In this article, we cover how to fix broken packages in Ubuntu. While installing, removing, or upgrading packages we may encounter package errors. This could be due to broken packages. Either there is a dependency-related error or the package may itself be incompatible with our system configuration.
If there is a broken package error then, we won’t be able to install, upgrade, or remove packages.
Note: The following operations require Administrative rights.
Ubuntu – Fix broken packages
So, if you have a broken package in your system then:
Step I. Open a terminal,
Step II. And, enter the following command:
sudo apt install -f
or,
sudo apt install --fix-broken
We need to enter our Administrative password next. This command would look for any broken packages and fix them. If required it would install/upgrade additional packages.
Alternatively, we can also try the following command:
sudo dpkg --configure -a
All those packages that have been unpacked but not yet configured will be configured through the above dpkg command.
In conclusion, we have covered here how to fix broken packages in Ubuntu.
Additional Info:
At times we get the following error while we install/upgrade/remove:
Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock-frontend. It is held by process...
This happens when we run more than one package manager simultaneously. If that is the case then, check if the other package is idle or not. Like we have launched Synaptic and at the same time trying to install packages through a terminal. If the Synaptic package manager is lying idle then close it first. This should let our process in the terminal continue.
Apart from that, it could also be due to an update running in the background. Let that finish first.
