PS: JFTR: root@debi386:~# cat /etc/apt/preferences # /etc/apt/preferences Package: * Pin: release n=wheezy Pin-Priority: 400 Package: * Pin: release n=wheezy-backports Pin-Priority: 300 Package: * Pin: release n=jessie Pin-Priority: 200 Package: * Pin: release n=sid Pin-Priority: 100 root@debi386:~# While Synaptic has got a menu option that seems to be independent of the pinning.