# How to configure Unattended Upgrades?
**URL:** https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088
**Category:** Support apps
**Tags:** unattended\_upgrades, english
**Created:** [May 29, 2025, 3:53pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088 "2025-05-29T15:53:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Sid](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/Sid)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2025, 3:53pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/1 "2025-05-29T15:53:29Z")
**What type of hardware are you using** : Old laptop or computer
**What YunoHost version are you running** : 12.0.17
**What app is this about** : Unattended Upgrades
### Describe your issue
I installed this app but there’s no information about how to configure it, it just says to “have a look” at various config files.
Looking back through the forums it looks like there use to be a dropdown/GUI to configure it but that was removed or something? Because it’s not in my install.
Specifically I’d like it to run security and app upgrades at ~4AM.
Thanks.
### Share relevant logs or error messages
none
---
### Author:  [@Lapineige](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/Lapineige)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/2 "2025-05-30T20:49:37Z")
Did you configure it during installation using the install questions ?
Or they didn’t show up ?
Right now there is indeed no config panel (the GUI you’re mentioning), so it has to be reconfigured in the config files listed in the admin panel.
That said, one “easier” way to do it is to remove and install again the app, it will ask the configuration option again.
---
### Author:  [@Sid](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/Sid)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2025, 9:12pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/3 "2025-05-30T21:12:38Z")
It’s been a while since I installed it so I don’t remember what I did, but it was not upgrading anything, I was doing it all manually. I went ahead and uninstalled, reconfigured and reinstalled. I’ll let you know how that works.
At best, the documentation could be updated, as it still points to a dead link for configuring:
> You can configure this app easily by using the experimental [config-panel feature](https://yunohost/admin/#/apps/unattended_upgrades/config-panel)
* * *
> To modify any option of unattended-upgrades, please have a look to `/etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50unattended-upgrades` and `/etc/apt/apt.conf.d/02periodic`.
> Unattended-upgrades will be executed **every day at midnight**.
> To modify the configuration of apticron, please have a look to `/etc/apticron/apticron.conf`.
> Apticron will be executed, depending of the requested configuration **at 8 p.m. and 2 a.m.** If you want to change this schedule, please have a look to the cron file /etc/cron.d/apticron.
So does it run at midnight, 8PM or 2AM? I would like to configure it to run at 4AM daily. The last file location (to change the schedule) just says:
> cron entry for apticron
> Commented because yunohost package unattended\_upgrades use systemd config 39 \* \* \* \* root if test -x /usr/sbin/apticron; then /usr/sbin/apticron --cron; else true; fi
Which I don’t know how to decode but I don’t want to mess with it.
---
### Author:  [@Sid](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/Sid)
#### Post date: [June 1, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/4 "2025-06-01T19:14:58Z")
Yeah it’s still not doing anything.
---
### Author:  [@Sid](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/Sid)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2025, 6:30pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/5 "2025-06-09T18:30:52Z")
I just loaded up Cockpit and noticed that it says the service is “not running”. How do I start it? It’s not visible under “services” in the GUI.
---
### Author:  [@Sid](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/Sid)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2025, 11:05pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/6 "2025-06-17T23:05:28Z")
bump
---
### Author:  [@Sid](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/Sid)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/7 "2025-06-27T20:34:33Z")
bumpety bump
---
### Author:  [@metyun](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/metyun)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2025, 9:05pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/8 "2025-06-27T21:05:34Z")
hi,
Did you verify in CLI the status?
```auto
sudo systemctl status apt-daily-upgrade.timer
sudo systemctl status apt-daily.timer
```
To start them :
```auto
sudo systemctl start apt-daily-upgrade.timer
sudo systemctl start apt-daily.timer
```
To enable them to start at boot :
```auto
sudo systemctl enable apt-daily-upgrade.timer
sudo systemctl enable apt-daily.timer
```
I don’t use yunohost unattended-upgrades package but in your post, i see unattended-upgrades and apticron.
Apticron only notify when there are upgrades, Unattended-upgrades can upgrades your system automatically.
