which works most of the time. I don't know much about ubuntu/debian.

Been a linux user for long, but mostly fedora/arch. Since Zorin is being marketed as a windows alternative, it's really weird that it doesn't have these basic functionalities, that aren't complicated, out of the box.

I have searched this forum and on google too. Couldn't find much about making unattended-upgrades actually work, I just installed the package, that was suggested in a thread, but I don't think it's enough. Found other threads too, but all of them suggested that installing the package is enough.

I have installed the os in august/september, started it up a few times a let it run, after a while I started doubting, that automatic updates work. After that I searched for automatic updates, then installed the package. But looking at /var/log/unattended-upgrades/unattended-upgrades.log seems like it never installed anything. Is there some other mechanism that upgrades the system in the background? Is there another log that shows if there were updated packages?

Here's the log, it was created at least 2 months ago, that's when I installed the package I think, but I can't tell if it ever did anything.

https://justpaste.it/kj6fh

I just saw this reddit thread, it suggests config modifications too, not just installing the package https://www.reddit.com/r/zorinos/comments/1pj2oo9/zorin_18_unattended_updates_and_update/

2

You can activate it. Go to Software & Updates and there to the middle Tab. There You can set up automatic Download and Installation.

And then there is another Place. Open Gnome Software, click on the Hamburger Menu left beneath the min/max/close Buttons, choose Settings and there You can activate Automatic Updates, too.

3

How can I tell if it does something, is there a log? I did these things right after install, but I don't think it ever updated something. From unattended-upgrades log it looks like it didn't update anything in two months.

4

As you say, the current log is:
/var/log/unattended-upgrades/unattended-upgrades.log

I don't see anything upgraded either. Every check ends with:
"INFO No packages found that can be upgraded unattended and no pending auto-removals"

5

Still nothing 2 hours later, I let it run for 2 hours to see if something happens. The first messages in the log are from oct. 15th, it didn't install anything according to this. Did this ever work for anyone? Everything I found, had the same answer, just toggle this and that, no responses for further questions.

Also when I toggled those things after install, it didn't install unattended-upgrades, so which program and how it does the upgrades if unattended-upgrades is not installed?

6

Don't see anything here either. Maybe I installed the system on 10-15, idk anymore, but it's hard to believe there weren't any security updates since

cat /var/log/apt/history.log

Start-Date: 2025-10-15  22:15:52
Requested-By: zorin (1000)
End-Date: 2025-10-15  22:15:52

