[Bug 2143135] [NEW] update-manager shows empty list of updates if a package wants downgrading

[Alessandro Astone]

Public bug reported:

On my development machine I often times install packages ahead of what's available in the archive.
Then I set up a Pin like:

Package: *
Pin: release a=questing-updates
Pin-Priority: 1001

which allows me to `apt dist-upgrade` back all packages to their latest
version from the archive.

If I open update-manager while the only available APT "update" is a
downgrade of some package, the window will show an empty list of
updates, but still proposing to upgrade. Clicking "Install Now" appears
to be doing the install, but it actually just returns back to the same
screen.

Attaching a screenshot.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 25.10
Package: update-manager 1:25.10.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.17.0-14.14-generic 6.17.9
Uname: Linux 6.17.0-14-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.33.1-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Tue Mar  3 12:52:06 2026
ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/update-manager
InstallationDate: Installed on 2024-06-16 (625 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS "Noble Numbat" - Release amd64 (20240424)
InterpreterPath: /usr/bin/python3.13
PackageArchitecture: all
Python3Details: /usr/bin/python3.13, Python 3.13.7, python3-minimal, 3.13.7-1
PythonDetails: N/A
SourcePackage: update-manager
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to questing on 2026-02-24 (7 days ago)

** Affects: update-manager (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Low
         Status: New


** Tags: amd64 apport-bug questing wayland-session

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2143135

Title:
  update-manager shows empty list of updates if a package wants
  downgrading

Status in update-manager package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  On my development machine I often times install packages ahead of what's available in the archive.
  Then I set up a Pin like:

  Package: *
  Pin: release a=questing-updates
  Pin-Priority: 1001

  which allows me to `apt dist-upgrade` back all packages to their
  latest version from the archive.

  If I open update-manager while the only available APT "update" is a
  downgrade of some package, the window will show an empty list of
  updates, but still proposing to upgrade. Clicking "Install Now"
  appears to be doing the install, but it actually just returns back to
  the same screen.

  Attaching a screenshot.

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 25.10
  Package: update-manager 1:25.10.1
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.17.0-14.14-generic 6.17.9
  Uname: Linux 6.17.0-14-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.33.1-0ubuntu3
  Architecture: amd64
  CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
  CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
  Date: Tue Mar  3 12:52:06 2026
  ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/update-manager
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2024-06-16 (625 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS "Noble Numbat" - Release amd64 (20240424)
  InterpreterPath: /usr/bin/python3.13
  PackageArchitecture: all
  Python3Details: /usr/bin/python3.13, Python 3.13.7, python3-minimal, 3.13.7-1
  PythonDetails: N/A
  SourcePackage: update-manager
  UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to questing on 2026-02-24 (7 days ago)

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