Manjaro update error: failed to update core (unable to lock database)

Question

I am a noob on an i5 desktop. I could not update my system. Terminal reads as follows, after I type and enter "sudo pacman -Syu"

[sudo] password for user-name: ********
:: Synchronizing package databases...
error: failed to update core (unable to lock database)
error: failed to update extra (unable to lock database)
error: failed to update community (unable to lock database)
error: failed to update multilib (unable to lock database)
error: failed to synchronize all databases

Help!!

score 11 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 02 '20 at 06:16

11

I'm sorry, this is already covered in the wiki...

sudo rm /var/lib/pacman/db.lck

pacman-ArchWiki: "Failed to init transaction (unable to lock database)" error

answered Mar 02 '20 at 06:16

Thế Huynh Phạm

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for me this file even does not exist! and still it give's me error... what i should to do? – Raya Nasiri Mar 22 '21 at 06:04
Check your hooks as well — if one of your pacman hooks calls pacman itself, that will also cause this problem. – realkstrawn93 Apr 28 '22 at 14:05

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 16 '22 at 04:44

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If you've already deleted /var/lib/pacman/db.lck, like OP posted, and still got the same problem, try this:

sudo rm /var/tmp/pamac/dbs/db.lck

answered Nov 16 '22 at 04:44

his dudeness

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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 16 '21 at 17:32

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This can be solved by quitting Software Update program from task manager. This worked for me.

answered Feb 16 '21 at 17:32

TECH VINEYY

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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 16 '23 at 09:44

Hit this issue a few times on Manjaro and the answer was never to delete the database lock

sudo rm -r /var/tmp/pamac to delete the temp package manager directory
sudo pacman -Syu to synchronize the repository databases and update system packages
Quit out of the package manager app/GUI and reload. All should be back to normal.

Manjaro update error: failed to update core (unable to lock database)

4 Answers4