---
### Author:  [@Sid](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/Sid)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2025, 9:20pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/9 "2025-06-27T21:20:51Z")
It says it’s “enabled” and “loaded”, whatever that means, but also says it’s been waiting for a month.
````auto
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/apt-daily-upgrade.timer; enabled; preset: enabled)
Active: active (waiting) since Sun 2025-05-11 17:31:16 CDT; 1 month 16 days ago
Trigger: Sat 2025-06-28 06:11:10 CDT; 13h left
Triggers: ● apt-daily-upgrade.service
Notice: journal has been rotated since unit was started, output may be incomplete.
○ sudo.service
Loaded: masked (Reason: Unit sudo.service is masked.)
Active: inactive (dead)
● apt-daily.timer - Daily apt download activities
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/apt-daily.timer; enabled; preset: enabled)
Active: active (waiting) since Sun 2025-05-11 17:31:16 CDT; 1 month 16 days ago
Trigger: Sat 2025-06-28 04:13:04 CDT; 11h left
Triggers: ● apt-daily.service
Notice: journal has been rotated since unit was started, output may be incomplete.```
````
---
### Author:  [@otm33](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/otm33)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2025, 9:01am UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/10 "2025-06-28T09:01:42Z")
To list current timers:
```auto
systemctl list-timers apt-daily* --all
```
---
### Author:  [@Sid](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/Sid)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2025, 7:32pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/11 "2025-06-28T19:32:09Z")
> [@otm33](#):
>
> `--all`
````NEXT
Sat 2025-06-28 14:38:05 CDT 7min left Sat 2025-06-28 04:57:06 CDT 9h ago apt-daily.timer apt-daily.service
Sun 2025-06-29 06:51:29 CDT 16h left Sat 2025-06-28 06:11:46 CDT 8h ago apt-daily-upgrade.timer apt-daily-upgrade.service
2 timers listed.```
````
---
### Author:  [@otm33](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/otm33)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2025, 10:28pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/12 "2025-06-28T22:28:53Z")
> [@Sid](#):
>
> ```auto
> Sat 2025-06-28 14:38:05 CDT 7min left Sat 2025-06-28 04:57:06 CDT 9h ago apt-daily.timer apt-daily.service
> Sun 2025-06-29 06:51:29 CDT 16h left Sat 2025-06-28 06:11:46 CDT 8h ago apt-daily-upgrade.timer apt-daily-upgrade.service
>
> ```
The service does work correctly.
If you really want to run upgrades at 4:00, create two override files\* for systemd by running :
```auto
sudo systemctl edit apt-daily.timer
```
```auto
[Timer]
OnCalendar=
OnCalendar=*-*-* 03:55
RandomizedDelaySec=0h
Persistent=true
```
and
```auto
sudo systemctl edit apt-daily-upgrade.timer
```
```auto
[Timer]
OnCalendar=
OnCalendar=*-*-* 04:00
RandomizedDelaySec=0m
Persistent=true
```
\*You can also modify these files instead of creating override files:
```auto
/lib/systemd/system/apt-daily.timer
/lib/systemd/system/apt-daily-upgrade.timer
```
To receive the notification email, modify these lines :
```auto
sudo nano /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50unattended-upgrades
```
```auto
Unattended-Upgrade::Mail "your email";
Unattended-Upgrade::MailReport "always";
```
```auto
sudo nano /etc/apticron/apticron.conf
```
Modify EMAIL line.
And finally
```auto
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl restart apt-daily.timer apt-daily-upgrade.timer
```
---
### Author:  [@otm33](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/otm33)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2025, 10:32pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/13 "2025-06-28T22:32:34Z")
> [@Sid](#):
>
> but also says it’s been waiting for a month.
> [@Sid](#):
>
> `Active: active (waiting) since Sun 2025-05-11 17:31:16 CDT; 1 month 16 days ago`
it’s the date since the service was started
---
### Author:  [@Sid](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/Sid)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2025, 10:01pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/14 "2025-06-29T22:01:00Z")
The service does not work, correctly or otherwise. If it did the packages would be getting updated, but they’re not.
