Fedora 43 is Finally Here: How to Upgrade Fedora 42 to Fedora 43 From Terminal

The wait is over! As of October 28, 2025, the Fedora Project has officially released Fedora 43, bringing a host of exciting updates, under-the-hood improvements, and a significant step into the future of the Linux desktop. This release continues Fedora’s tradition of integrating the latest open-source technologies, championed by the arrival of GNOME 49 and the powerhouse Linux Kernel 6.17.

For users currently on Fedora 42, the path forward is clear. While the GNOME Software center offers a graphical upgrade path, many users prefer the speed, control, and transparency of the terminal. If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place. This guide will provide a comprehensive, step-by-step tutorial on how to upgrade Fedora 42 to Fedora 43 using only the command line. We’ll cover the essential preparation, the exact commands to execute, and the post-install cleanup to ensure your system runs perfectly.

What’s New? The Biggest Changes in Fedora 43

Before we dive into the upgrade itself, let’s look at why this update is so exciting. This isn’t just a minor version bump; Fedora 43 introduces some major architectural shifts and user-facing improvements. These are the fedora 43 new features you need to know about.

Welcome to GNOME 49

Fedora Workstation has always been the flagship experience for the GNOME desktop, and this release ships with the brand-new GNOME 49. While GNOME 49 continues to refine the user experience with performance tweaks and UI polish, it also introduces more subtle enhancements to the core apps.

The Settings panel has seen further refinements, making it easier to navigate complex configurations. The Shell itself feels snappier, thanks to ongoing optimization efforts in the GNOME ecosystem. Core applications like Files (Nautilus) and Calendar have been updated, aligning them more closely with the latest design principles and improving accessibility. Expect a more polished, coherent, and stable desktop experience right out of the box.

The Big Switch: A Wayland-Only GNOME Session

This is arguably the most significant change in Fedora 43. The Fedora Project has taken the bold step of removing the legacy GNOME X11 session. For years, Wayland has been the default display server protocol on Fedora Workstation, but users always had the option to fall back to “GNOME on X.org” from the login screen.

Starting with Fedora 43, that option is gone. The future is Wayland.

What does this mean for you? For the vast majority of users, absolutely nothing—the transition will be seamless. Wayland provides superior security, smoother rendering (goodbye, screen tearing!), and better handling of modern hardware like high-DPI displays and mixed-refresh-rate monitors.

For those with specific needs, like users of NVIDIA graphics cards, the Wayland experience has improved dramatically over the last few years and is now considered robust and stable for daily use. XWayland, the compatibility layer that allows older X11-based applications to run, is more mature than ever. This move signals Fedora’s confidence that Wayland is not just the future; it is the present.

Under the Hood: Linux Kernel 6.17 and Python 3.14

At the heart of Fedora 43 is the LINUX KERNEL 6.17. This new kernel brings a massive list of updated drivers, security fixes, and performance enhancements. Users with the latest hardware—from new Intel and AMD CPUs to the latest GPUs and Wi-Fi cards—will benefit most, seeing better support and stability. Kernel 6.17 also continues to improve core filesystems like Btrfs (Fedora’s default) and EXT4, as well as enhancing power management for better battery life on laptops.

On the development side, Fedora 43 ships with an updated toolchain, including Python 3.14. This provides developers access to the latest language features and performance improvements. Other core packages like GCC, GlibC, and RPM have also been updated, keeping Fedora at the cutting edge of the open-source software stack.

New Installer and Boot Partition Changes

For those performing a fresh installation, you’ll notice the Anaconda WebUI installer is now the default for more Fedora Spins. This modern, web-based installer aims to provide a more intuitive and consistent experience across the entire Fedora family.

Another important change for new installs is the boot partition size. The installer now recommends a 2GB /boot partition. This is a response to kernels and initramfs images growing in size. Important: This change does not affect you when performing a system upgrade, as the upgrade process will use your existing partition layout. However, it’s a key piece of information for anyone planning a fresh installation alongside their upgrade.

Before You Upgrade: 3 Critical Preparation Steps

A successful upgrade is built on a well-prepared system. Before you type a single upgrade command, you must complete these three preparation steps. Do not skip them. This is the most important part of the entire fedora 43 terminal upgrade process.

Step 1: Back Up Your System! !

This is the golden rule of any major system operation. While the Fedora upgrade process is famously reliable, things can still go wrong. A power outage, a third-party repository conflict, or a simple disk error could leave your system in a broken state.

You need a complete and recent backup of your personal data (/home directory) and, ideally, a full system snapshot.

