---
lastproofread: '2025-11-20'
---

(upgrade-recovery)=

# Recovery after Failed Upgrades

Use **VyOS upgrade recovery** to restore the system to the last working
version after a failed upgrade.

- {ref}`Configuration:  <configuration>` How to enable upgrade recovery
- {ref}`How it works: <how-it-works>` Overview of the recovery process
- {ref}`Cancelling recovery: <cancelling-recovery>` Overview of the recovery
  process

(configuration)=

## Configuration

:::{warning}
Upgrade recovery is disabled by default. To use it,
**enable it first**.
:::

To enable upgrade recovery, run the following command:

```{cfgcmd} set system option reboot-on-upgrade-failure [timeout \<min\>]
```

- `timeout <min>:` The time in minutes (5 - 30) to cancel upgrade
  recovery before VyOS reboots.
  See {ref}`Cancelling Recovery <cancelling-recovery>`.
(how-it-works)=

## How it works

After a VyOS upgrade, the system monitors the boot process. Upon detecting a
boot failure, VyOS initiates a revert to the last working version and displays
the following warning:

```none
Booting failed, reverting to previous image
Automatic reboot in xx minutes
Use "reboot cancel" to cancel
```

If no action is taken, the reboot happens automatically after the configured
timeout. Upon successful recovery and reboot, the following message appears:

```none
WARNING: Image update to "VyOS 1.5.xxxx" failed
Please check the logs:
/usr/lib/live/mount/persistence/boot/NAME/rw/var/log
Message is cleared on next reboot!
```

(cancelling-recovery)=

## Cancelling recovery

Upon detecting a boot failure, you have the predefined timeout to cancel
upgrade recovery. This is useful if you want to troubleshoot the faulty VyOS
version on your own.

To cancel upgrade recovery, run the following command:

```none
reboot cancel
```