How to Upgrade Mesa Drivers on Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04, or 20.04

Mesa is an open-source collection of graphics drivers that enables Linux users to harness the full potential of their hardware’s graphics capabilities. Upgrading the Mesa drivers ensures compatibility with the latest software and improves overall system performance, especially for applications relying on 3D rendering and video processing. For Ubuntu users, keeping Mesa up to date is crucial for maintaining optimal support for graphics hardware, particularly for gaming and 3D design workloads. With Ubuntu’s long-term support (LTS) versions, such as 24.04, 22.04, and 20.04, it is essential to have access to newer Mesa releases, which is where the Kisak-Mesa PPA (Personal Package Archive) becomes useful.

In this guide, you will learn how to upgrade your Mesa drivers on Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04, or 20.04 using the command-line terminal. The Kisak-Mesa PPA, maintained by a trusted source, offers newer versions of the drivers, ensuring long-term Ubuntu releases have access to cutting-edge graphics improvements. By following the outlined steps, you will be able to seamlessly update your drivers, improving both system stability and performance with minimal hassle.

Check the Current Mesa Version

Before upgrading your Mesa drivers on Ubuntu, it’s essential to check your current version to ensure a successful upgrade. To do this, open a terminal window by pressing “Ctrl+Alt+T” and enter the following command:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

Once you run this command, your current Mesa version will be displayed in the terminal window. It’s crucial to take note of this version number before proceeding with the upgrade. This information is helpful if you encounter any issues after the upgrade and must revert to your original Mesa version.

Example format output you will see as a guide:

OpenGL version string: x.x (Compatibility Profile) Mesa x.x.x

If the previously provided commands and output do not work, installing the “mesa-utils” package may be necessary:

sudo apt install mesa-utils

This package provides various utilities and libraries for Mesa drivers and can help resolve Mesa configuration or functionality issues.

Update Ubuntu before Upgrading Mesa Drivers

Ensure your desktop is up-to-date before installing your Mesa drivers to prevent conflicts. The following command can help you do this.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Import “kisak-mesa” LaunchPAD PPA

The kisak-mesa fresh PPA is a popular source for updated Mesa drivers on Ubuntu-based systems. To use this PPA, run the following command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa -y

Note: This PPA does support short-term releases but focuses more on LTS as priority support.

Proceed to Upgrade Mesa Drivers

After adding the kisak-mesa fresh PPA to your system, updating the package cache to reflect the changes is essential. This is necessary as many packages that need to be upgraded are tied to the Mesa drivers. To update the package cache, run the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt update

You should notice multiple updates related to Mesa drivers during the update process. Once the update is complete, the next step is to upgrade the drivers to the latest version.

To do this, run the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt upgrade

This command will upgrade all installed packages, including the Mesa drivers, to their latest version. Once the upgrade is complete, you can check the Mesa driver version using the following command in the terminal:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

Example output you should see which should be different from the original:

This command will display the current Mesa driver version installed on your system. If the version displayed matches the expected version, the upgrade succeeded.

Conclusion: Upgrading Mesa Drivers

By following this guide, you have successfully upgraded your Mesa drivers on Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04, or 20.04 using the Kisak-Mesa PPA. This process ensures your system benefits from the latest performance optimizations and compatibility features, allowing for smoother gaming, multimedia, and 3D design experiences. The use of a dedicated PPA for long-term Ubuntu releases guarantees access to newer driver versions without waiting for official system updates.

As a final note, always ensure that your system is backed up before making significant software upgrades to avoid any potential issues. While the Kisak-Mesa PPA is a reliable and regularly maintained source, it’s recommended to test the new drivers, especially on critical systems, to ensure compatibility with your hardware and specific software applications.