How to Update Arch Linux

Arch Linux logo on a pink and white gradient

Has the time come to update your Arch Linux system? Whether you’re on pure Arch or an Arch-based distro like Manjaro and Garuda Linux, we’ll show you how to safely update your system with one or two simple commands. Keeping packages up-to-date is important on any Linux distro. Arch operates on a rolling release model, delivering bleeding-edge updates to your virtual door as soon as they’re ready. Because of that, frequent updates (combined with effective backups) are necessary to avoid a broken system and corrupt packages.

Most Arch-based distros use the pacman package manager to download and install updates, a  process technically referred to as “syncing.” You’ll use pacman commands to keep your packages synced and operational.

Note: Your user account needs sudo access to follow these instructions.

Apply a System Update on Arch Linux

To begin an update of all installed packages, open any terminal app and pass the following command:

sudo pacman -Syu

You’ll be prompted for your password before the command can proceed. This command checks for available updates. If there are any, it will list the packages, along with their new version numbers.

Enter "sudo pacman -Syu" in a terminal

You’ll then be prompted to confirm that you want to apply a full upgrade. Type y and hit Enter to confirm, or use n to cancel.

Type y and hit Enter to confirm update

If you have packages that you suspect are corrupt, you can force a database download with your update to take care of those issues. Even if no updates are available, pacman will verify the integrity of your currently installed packages. Add a second y to the string to make that happen.

sudo pacman -Syyu
How to Update a Specific Package in Arch Linux

If you only want to update a specific package, use the same command that you used to install it, replacing package_name with your choice.

sudo pacman -S package_name

Warning: We don’t recommend upgrading specific packages while ignoring other available updates often. Because of Arch’s rolling release process, cherry-picking updates can cause issues.

If you’re not sure what the name of a package is, you can search your installed packages using the -Qs flag.

pacman -Qs string

Be sure to replace string with your search term. This will search both package names and descriptions, so you should find what you’re looking for easily.

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How to Forget a Wi-Fi Network on Android

You’ve probably connected to many different Wi-Fi networks over time. So, how can you get your Android device to stop connecting to a specific network? You need to make your device “forget” it. When you connect to a Wi-Fi network with your Android phone, it’s saved for later. That’s what allows your device to automatically connect to the network when you’re in range. If you don’t want that to happen and you don’t plan on using the network again, you can simply “forget” it.

The process for forgetting a Wi-Fi network varies slightly depending on your specific Android device. We’ll show you how it works on a Google Pixel and a Samsung Galaxy phone.

Forget a Wi-Fi Network on a Google Pixel

First, swipe down from the top of your device’s screen twice to expand the Quick Settings panel. Tap the gear icon to open the Settings menu.

Select “Network & Internet” from the Settings.

Select "Network & Internet" from the Settings.

Tap “Wi-Fi” at the top.

Tap "Wi-Fi" at the top.

Select “Saved Networks.”

Now select "Saved Networks."

You’ll see all the networks that you’ve connected to with your device. Select the one that you want to forget.

Select the network to forget.

Tap the “Forget” button.

The network will be removed from your list and you won’t auto-connect to it anymore.

Forget a Wi-Fi Network on a Samsung Galaxy

Forgetting a network on a Samsung Galaxy works a little differently. Swipe down once from the top of your Samsung Galaxy device’s screen, and then tap the gear icon.

Select “Connections” at the top of the Settings.

Select "Connections" at the top of the Settings.

Tap “Wi-Fi” at the top.

Tap "Wi-Fi" at the top.

Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner and select “Advanced.”

Now, select “Manage Networks.”

Now select "Manage Networks."

You’ll see all the networks that you’ve connected to with your device. Select the one that you want to forget.

Select the network to forget.

Tap the “Forget” button.

Simply tap the "Forget" button.

That’s it! You probably don’t need to forget Wi-Fi networks that often, but it’s nice to know how to do it.

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How to Wirelessly Mirror Your Android Phone to Your TV

Gathering people around your phone to show off a picture or video can be a pain, but thanks to Android and Chromecast, it doesn’t have to be. We’ll show you how to wirelessly mirror your Android phone or tablet’s screen to a TV. Before we get started, it should be mentioned that mirroring your screen might not be the best method to share content on a TV. Many video and photo apps allow you to “cast” to a Chromecast-enabled device. This will be a much nicer experience than mirroring your screen.

For all of those other situations, mirroring your screen is a handy trick to know. There are a few things that you’ll need:

  • An Android phone or tablet running Android 5.0 or later.
  • An Android TV or Chromecast-enabled device.
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