---
### Author:  [@otm33](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/otm33)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2025, 10:41pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/15 "2025-06-29T22:41:17Z")
It’s a pleasure to help you.
> [@Sid](#):
>
> ` Active: active (waiting) since Sun 2025-05-11 17:31:16 CDT; 1 month 16 days ago`
Definitely it does work.
Another thing is that it is not properly configured (you don’t remember the parameters given during installation)
> [@Sid](#):
>
> It’s been a while since I installed it so I don’t remember what I did,
Reading the docs may be helpful.
> **[UnattendedUpgrades - Debian Wiki](https://wiki.debian.org/UnattendedUpgrades)**
---
### Author:  [@Sid](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/Sid)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2025, 10:57pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/16 "2025-06-29T22:57:27Z")
> [@otm33](#):
>
> It’s a pleasure to help you.
Denying that the problem exists is not helping me.
> [@otm33](#):
>
> Definitely it does work.
It definitely does not work. Once again, if it was working, my packages would be upgraded automatically and without my attendance (as the name imples), and they’re not.
> [@otm33](#):
>
> (you don’t remember the parameters given during installation)
I don’t need to remember, because if you would have actually read the entire conversation, I uninstalled and reinstalled it. That’s assuming the “correct” parameters are applied upon installation. If they’re not, then that’s another problem that needs to be addressed.
> [@otm33](#):
>
> Reading the docs may be helpful.
I wouldn’t come here without having read the docs. They were not helpful.
---
### Author:  [@otm33](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/otm33)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2025, 11:00pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/17 "2025-06-29T23:00:50Z")
```auto
unattended-upgrades --debug --dry-run
```
---
### Author:  [@distress\_mistress](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/distress_mistress)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2025, 4:03pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/18 "2025-07-07T16:03:12Z")
#+1 on the Issue
I’ve installed it a month ago, same parameters, and it doesn’t upgrade.
Commenting for help
---
### Author:  [@otm33](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/otm33)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2025, 4:37pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/19 "2025-07-07T16:37:34Z")
Hello @distress_mistress
What does return `apt list --upgradable` and can you share your `/etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50unattended-upgrades` ?
---
### Author:  [@distress\_mistress](https://forum.yunohost.org/u/distress_mistress)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2025, 6:04pm UTC](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088/20 "2025-07-07T18:04:32Z")
Wow, what a quick reply, thank you! To be honest, and I don’t want to take over the topic of this thread, I don’t even know where I should enter that comment.
I’m hosting yunohost on a VPS and I’ve ssh-ed onto it as admin.
I entered
```auto
sudo apt list --upgradable
Listing... Done
```
Which makes a lot of sense, as I updated it today, after a lot of packages were out of date.
Next I tried:
```auto
admin_name@servername:~$ /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50unattended-upgrades
-bash: /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50unattended-upgrades: Permission denied
admin_name@servername:~$ sudo /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50unattended-upgrades
sudo: /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50unattended-upgrades: command not found
```
Just for context, those are the directories I have:
admin\_name@servername:~$ ls -la
total 24
drwxr-xr-x+ 2 admin\_name admin\_name 4096 Feb 20 21:46 .
drwxr-xr-x 17 root root 4096 Feb 28 23:27 ..
-rw------- 1 admin\_name admin\_name 276 Feb 20 21:46 .bash\_history
-rw-r–r-- 1 admin\_name admin\_name 220 Feb 20 18:36 .bash\_logout
-rw-r–r-- 1 admin\_name admin\_name 3526 Feb 20 18:36 .bashrc
-rw-r–r-- 1 admin\_name admin\_name 0 Feb 20 18:36 .cloud-locale-test.skip
lrwxrwxrwx 1 admin\_name admin\_name 6 Feb 20 18:36 media → /media
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 36 Feb 20 18:58 Multimedia → /home/yunohost.multimedia/admin\_name
-rw-r–r-- 1 admin\_name admin\_name 807 Feb 20 18:36 .profile
Do you have an idea where I went wrong?
Thanks a lot!
[Next page](https://forum.yunohost.org/t/how-to-configure-unattended-upgrades/37088.md?page=2)