Backports repository is useful for Ubuntu users who want newer versions of certain software packages (including development tools, hardware drivers) only available in the newer OS release. For example, in Focal, we only get LibreOffice 6.4 at best, while to get LibreOffice 7 we usually should upgrade the OS version instead the software version. How to upgrade the software only? Ubuntu gives us Backports repository in order to solve this issue. This tutorial will explain in simple manners with examples to do that. 

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Ubuntu Releases and Codenames

This is important if you want to install and upgrade software packages from Backports repository.

• Ubuntu 14.04 "Trusty Tahr"
  
• Ubuntu 16.04 "Xenial "Xerus"
  
• Ubuntu 18.04 "Bionic Beaver"
  
• Ubuntu 20.04 "Focal Fossa"
  
• Ubuntu 22.04 "Jammy Jellyfish"
  
• Ubuntu 22.10 "Kinetic Kudu"

What is Backports repository?

Backports is a common term in software development to call the versions of software intended for newer OS version made available (backported) to older OS version. In that sense, Ubuntu Backports Repository is a collection of software packages versions intended for newer Ubuntu OS versions made available (backported) to older Ubuntu OS versions. To know more about it, please read your /etc/apt/sources.list at the backports section.

Enabling Backports Repository

Copy and paste these lines of code into your /etc/apt/sources.list if only it doesn't have these lines. Please remember that lines beginning with ## or # are just comments and ignored by computer.

## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
# deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy-backports main restricted universe multiverse

Step 2. Delete single hashtag (#) in the beginning of line of deb, if any.

Step 3. Do an APT reload:

$ sudo apt-get update

Continue next section. 

Checking Available Software Versions

The best way to view all available software packages in Backports Repository is through Synaptic Package Manager. You can also use apt-cache command if you wish, explained further below. 

1. On Synaptic, see left panel. 
2. Select Origin option from bottom side.
3. Repository list will be shown instead of category list.
4. Select a repository which name includes backports.
5. Packages from that backports repository will be shown. 
6. See picture for example packages from backports from Focal Fossa.
   

$ apt-cache policy libreoffice
$ apt-cache policy cockpit 
$ apt-cache policy inkscape
$ apt-cache policy yt-dlp

Installing Software from Backports

Following the above examples, we explain below how to install software packages from backports with further examples. Installing from Backports is not the same with installing packages normally.

Formula:

apt-get install -t [RELEASE-backports] [package-name]

Example for Ubuntu 16.04:

This command will update LibreOffice versions on Xenial.

$ sudo apt-get install -t xenial-backports libreoffice

Example for 18.04, 20.04, and 22.04:

Each of these commands will update LibreOffice versions on Bionic, Focal and Jammy, respectively:

$ sudo apt-get install -t bionic-backports libreoffice
$ sudo apt-get install -t focal-backports libreoffice
$ sudo apt-get install -t jammy-backports libreoffice

Simply adapt examples above to your needs. 

Afterword

That's all. We hope now you can easily install and update any software package you want on Ubuntu with Backports. See you next time.

References

Backports Page by Ubuntu Help Documentation

Backports by Ubuntu Wiki Community