• For Personal Data: Use a tool like DEJA DUP to back up your home folder to an external USB drive or cloud storage.
• For System Snapshots: If you are using the Btrfs filesystem (Fedora’s default), the best tool is TIMESSHIFT. It can create an instant, on-demand snapshot of your entire operating system. If the upgrade fails, you can boot from a Live USB and restore your system to its pre-upgrade state in minutes.

Step 2: Fully Update Your Current Fedora 42 System

The upgrade plugin needs your system to be running the absolute latest packages for its current release (Fedora 42). This ensures that all package metadata, dependencies, and GPG keys are up-to-date, which prevents a huge range of potential conflicts during the download phase.

Open your terminal and run the following command:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

This command will refresh your package metadata (--refresh) and apply all pending updates. Once it is complete, it is highly recommended to reboot your computer to ensure you are running the latest kernel for Fedora 42.

Step 3: Install the DNF System Upgrade Plugin

The magic of the Fedora terminal upgrade is handled by a special DNF plugin. On most systems, this is already installed. However, it’s best to run the command anyway to be certain. This plugin provides the system-upgrade commands we will use next.

sudo dnf install dnf-plugin-system-upgrade

If it’s already installed, the system will simply tell you “Nothing to do.” Now, your system is fully prepared to upgrade Fedora 42 to Fedora 43.

The fedora 43 terminal upgrade Guide (3 Simple Steps)

With all the preparation done, the actual upgrade process is remarkably simple. It’s broken into two main commands: one to download all the packages, and one to trigger the offline reboot and installation.

Step 1: Download the Fedora 43 Packages

This is the main download step. You will instruct DNF to fetch all packages for the new release, check for conflicts, and prepare the transaction. This will take some time, depending on your internet speed and system specifications.

sudo dnf system-upgrade download --releasever=43

The system will now download several gigabytes of packages. During this process, it will also check for any package conflicts.

Troubleshooting Tip: If the command fails due to “unsatisfied dependencies” or conflicts (often caused by third-party repositories like RPM Fusion or COPR), the command will tell you exactly which packages are the problem. The most common solution is to re-run the command with the --allowerasing flag. This gives DNF permission to remove the conflicting packages to allow the upgrade to proceed.

sudo dnf system-upgrade download --releasever=43 --allowerasing

Once the download is complete and all conflicts are resolved, you will see a “Download complete!” message.

Step 2: Trigger the Offline Upgrade (Read Both Options!)

Now that all packages are cached locally, you just need to trigger the offline reboot. This is the correct way to upgrade Fedora 42 to Fedora 43, as it prevents live services from being disrupted during the update.

The command you use depends on your DNF version. Fedora has been transitioning from DNF4 to DNF5. First, try the new DNF5 command.

sudo dnf5 offline reboot

When you use this command, your system will immediately restart.

Step 3: Wait and Welcome to Fedora 43

Do not be alarmed. Your system will not boot into the usual login screen. Instead, it will boot into a minimal environment with a black screen and a progress bar. You will see text messages indicating that the system is “Upgrading…”

This is the most critical phase. Be patient. Do not, under any circumstances, power off or restart your computer during this process. It can take anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour, depending on the speed of your drive and the number of packages being upgraded.

Once the process is complete, the system will automatically reboot one final time. You will then be greeted by the brand-new Fedora 43 login screen.

Post-Upgrade Checklist: Cleaning Up Your New System

Welcome to Fedora 43! You’re almost done. There are just a few housekeeping tasks left to ensure your system is clean and running optimally.

• Verify Your Version: First, let’s confirm the upgrade was successful.

  Bash

  cat /etc/os-release
  

  You should see “Fedora Linux 43 (Workstation Edition)” listed.

• Remove Retired Packages: With every new release, some packages become obsolete or “retired.” You can safely clean them up.

  Bash

  sudo dnf install remove-retired-packages
  sudo remove-retired-packages
  

• Check for .rpmnew Files: Sometimes, the system will save your modified configuration files (e.g., in /etc/) and place the new default file with a .rpmnew extension. You can search for them and manually review any changes.

  Bash

  sudo find /etc -name "*.rpmnew"
  

Enjoy Fedora 43!

That’s it! You have successfully completed the upgrade Fedora 42 to Fedora 43 directly from the terminal. You are now running on the latest and greatest from the Fedora Project, complete with GNOME 49, the Wayland-only session, and Linux Kernel 6.17.

The process is robust, safe (if you back up!), and gives you full control over your system. For more details on all the changes, you can read the official FEDORA 43 RELEASE NOTES or the official FEDORA UPGRADE DOCUMENTATION.

Disclaimer: Upgrading a major version of an operating system always carries potential risks. This guide is provided for informational purposes. Always perform a full backup of your critical data before proceeding. You are performing these steps at your own risk.

What has your upgrade experience been like? Did you run into any package conflicts? Share your tips and experiences with the community in the comments below!