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Start-Date: 2025-10-15  22:17:59
Requested-By: zorin (1000)
Install: libsvtav1enc1d1:amd64 (1.7.0+dfsg-2build1, automatic), libhwy1t64:amd64 (1.0.7-8.1build1, automatic), libvpl2:amd64 (2023.3.0-1build1, automatic), libserd-0-0:amd64 (0.32.2-1, automatic), libcodec2-1.2:amd64 (1.2.0-2build1, automatic), librubberband2:amd64 (3.3.0+dfsg-2build1, automatic), libzvbi-common:amd64 (0.2.42-2, automatic), libsrt1.5-gnutls:amd64 (1.5.3-1build2, automatic), libshine3:amd64 (3.1.1-2build1, automatic), libx265-199:amd64 (3.5-2build1, automatic), libass9:amd64 (1:0.17.1-2build1, automatic), libaacs0:amd64 (0.11.1-2build1, automatic), libbluray2:amd64 (1:1.3.4-1build1, automatic), libblas3:amd64 (3.12.0-3build1.1, automatic), libsphinxbase3t64:amd64 (0.8+5prealpha+1-17build2, automatic), libbs2b0:amd64 (3.1.0+dfsg-7build1, automatic), libfftw3-double3:amd64 (3.3.10-1ubuntu3, automatic), libgme0:amd64 (0.6.3-7build1, automatic), libdav1d7:amd64 (1.4.1-1build1, automatic), libgfortran5:amd64 (14.2.0-4ubuntu2~24.04, automatic), libvidstab1.1:amd64 (1.1.0-2build1, automatic), libva-x11-2:amd64 (2.20.0-2build1, automatic), librist4:amd64 (0.2.10+dfsg-2, automatic), libgsm1:amd64 (1.0.22-1build1, automatic), libcjson1:amd64 (1.7.17-1, automatic), libssh-gcrypt-4:amd64 (0.10.6-2ubuntu0.1, automatic), libvdpau1:amd64 (1.5-2build1, automatic), libpostproc57:amd64 (7:6.1.1-3ubuntu5, automatic), libjxl0.7:amd64 (0.7.0-10.2ubuntu6.1, automatic), libsoxr0:amd64 (0.1.3-4build3, automatic), libudfread0:amd64 (1.1.2-1build1, automatic), libmbedcrypto7t64:amd64 (2.28.8-1, automatic), libsnappy1v5:amd64 (1.1.10-1build1, automatic), libnorm1t64:amd64 (1.5.9+dfsg-3.1build1, automatic), vdpau-driver-all:amd64 (1.5-2build1, automatic), libmysofa1:amd64 (1.3.2+dfsg-2ubuntu2, automatic), libavcodec60:amd64 (7:6.1.1-3ubuntu5, automatic), libzimg2:amd64 (3.0.5+ds1-1build1, automatic), libzvbi0t64:amd64 (0.2.42-2, automatic), pocketsphinx-en-us:amd64 (0.8.0+real5prealpha+1-15ubuntu5, automatic), libunibreak5:amd64 (5.1-2build1, automatic), libxvidcore4:amd64 (2:1.3.7-1build1, automatic), libpocketsphinx3:amd64 (0.8.0+real5prealpha+1-15ubuntu5, automatic), libavutil58:amd64 (7:6.1.1-3ubuntu5, automatic), libswscale7:amd64 (7:6.1.1-3ubuntu5, automatic), ocl-icd-libopencl1:amd64 (2.3.2-1build1, automatic), libbdplus0:amd64 (0.2.0-3build1, automatic), libsord-0-0:amd64 (0.16.16-2build1, automatic), libflite1:amd64 (2.2-6build3, automatic), libplacebo338:amd64 (6.338.2-2build1, automatic), libzix-0-0:amd64 (0.4.2-2build1, automatic), gstreamer1.0-vaapi:amd64 (1.24.2-1, automatic), libzmq5:amd64 (4.3.5-1build2, automatic), libchromaprint1:amd64 (1.5.1-5, automatic), zorin-os-restricted-addons:amd64 (1.4), libswresample4:amd64 (7:6.1.1-3ubuntu5, automatic), librabbitmq4:amd64 (0.11.0-1build2, automatic), libva-wayland2:amd64 (2.20.0-2build1, automatic), libavformat60:amd64 (7:6.1.1-3ubuntu5, automatic), liblilv-0-0:amd64 (0.24.22-1build1, automatic), gstreamer1.0-libav:amd64 (1.24.1-1build1, automatic), liblapack3:amd64 (3.12.0-3build1.1, automatic), libopenmpt0t64:amd64 (0.7.3-1.1build3, automatic), mesa-vdpau-drivers:amd64 (25.0.7-0ubuntu0.24.04.2, automatic), libpgm-5.3-0t64:amd64 (5.3.128~dfsg-2.1build1, automatic), librav1e0:amd64 (0.7.1-2, automatic), libavfilter9:amd64 (7:6.1.1-3ubuntu5, automatic), libsratom-0-0:amd64 (0.6.16-1build1, automatic)
End-Date: 2025-10-15  22:18:12

Start-Date: 2025-10-15  22:42:09
Commandline: packagekit role='remove-packages'
Requested-By: csaba (1000)
Remove: brasero-common:amd64 (3.12.3-2build4), libperl4-corelibs-perl:amd64 (0.005-1), genisoimage:amd64 (9:1.1.11-3.5), brasero:amd64 (3.12.3-2build4), libburn4t64:amd64 (1.5.6-1.1build1), growisofs:amd64 (7.1-14build2), brasero-cdrkit:amd64 (3.12.3-2build4), libisofs6t64:amd64 (1.5.6.pl01-1.1ubuntu2), wodim:amd64 (9:1.1.11-3.5), cdrdao:amd64 (1:1.2.4-3build1), libbrasero-media3-1:amd64 (3.12.3-2build4), dvdauthor:amd64 (0.7.2-2build4)
End-Date: 2025-10-15  22:42:16

