RPM Error: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock in CentOS 8

If you’ve encountered the RPM error: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock while installing packages in CentOS 8, don’t panic. This issue is quite common and easily fixable. Let’s figure out what causes this error and how to fix it.

This error typically occurs when multiple software installation or update processes are running simultaneously. They attempt to access the same lock file, causing a conflict and the error to appear.

First, it’s recommended to check which processes are using this lock file. Execute the following command in the terminal:

lsof /var/lib/dpkg/lock

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This command will show you a list of processes that are using the lock file. You can terminate these processes to release the lock and continue installing the packages.

Fixing the RPM Error: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock

To fix this error, you need to terminate the processes that are using the lock file and then try installing the packages again. To do this, follow these steps:

  • Execute the command lsof /var/lib/dpkg/lock to find out which processes are using the lock file.
  • Stop these processes using the command kill -9 PID, where PID is the process ID from the output of the previous command.
  • Try installing the package again, for example: sudo yum install package_name.

If the error still occurs after these steps, try restarting the system and repeating the installation. Sometimes this helps to get rid of conflicts and successfully complete the package installation process.

Now you should be able to successfully install the necessary packages on CentOS 8, despite the appearance of the RPM error: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock. We hope this information was helpful and helped you solve the problem. Good luck!