Fedora Post-upgrade Tasks

Upgrading Fedora is usually smooth thanks to dnf system-upgrade. If you haven’t upgraded yet, check out this step-by-step guide: How To Upgrade To Fedora 43 From Fedora 42.

Once your system reboots into the new release, the work isn’t done. A few cleanup and verification steps can make the difference between a decent upgrade and a rock-solid, stable system.

Here’s a checklist of post-upgrade tasks to run through after upgrading Fedora.

1. Clean Up Old Packages

After an upgrade, Fedora may leave behind packages that are no longer needed. Clear them out with:

sudo dnf autoremove

This removes orphaned dependencies and keeps your system lean.

2. Refresh Package Metadata

Update the system again to make sure you’re running the latest patches for your new Fedora release:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Even right after an upgrade, new updates may already be available.

3. Rebuild Flatpak Runtimes

If you use Flatpak apps, update their runtimes to match the new Fedora base:

flatpak update

Sometimes older runtimes linger and can cause compatibility issues.

4. Check Third-Party Repositories

Repos like RPM Fusion or Copr builds may not carry over cleanly. Verify that they’re enabled for the new Fedora release:

dnf repolist

If a repo is still pointing at the previous release number, update it or reinstall its release package. For example:

sudo dnf install \
https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm

5. Rebuild NVIDIA / Kernel Drivers

If you rely on NVIDIA or other proprietary drivers, make sure they’re rebuilt for the new kernel. Usually this means just updating:

sudo dnf upgrade

If things break, check RPM Fusion docs for the latest driver instructions.

6. Clean Up Old Kernels

Fedora keeps several kernels installed. That’s useful, but after a few upgrades it can get messy. List and remove old kernels with:

sudo dnf remove <old-kernel-package>

Keep at least one backup kernel in case the newest one misbehaves.

7. Verify SELinux Contexts

Upgrades sometimes leave mismatched SELinux contexts. To fix them:

sudo touch /.autorelabel
sudo reboot

This triggers a full relabel on reboot, ensuring SELinux is happy.

8. Rebuild Font Cache & Icons (Optional)

If your desktop looks odd or fonts/icons go missing:

fc-cache -r
gtk-update-icon-cache -f /usr/share/icons/*

This refreshes caches tied to your desktop environment.

9. Check for Broken Packages

Run Fedora’s health check to spot dependency issues:

sudo dnf repoquery --unsatisfied
sudo dnf repoquery --duplicates

If duplicates or broken deps show up, clean them manually.

10. Reboot and Verify

Finally, give your system one more reboot. Check dmesg, journal logs, and make sure everything feels snappy and stable.

Wrapping Up

Fedora’s upgrade process is one of the smoothest in the Linux world. If you need help with the upgrade itself, follow this guide: How To Upgrade To Fedora 43 From Fedora 42.

Running through these post-upgrade tasks afterward helps ensure your system stays secure, fast, and ready for daily use.

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!