Upgrade openSUSE Leap to 16.0 from 15.6

Upgrading openSUSE Leap has evolved! If you’ve tried the old method using the --releasever flag that I talked about in my 15.5 to 15.6 upgrade guide, you’ve probably run into problems. In this updated guide, I’ll cover the new, official and recommended method to upgrade openSUSE Leap to 16.0 from 15.6 using the openSUSE Migration Tool.

Why the Old --releasever Method No Longer Works

In my previous guide, I showed how you could upgrade openSUSE Leap releases with:

sudo zypper --releasever=16.0 dup

That used to work reliably in earlier Leap versions. However, with SLE (SUSE Linux Enterprise) 16, SUSE introduced major backend and repository format changes. The new openSUSE Leap 16.0 release merges more closely with SLE infrastructure, which means the repositories and release metadata formats have changed significantly.

If you try to use the --releasever flag now, you’ll likely see repository or GPG key errors during the upgrade. That’s because the old repository layout no longer matches Leap 16’s new structure.

The New Official Method: opensuse-migration-tool

Instead of manually changing repositories, Leap 16 introduces a dedicated migration utility designed to handle all the details for you. The tool automatically adjusts your repositories, resolves new dependencies, and manages system configuration changes.

Step 1: Install the Migration Tool

First, fully update your Leap 15.6 system:

sudo zypper refresh
sudo zypper up

Then install the new migration package:

sudo zypper install opensuse-migration-tool

Step 2: Run the Migration Process

Start the migration utility:

sudo opensuse-migration-tool

The tool will analyze your current system, identify obsolete packages, and suggest repository transitions for Leap 16.0. The system prompts you to confirm before proceeding with the distribution upgrade.

You’ll want to select openSUSE Leap 16.0 with the arrow keys on your keyboard, select OK and hit Enter.

You will probably encounter the following screen about disabling third-party repositories:

This happens because Leap 16.0 changes how repositories are structured. You can simply hit Enter to confirm.

The upgrade process will then start! Wait a few minutes, then reboot into Leap 16.0 once the process finishes.

Step 3: Reboot into Leap 16.0

After the migration completes, simply reboot:

sudo reboot

You’ll now be running openSUSE Leap 16.0 with the updated repository structure.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Do not use zypper dup --releasever=16.0. It may break dependencies.
• If you encounter repository signature errors, remove or rename old .repo files in /etc/zypp/repos.d/ before re-running the migration tool.
• Ensure your disk has sufficient space and that all third-party repositories are disabled before starting the upgrade.

Final Thoughts

The openSUSE team has streamlined the upgrade path to make system migrations more reliable and aligned with SUSE’s enterprise ecosystem. While older zypper --releasever methods are now deprecated, the openSUSE Migration Tool simplifies the process and ensures compatibility with the new Leap 16 architecture.