How to Fully Update and Patch FreeBSD

If you’re still running FreeBSD 13.0-RELEASE, it’s time to update. FreeBSD 13.0 has reached end-of-life, and newer versions such as 13.3 or 14.0 bring important security updates, hardware support, and performance improvements.

This post is a step-by-step guide to upgrade your system, kernel, and all installed packages.

🧭 Table of Contents

• Check Your Current Version
• Update the System with freebsd-update
• Upgrade to a Newer Release (e.g., 13.0 to 13.3 or 14.0)
• Update Installed Packages
• Final Cleanup and Verification

🔍 Check Your Current Version

Run these commands in your terminal to check your system version:

freebsd-version -k
freebsd-version -u
uname -a

If you’re on FreeBSD 13.0-RELEASE, you should upgrade to the latest supported RELEASE (13.3 or 14.0).

🛠️ Update the Current System

Before upgrading, ensure you have applied all available patches for your current version:

sudo freebsd-update fetch
sudo freebsd-update install

If it installs a new kernel, reboot your system:

sudo shutdown -r now

Then run the install again after reboot:

sudo freebsd-update install

Repeat the process until no further updates are available.

Note: If your version is already EOL (End of Life), you may need to skip directly to the version upgrade step.

⬆️ Upgrade to the Latest RELEASE

To upgrade from FreeBSD 13.0 to a newer version like 13.3 or 14.0:

1. First, check available versions: freebsd-update upgrade -r
2. Start the upgrade process (example for 13.3-RELEASE): sudo freebsd-update upgrade -r 13.3-RELEASE
3. Install the downloaded updates: sudo freebsd-update install
4. Reboot your system: sudo shutdown -r now
5. Complete the installation: sudo freebsd-update install

You may need to repeat the freebsd-update install step again if prompted.

📦 Update Installed Packages

After a major system upgrade, rebuild or upgrade all packages:

sudo pkg-static install -f pkg
sudo pkg upgrade -f

This ensures your installed software is properly linked to the updated system libraries.

If you’re not forcing a full upgrade, use:

sudo pkg update
sudo pkg upgrade

🧹 Final Cleanup and Verification

1. Reboot your system one more time: sudo shutdown -r now
2. Confirm your version: freebsd-version -k freebsd-version -u uname -a
3. Clean up the package cache: sudo pkg clean -a

✅ Summary of Commands

💬 Final Words

Upgrading FreeBSD might seem complex, but once you understand the flow, it becomes second nature. Staying current means better support, improved security, and a more stable system.