Start-Date: 2025-12-12  15:34:20
Commandline: apt install mc
Requested-By: csaba (1000)
Install: mc-data:amd64 (3:4.8.30-1ubuntu0.1, automatic), libssh2-1t64:amd64 (1.11.0-4.1build2, automatic), mailcap:amd64 (3.70+nmu1ubuntu1, automatic), mc:amd64 (3:4.8.30-1ubuntu0.1)
End-Date: 2025-12-12  15:34:24
7

nothing here either, just the dependencies from mc

cat /var/log/dpkg.log
2025-10-15 22:15:58 status triggers-pending linux-image-6.14.0-33-generic:amd64 6.14.0-33.33~24.04.1
2025-10-15 22:15:58 startup packages configure
2025-10-15 22:15:58 trigproc linux-image-6.14.0-33-generic:amd64 6.14.0-33.33~24.04.1 <none>
2025-10-15 22:15:58 status half-configured linux-image-6.14.0-33-generic:amd64 6.14.0-33.33~24.04.1
2025-10-15 22:16:00 status installed linux-image-6.14.0-33-generic:amd64 6.14.0-33.33~24.04.1
2025-10-15 22:16:15 startup packages purge
2025-10-15 22:42:09 startup packages remove
2025-10-15 22:42:09 status installed brasero:amd64 3.12.3-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:10 remove brasero:amd64 3.12.3-2build4 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status half-configured brasero:amd64 3.12.3-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status half-installed brasero:amd64 3.12.3-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status triggers-pending man-db:amd64 2.12.0-4build2
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status triggers-pending desktop-file-utils:amd64 0.27-2build1
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status triggers-pending gnome-menus:amd64 3.36.0-1.1ubuntu3
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status config-files brasero:amd64 3.12.3-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status not-installed brasero:amd64 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status installed brasero-cdrkit:amd64 3.12.3-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:10 remove brasero-cdrkit:amd64 3.12.3-2build4 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status half-configured brasero-cdrkit:amd64 3.12.3-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status half-installed brasero-cdrkit:amd64 3.12.3-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status config-files brasero-cdrkit:amd64 3.12.3-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status not-installed brasero-cdrkit:amd64 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status installed libbrasero-media3-1:amd64 3.12.3-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:10 remove libbrasero-media3-1:amd64 3.12.3-2build4 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status triggers-pending libc-bin:amd64 2.39-0ubuntu8.6
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status half-configured libbrasero-media3-1:amd64 3.12.3-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status half-installed libbrasero-media3-1:amd64 3.12.3-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status config-files libbrasero-media3-1:amd64 3.12.3-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status not-installed libbrasero-media3-1:amd64 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status installed brasero-common:all 3.12.3-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:10 remove brasero-common:all 3.12.3-2build4 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status half-configured brasero-common:all 3.12.3-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status half-installed brasero-common:all 3.12.3-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:10 status triggers-pending shared-mime-info:amd64 2.4-4
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status triggers-pending hicolor-icon-theme:all 0.17-2
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status triggers-pending libglib2.0-0t64:amd64 2.80.0-6ubuntu3.4
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status config-files brasero-common:all 3.12.3-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status not-installed brasero-common:all <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status installed cdrdao:amd64 1:1.2.4-3build1
2025-10-15 22:42:11 remove cdrdao:amd64 1:1.2.4-3build1 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-configured cdrdao:amd64 1:1.2.4-3build1
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-installed cdrdao:amd64 1:1.2.4-3build1
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status config-files cdrdao:amd64 1:1.2.4-3build1
