How to fix broken packages in Ubuntu
Apt, Ubuntu's package manager, is one of the most powerful and intuitive tools, but that doesn't mean that this manager never happens to be a problem. Sometimes, installing packages fails on Ubuntu and forcing users to figure out how to fix them. The great thing is that Ubuntu's package utilities, including Apt itself, have built-in functionality to help remedy this situation and get things back to normal.
The following tips and tricks will help in most cases. However, they are common remedies that cannot be applied to all different situations. So keep this in mind when trying to solve your own situation.
Fix broken package in Ubuntu
- Fix errors with Apt / Apt-Get
- Fix error with DPKG
- DPKG lock
Fix errors with Apt / Apt-Get
Apt has a few flags that users can use to fix dependencies or packages that are corrupted for any reason during the installation. The most common way to do this is to install a third-party .deb and find out the dependencies are not available. Those dependencies cannot be pushed into place and dpkg will notice that the package is missing. In any case, users can try the following steps.
First, run an update to make sure there are newer versions for the required packages.
sudo apt update --fix-missing
Next, users can try to force Apt to find and fix any missing dependencies or broken packages. This tool will actually install any missing packages and repair existing settings.
sudo apt install -f
Fix error with DPKG
Another step where errors can arise during package installation is the configuration process. In fact, dpkg is in charge of this part, not Apt, so when a package fails while configuring, dpkg will be the most effective tool to fix.
Start by forcing dpkg to reconfigure all or part of the corrupted package.
sudo dpkg --configure -a
If this tool does not solve the problem, users can apply a more robust approach. Let's start by listing packages marked as requiring reinstallation.
sudo dpkg -l | grep ^.r
If the package (s) is found to be problematic, the user may force to remove the corrupted packages.
sudo dpkg --remove --force-remove--reinstreq
When dpkg completes its work, try to 'clean up' everything with Apt.
sudo apt clean sudo apt update
After that, everything will return to the starting point. This does not help regain damaged packages, but at least Apt will work again.
DPKG lock
A rare problem is that the dpkg lock prevents users from doing anything. Whenever trying to use Apt or dpkg, users will get an error stating that an application is ready to use, while in fact it is not. It's easy to delete the lock file that prevents using Apt and go back to doing what is needed. Sometimes these lock files remain in place after an error during the installation process, interrupting the process and preventing the file from being deleted automatically. In this case, do it manually.
sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/lock
The best solution is to delete the lock in the cache.
sudo rm /var/cache/apt/archives/lock
Hopefully, one of the ways to fix the above error will be effective in your case and everything works back to normal on Ubuntu. Remember that the best way to thoroughly handle a situation 'out of reach' is to try to bring things back to the starting point. Don't "try to eat away" or solve problems by adding more things, unless you know exactly what you're doing. Chances are you will make things worse.
Good luck!
See more:
- How to fix Ubuntu update errors
- How to troubleshoot Ubuntu problems does not start
- How to fix errors without sound in Ubuntu
You should read it
- How to Install Ubuntu Packages
- Instructions for using dpkg command on Linux Debian
- What's New in Ubuntu 21.10?
- How to Create DEB Packages for Debian and Ubuntu
- Why is Ubuntu LTS preferred over regular distros?
- What's new in Ubuntu 18.04 LTS just released?
- How to prolong the life of Ubuntu 18.04 installation with Ubuntu Pro
- What is the difference between Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Server?
May be interested
- How to Create DEB Packages for Debian and Ubuntuthe deb file in debian-based operating systems like ubuntu and kali linux is equivalent to the exe file found in windows.
- Ubuntu 21.04 users need to update the system ASAPaccording to the proposed roadmap, it is only a few days before canonical will officially stop providing updates for ubuntu 21.04 'hirsute hippo', which has been available since april last year.
- How to Convert Package Files in Ubuntu Using Alienif you want to install packages that you cannot directly install to your ubuntu system, you should use the alien package converter application. this program converts between the rpm, dpkg or tgz file formats. you can take package from...
- How to Update Ubuntu Linuxthink your linux is out of date? this article will show you how to update your ubuntu linux system. update your repository list. you can do this by pressing ++. then type in . you will be prompted for your root password. all this command...
- 5 things to do after upgrading to Ubuntu 22.04 LTSubuntu 22.04 lts jammy jellyfish is the latest version of the popular open source operating system ubuntu. installing a fresh copy on a freshly wiped hard drive will give you a great computing experience.
- 5 Reasons Ubuntu Cinnamon Is Better Than Other Ubuntu Versionsubuntu cinnamon became an official ubuntu release in 2023. it gives you ubuntu but with the cinnamon desktop environment instead of gnome.
- 7 reasons to upgrade to Ubuntu 23.04canonical released the final version of ubuntu 23.04, called lunar lobster, in april 2023. this version of ubuntu offers quite a few changes and updates that many will surely appreciate.
- Ubuntu 19.10: Roadmap for release & planned featuresubuntu 19.04 disco dingo has been officially released for several months and now is probably the right time to spend some time discussing the upcoming ubuntu 19.10 'eoan ermine'.
- Tips and tricks after installing Ubuntuubuntu is one of the completely free open source operating systems. this is a distribution (distro) of linux with the second highest amount of traffic after linux mint.
- What is Ubuntu? Why should you use Ubuntu to replace Windows?what is ubuntu? why should you use ubuntu to replace windows? currently, ubuntu is much more popular than before and is strongly developed. in this article, the software tips will help you learn about ubuntu and why ubuntu should be used instead of windows.