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Asked: 2024-09-27T00:48:32+05:30 In:

How can I stop a certain package from being updated on my Ubuntu system?

I’ve been using Ubuntu for a while now, and I really enjoy it. However, I’ve run into a bit of a dilemma that I could use some help with. So here’s the deal: there’s this package on my system that I rely on for a specific project, and I’m worried that if it gets updated, it’s going to break my setup. You know how sometimes newer versions of software come with changes that aren’t always compatible with what you’re using? Yeah, I’m trying to avoid that.

I guess what I’m asking is: how can I prevent a specific package from being updated in Ubuntu? Like, is there a way to “lock” it or something so that if I do a system update, it just ignores that package? I’ve heard people mention `apt-mark hold`, but I’m not entirely sure how it works or if there’s a better method out there.

I really don’t want to mess around with things too much and I’m a little paranoid about breaking something that’s working perfectly fine for me right now. If you guys could ignore all the technical jargon and just give me a straightforward, step-by-step guide or something, that would be super helpful.

Also, if I do lock the package and then later decide I want to update it, would it be complicated to lift that restriction? I’ve heard horror stories of people getting stuck in situations where they can’t do anything because they’ve locked themselves out of everything. So if anyone has experience with this, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

And just to clarify, this package isn’t anything crazy or niche. It’s actually quite popular, so I’m sure I’m not the only one facing this issue. Anyway, I appreciate any insights you can share. Looking forward to your replies!

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    2 Answers






    1. Prevent Package Update in Ubuntu


      How to Prevent a Package from Updating in Ubuntu

      If you want to “lock” a package so it doesn’t get updated, you can totally do that with a simple command! It’s pretty easy and a great way to avoid any surprises. Here’s how you can do it:

      1. Open your terminal. You can do this by searching for "Terminal" in the applications menu or by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.

2. To hold a specific package (let's say the package is named your-package), type the following command:
   
   sudo apt-mark hold your-package

3. Press Enter, and it will probably ask for your password. Just type it in (you won’t see it appear) and hit Enter again.

      And that’s it! The package is now on hold, and it won’t get updated when you run system updates. Easy, right?

      If you ever change your mind and want to update the package, you can simply lift the hold with this command:

      sudo apt-mark unhold your-package

      Then, when you do the next update, you can update it like any other package.

      Just a little heads up, make sure to replace your-package with the actual name of the package you want to hold. Also, this method is quite safe, so you don’t have to worry about getting stuck. If you only hold one or two packages, it shouldn’t mess anything up as long as you keep track of what you’re holding.

      So go ahead, follow these steps, and you’ll keep your project running smoothly without any unwanted changes. Happy coding!


    2. In Ubuntu, you can prevent a specific package from being updated by using the `apt-mark hold` command. This feature allows you to “lock” the package at its current version. To do this, open your terminal and type the command sudo apt-mark hold package-name, replacing package-name with the actual name of the package you wish to lock. This action will retain the existing version of the package during system updates. It’s a straightforward procedure and should alleviate your concerns about breaking your setup with unwanted updates. To verify that the package is on hold, you can use the command apt-mark showhold, which will list all held packages.

      If you decide later that you want to update the package, lifting the hold is just as easy. You would use the command sudo apt-mark unhold package-name. This command removes the hold and allows the package to be updated during subsequent system upgrades. Rest assured, using `apt-mark hold` is safe and shouldn’t lead you into any trouble, as it simply manages the update behavior of the specified package. As long as you keep a backup of your important data and documents, you can always tweak these settings without the fear of becoming permanently locked out of necessary updates.

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