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status not-installed cdrdao:amd64 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status installed dvdauthor:amd64 0.7.2-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:11 remove dvdauthor:amd64 0.7.2-2build4 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-configured dvdauthor:amd64 0.7.2-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-installed dvdauthor:amd64 0.7.2-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status config-files dvdauthor:amd64 0.7.2-2build4
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status not-installed dvdauthor:amd64 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status installed genisoimage:amd64 9:1.1.11-3.5
2025-10-15 22:42:11 remove genisoimage:amd64 9:1.1.11-3.5 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-configured genisoimage:amd64 9:1.1.11-3.5
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-installed genisoimage:amd64 9:1.1.11-3.5
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status config-files genisoimage:amd64 9:1.1.11-3.5
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status not-installed genisoimage:amd64 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status installed growisofs:amd64 7.1-14build2
2025-10-15 22:42:11 remove growisofs:amd64 7.1-14build2 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-configured growisofs:amd64 7.1-14build2
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-installed growisofs:amd64 7.1-14build2
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status config-files growisofs:amd64 7.1-14build2
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status not-installed growisofs:amd64 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status installed libburn4t64:amd64 1.5.6-1.1build1
2025-10-15 22:42:11 remove libburn4t64:amd64 1.5.6-1.1build1 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-configured libburn4t64:amd64 1.5.6-1.1build1
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-installed libburn4t64:amd64 1.5.6-1.1build1
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status config-files libburn4t64:amd64 1.5.6-1.1build1
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status not-installed libburn4t64:amd64 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status installed libisofs6t64:amd64 1.5.6.pl01-1.1ubuntu2
2025-10-15 22:42:11 remove libisofs6t64:amd64 1.5.6.pl01-1.1ubuntu2 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-configured libisofs6t64:amd64 1.5.6.pl01-1.1ubuntu2
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-installed libisofs6t64:amd64 1.5.6.pl01-1.1ubuntu2
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status config-files libisofs6t64:amd64 1.5.6.pl01-1.1ubuntu2
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status not-installed libisofs6t64:amd64 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status installed libperl4-corelibs-perl:all 0.005-1
2025-10-15 22:42:11 remove libperl4-corelibs-perl:all 0.005-1 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-configured libperl4-corelibs-perl:all 0.005-1
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-installed libperl4-corelibs-perl:all 0.005-1
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status config-files libperl4-corelibs-perl:all 0.005-1
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status not-installed libperl4-corelibs-perl:all <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status installed wodim:amd64 9:1.1.11-3.5
2025-10-15 22:42:11 remove wodim:amd64 9:1.1.11-3.5 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-configured wodim:amd64 9:1.1.11-3.5
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-installed wodim:amd64 9:1.1.11-3.5
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status config-files wodim:amd64 9:1.1.11-3.5
2025-10-15 22:42:11 startup packages configure
2025-10-15 22:42:11 trigproc hicolor-icon-theme:all 0.17-2 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-configured hicolor-icon-theme:all 0.17-2
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status installed hicolor-icon-theme:all 0.17-2
2025-10-15 22:42:11 trigproc gnome-menus:amd64 3.36.0-1.1ubuntu3 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-configured gnome-menus:amd64 3.36.0-1.1ubuntu3
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status installed gnome-menus:amd64 3.36.0-1.1ubuntu3
2025-10-15 22:42:11 trigproc libc-bin:amd64 2.39-0ubuntu8.6 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-configured libc-bin:amd64 2.39-0ubuntu8.6
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status installed libc-bin:amd64 2.39-0ubuntu8.6
2025-10-15 22:42:11 trigproc man-db:amd64 2.12.0-4build2 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:11 status half-configured man-db:amd64 2.12.0-4build2
2025-10-15 22:42:12 status installed man-db:amd64 2.12.0-4build2
2025-10-15 22:42:12 trigproc libglib2.0-0t64:amd64 2.80.0-6ubuntu3.4 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:12 status half-configured libglib2.0-0t64:amd64 2.80.0-6ubuntu3.4
2025-10-15 22:42:13 status installed libglib2.0-0t64:amd64 2.80.0-6ubuntu3.4
2025-10-15 22:42:13 trigproc shared-mime-info:amd64 2.4-4 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:13 status half-configured shared-mime-info:amd64 2.4-4
2025-10-15 22:42:16 status installed shared-mime-info:amd64 2.4-4
2025-10-15 22:42:16 trigproc desktop-file-utils:amd64 0.27-2build1 <none>
2025-10-15 22:42:16 status half-configured desktop-file-utils:amd64 0.27-2build1
2025-10-15 22:42:16 status installed desktop-file-utils:amd64 0.27-2build1
2025-12-12 15:34:20 startup archives unpack
2025-12-12 15:34:21 install libssh2-1t64:amd64 <none> 1.11.0-4.1build2
2025-12-12 15:34:21 status triggers-pending libc-bin:amd64 2.39-0ubuntu8.6
2025-12-12 15:34:21 status half-installed libssh2-1t64:amd64 1.11.0-4.1build2
2025-12-12 15:34:21 status unpacked libssh2-1t64:amd64 1.11.0-4.1build2
2025-12-12 15:34:21 install mailcap:all <none> 3.70+nmu1ubuntu1
2025-12-12 15:34:21 status half-installed mailcap:all 3.70+nmu1ubuntu1
2025-12-12 15:34:21 status triggers-pending man-db:amd64 2.12.0-4build2
2025-12-12 15:34:21 status unpacked mailcap:all 3.70+nmu1ubuntu1
2025-12-12 15:34:21 install mc-data:all <none> 3:4.8.30-1ubuntu0.1
2025-12-12 15:34:21 status half-installed mc-data:all 3:4.8.30-1ubuntu0.1
2025-12-12 15:34:21 status triggers-pending hicolor-icon-theme:all 0.17-2
2025-12-12 15:34:21 status unpacked mc-data:all 3:4.8.30-1ubuntu0.1
2025-12-12 15:34:21 install mc:amd64 <none> 3:4.8.30-1ubuntu0.1
2025-12-12 15:34:21 status half-installed mc:amd64 3:4.8.30-1ubuntu0.1
2025-12-12 15:34:22 status triggers-pending desktop-file-utils:amd64 0.27-2build1
2025-12-12 15:34:22 status triggers-pending gnome-menus:amd64 3.36.0-1.1ubuntu3
2025-12-12 15:34:22 status unpacked mc:amd64 3:4.8.30-1ubuntu0.1
2025-12-12 15:34:22 startup packages configure
2025-12-12 15:34:22 configure mc-data:all 3:4.8.30-1ubuntu0.1 <none>
2025-12-12 15:34:22 status unpacked mc-data:all 3:4.8.30-1ubuntu0.1
2025-12-12 15:34:22 status half-configured mc-data:all 3:4.8.30-1ubuntu0.1
2025-12-12 15:34:22 status installed mc-data:all 3:4.8.30-1ubuntu0.1
2025-12-12 15:34:22 configure libssh2-1t64:amd64 1.11.0-4.1build2 <none>
2025-12-12 15:34:22 status unpacked libssh2-1t64:amd64 1.11.0-4.1build2
2025-12-12 15:34:22 status half-configured libssh2-1t64:amd64 1.11.0-4.1build2
2025-12-12 15:34:22 status installed libssh2-1t64:amd64 1.11.0-4.1build2
2025-12-12 15:34:22 configure mailcap:all 3.70+nmu1ubuntu1 <none>
2025-12-12 15:34:22 status unpacked mailcap:all 3.70+nmu1ubuntu1
2025-12-12 15:34:22 status half-configured mailcap:all 3.70+nmu1ubuntu1
2025-12-12 15:34:22 status installed mailcap:all 3.70+nmu1ubuntu1
2025-12-12 15:34:22 configure mc:amd64 3:4.8.30-1ubuntu0.1 <none>
2025-12-12 15:34:22 status unpacked mc:amd64 3:4.8.30-1ubuntu0.1
2025-12-12 15:34:22 status half-configured mc:amd64 3:4.8.30-1ubuntu0.1
2025-12-12 15:34:22 status installed mc:amd64 3:4.8.30-1ubuntu0.1
2025-12-12 15:34:22 trigproc libc-bin:amd64 2.39-0ubuntu8.6 <none>
2025-12-12 15:34:22 status half-configured libc-bin:amd64 2.39-0ubuntu8.6
2025-12-12 15:34:22 status installed libc-bin:amd64 2.39-0ubuntu8.6
2025-12-12 15:34:22 trigproc man-db:amd64 2.12.0-4build2 <none>
2025-12-12 15:34:22 status half-configured man-db:amd64 2.12.0-4build2
2025-12-12 15:34:24 status installed man-db:amd64 2.12.0-4build2
2025-12-12 15:34:24 trigproc desktop-file-utils:amd64 0.27-2build1 <none>
2025-12-12 15:34:24 status half-configured desktop-file-utils:amd64 0.27-2build1
2025-12-12 15:34:24 status installed desktop-file-utils:amd64 0.27-2build1
2025-12-12 15:34:24 trigproc hicolor-icon-theme:all 0.17-2 <none>
2025-12-12 15:34:24 status half-configured hicolor-icon-theme:all 0.17-2
2025-12-12 15:34:24 status installed hicolor-icon-theme:all 0.17-2
2025-12-12 15:34:24 trigproc gnome-menus:amd64 3.36.0-1.1ubuntu3 <none>
2025-12-12 15:34:24 status half-configured gnome-menus:amd64 3.36.0-1.1ubuntu3
2025-12-12 15:34:24 status installed gnome-menus:amd64 3.36.0-1.1ubuntu3
8

here's the gui config

for some reason I can't change the Custom value, it asks for password and nothing happens

image
image760×481 83 KB

here's the other one:

image
image1224×822 143 KB

9

unattended-upgrades is installed with Zorin 18. If the log file has entries, it's working. The reason you don't see any packages being upgraded by it is that the allowed sources are restricted to Zorin repository only:

From the script's output:

INFO Allowed origins are: o=Zorin,a=noble, o=Zorin,a=noble-security, o=ZorinESMApps,a=noble-apps-security, o=ZorinESM,a=noble-infra-security

If the Ubuntu repositories were included, you would likely see more packages being upgraded this way.

1 Like
10

Yeah, this is what that linked reddit post says, but that's the only place I saw this and I'm not alone. Maybe the package was installed I don't remember.

I made this post, because this whole situation is weird. Either the zorin repos don't include security fixes or they're really behind(months). Like I said this should be a basic feature for an OS that advertises itself as a windows or macos alternative, it should work out of the box or at least it should work with some GUI toggles without changing config files.

11

Have you followed these suggested changes or not?

12

You can set the other Updates to ''download and install automatically'' too. And You see on ''Automatically ckeck for updates'' that it daily looks. That doesn't mean that it looks every Hour.

In Gnome Software. You already have enabled to Toggle for Notifications when Updates are installed automatically. But to be clear here: That only happens when Gnome Software makes an Update - it doesn't count for Updates over the Software Updater.

When You run the Software Updater or run sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade does it show You any Updates?

13

@littlekun
no I did not, they were posted two days ago and it only has like 5 comments, and it's besides the point, because we shouldn't have to do things like this to get automatic updates.

@Ponce-De-Leon I know it doesn't look every hour, but it didn't do anything in two months either, unattended-upgrades runs every few hours, but it always says there's nothing to upgrade

yes I have available upgrades

Hit:1 http://ro.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble InRelease
Hit:2 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-security InRelease
Get:3 http://ro.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-updates InRelease [126 kB]     
Hit:4 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/zorinos/apps/ubuntu noble InRelease     
Hit:5 https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com stable InRelease          
Hit:6 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/zorinos/drivers/ubuntu noble InRelease
Hit:7 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/zorinos/patches/ubuntu noble InRelease
Hit:8 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/zorinos/stable/ubuntu noble InRelease
Hit:9 http://ro.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-backports InRelease
Hit:10 https://packages.zorinos.com/stable noble InRelease                     
Hit:11 https://packages.zorinos.com/patches noble InRelease                    
Hit:12 https://packages.zorinos.com/apps noble InRelease                       
Hit:13 https://packages.zorinos.com/drivers noble InRelease                    
Fetched 126 kB in 8s (16.4 kB/s)                                               
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
193 packages can be upgraded. Run 'apt list --upgradable' to see them.
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
Calculating upgrade... Done
The following package was automatically installed and is no longer required:
  apparmor-profiles
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove it.
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  aptkit libdebuginfod-common libdebuginfod1t64
  linux-headers-6.14.0-37-generic linux-hwe-6.14-headers-6.14.0-37
  linux-hwe-6.14-tools-6.14.0-37 linux-image-6.14.0-37-generic
  linux-modules-6.14.0-37-generic linux-modules-extra-6.14.0-37-generic
  linux-tools-6.14.0-37-generic
The following packages will be upgraded:
  apparmor apparmor-profiles bind9-dnsutils bind9-host bind9-libs bluez
  bluez-cups bluez-obexd brave-browser cups cups-bsd cups-client cups-common
  cups-core-drivers cups-daemon cups-filters cups-filters-core-drivers
  cups-ipp-utils cups-ppdc cups-server-common dhcpcd-base distro-info-data
  evolution evolution-common evolution-data-server
  evolution-data-server-common evolution-plugin-bogofilter
  evolution-plugin-pstimport evolution-plugins fonts-opensymbol gdm3
  gir1.2-camel-1.2 gir1.2-ebookcontacts-1.2 gir1.2-edataserver-1.2
  gir1.2-gdm-1.0 gir1.2-glib-2.0 gir1.2-gtk-4.0 gir1.2-gtop-2.0
  gir1.2-javascriptcoregtk-4.1 gir1.2-javascriptcoregtk-6.0
  gir1.2-malcontent-0 gir1.2-mutter-14 gir1.2-nautilus-4.0 gir1.2-nm-1.0
  gir1.2-packagekitglib-1.0 gir1.2-webkit-6.0 gir1.2-webkit2-4.1
  gnome-remote-desktop gnome-shell gnome-shell-common grub-theme-zorin
  gstreamer1.0-packagekit intel-microcode libapparmor1 libbluetooth3
  libcamel-1.2-64t64 libcups2t64 libcupsfilters2-common libcupsfilters2t64
  libcupsimage2t64 libdrm-amdgpu1 libdrm-common libdrm-intel1 libdrm-nouveau2
  libdrm-radeon1 libdrm2 libebackend-1.2-11t64 libebook-1.2-21t64
  libebook-contacts-1.2-4t64 libecal-2.0-3 libedata-book-1.2-27t64
  libedata-cal-2.0-2t64 libedataserver-1.2-27t64 libedataserverui-1.2-4t64
  libedataserverui4-1.0-0t64 libevolution libgdm1 libglib2.0-0t64
  libglib2.0-bin libglib2.0-data libgtk-4-1 libgtk-4-bin libgtk-4-common
  libgtk-4-media-gstreamer libgtop-2.0-11 libgtop2-common libinput-bin
  libinput10 libjavascriptcoregtk-4.1-0 libjavascriptcoregtk-6.0-1 libldb2
  libmalcontent-0-0 libmalcontent-ui-1-1 libmutter-14-0 libnautilus-extension4
  libnetplan1 libnm0 libpackagekit-glib2-18 libpng16-16t64 libpoppler-cpp0t64
  libpoppler-glib8t64 libpoppler134 libpython3-stdlib libpython3.12-minimal
  libpython3.12-stdlib libpython3.12t64 libreoffice-base-core libreoffice-calc
  libreoffice-common libreoffice-core libreoffice-draw libreoffice-gnome
  libreoffice-gtk3 libreoffice-help-common libreoffice-help-en-us
  libreoffice-impress libreoffice-style-colibre libreoffice-style-elementary
  libreoffice-style-yaru libreoffice-uiconfig-calc libreoffice-uiconfig-common
  libreoffice-uiconfig-draw libreoffice-uiconfig-impress
  libreoffice-uiconfig-writer libreoffice-writer libsmbclient0 libssh-4
  libssh-gcrypt-4 libuno-cppu3t64 libuno-cppuhelpergcc3-3t64
  libuno-purpenvhelpergcc3-3t64 libuno-sal3t64 libuno-salhelpergcc3-3t64
  libwbclient0 libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0 libwebkitgtk-6.0-4 libwhoopsie0 libxml2
  linux-firmware linux-generic-hwe-24.04 linux-headers-generic-hwe-24.04
  linux-image-generic-hwe-24.04 linux-libc-dev linux-tools-common malcontent
  malcontent-gui mutter-common mutter-common-bin nautilus nautilus-data
  netplan-generator netplan.io network-manager openvpn packagekit
  poppler-utils python-apt-common python3 python3-apt python3-minimal
  python3-netplan python3-uno python3-urllib3 python3.12 python3.12-minimal
  samba-libs snapd tree ubuntu-drivers-common uno-libs-private ure whoopsie
  wireless-regdb xcursor-themes xdg-dbus-proxy xserver-common xserver-xephyr
  xserver-xorg-core xserver-xorg-legacy xserver-xorg-video-amdgpu xwayland
  zorin-additional-drivers-checker zorin-exec-guard-app-db zorin-os-artwork
  zorin-os-default-settings zorin-os-desktop zorin-os-minimal
  zorin-os-printer-test-page zorin-os-standard zorin-os-upgrader
  zorin-os-wallpapers zorin-os-wallpapers-18 zorin-os-wallpapers-solid
193 upgraded, 10 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 1,204 MB of archives.
After this operation, 330 MB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]

I let the system run 8 hours and still nothing 08:22:25 up 16:55, 1 user, load average: 0.11, 0.09, 0.09

14

I tried to setup unattended upgrades which included the ubuntu repository as described in the reddit link on a Zorin 18 live-system, but I didn´t get it to work.
I ran a debug test but no upgrades were done and nothing is in the log files. I had changed the timer so that it should do the update/upgrade at a custom time, but it seems not to work.

Bildschirmfoto vom 2025-12-13 10-25-37
Bildschirmfoto vom 2025-12-13 10-25-371600×900 214 KB

I´m at a loss how to do it.
To me, this feature doesn't sound very practical, since it seems that third-party PPAs also have to be added separately.

15

where did you see third party PPAs?

16

Not by default, but I read something about ppas and many users have added other software sources (ppas, repositories). I'm not sure how they are handled by the unattended updates.

17

Yes if you add your PPAs there they will be updated too, but PPAs aren't needed, unless you use something from a PPA and want to keep it up to date automatically.

My problem here is that you can set up automatic updates on ubuntu from the GUI, without the need to change config files. Seemingly on Zorin either their repos are way behind or empty or they forgot to make the necessary configurations for automatic upgrades.

18

Just a guess, I hope it's not that case but still like to mention atleast.

Make sure your network connection is not set to metered. If enabled, updates won't work automatically untill you manually start them.

19

When using a terminal to check for any updates, only one 'hit' is clearly for security updates:

> Hit:9 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-security InRelease

But no Ubuntu repositories are examined when unattended updates runs in Zorin (see post #8). Instead, we would get these security updates along with regular updates.

There is no Zorin repository checked by 'sudo apt update' clearly indicated for security. That's where I would expect such updates to be, segregated from other updates for special attention.

Check for yourself and reach your own conclusion.

20

@Topaz yes it looks like there's no security zorin repo, maybe the patches repo is the one that supposed to be security, but it doesn't deliver anything.

@littlekun not it's not my network, it's a configuration issue, I'm pretty sure unattended upgrades won't work for you either if you don't change those configs. This is a new system, I didn't do anything with it, just wanted to test it out. I didn't mess with any config files.

I'm kinda done with this, I don't know what else I can say, this is not a great situation, it's misleading. I saw many posts where the advice was to just enable them from the settings gui, which clearly doesn't do anything. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED ASAP

Let's say some windows refugee, who's an average user, who doesn't feel comfortable using the command line, but they are used to looking around in the settings. They see automatic updates, they will enable it, but there's no obvious way to tell if it even does anything.

These kinds of users could end up with a not up to date system for months maybe years. They just know they have enabled it, maybe even checked the forums about it, where all the top posts suggests, that it just works. Probably they are even happy with the state of things, because seemingly they have 0 zero downtime cause by updates, unlike on windows. This how you end up with botnets...

I would argue, at least automatic security updates should be enabled by default and periodically tested, if you market yourself as a windows/macos alternative.

Also in the settings app I can't even change the Subscribed to: value. I think after seeing that, that was the first the first time, when I started being suspicious about automatic updates.

Maybe I'm wrong and doing something wrong, please tell me why and what. Changing config files is not an answer, for a distro like this.