Arch Linux

BrunoVicious

Member

Registered: 2025-06-01

Posts: 8

Keep getting "Errors occurred, no packages were upgraded"

I keep getting this message right after my console screen scrolls real fast though a list of items that say "exists in filesystem" and nothing gets installed. I've looked through all of this (https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Pacman … leshooting) and I tried multiple suggestions in other threads like pacman -Syu and I still keep getting this error.

mpan

Member

Registered: 2012-08-01

Posts: 1,526

Website

Re: Keep getting "Errors occurred, no packages were upgraded"

What command are you using, exactly?

Also copy and paste here, in code tags, the exact errors you’re receiving.

Without that we can’t help you in any way, other than guessing that you use more than one package manager or ran some installation script with root privileges.

Last edited by mpan (2025-06-02 17:30:14)

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Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 13,247

Re: Keep getting "Errors occurred, no packages were upgraded"

Why are you looking through the package signing page instead of the pacman page? The Troubleshooting section of that page addresses this error.

BrunoVicious

Member

Registered: 2025-06-01

Posts: 8

Re: Keep getting "Errors occurred, no packages were upgraded"

I don't know how to copy and past to this board from a command line. The problem I am running into is that I am trying to install hyprland. I currently do not have a windows manager. This is the command that I am using.

sudo pacman -S hyprland waybar wofi kitty thunar

https://ibb.co/B5JK1NM1
https://ibb.co/h190mKMc

BrunoVicious

Member

Registered: 2025-06-01

Posts: 8

Re: Keep getting "Errors occurred, no packages were upgraded"

Why are you looking through the package signing page instead of the pacman page? The Troubleshooting section of that page addresses this error.

I looked at both. I tried --overwrite and I still get the same results.

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 13,247

Re: Keep getting "Errors occurred, no packages were upgraded"

because --overwrite itself does nothing. If you really need to use that option after going through all of that section in the wiki page (checking ownership, etc), see the man page for how to use it.

The real question, as addressed on the wiki page, is how did those files get there?

Last edited by Scimmia (2025-06-02 18:15:08)

BrunoVicious

Member

Registered: 2025-06-01

Posts: 8

Re: Keep getting "Errors occurred, no packages were upgraded"

because --overwrite itself does nothing. If you really need to use that option after going through all of that section in the wiki page (checking ownership, etc), see the man page for how to use it.

The real question, as addressed on the wiki page, is how did those files get there?

I don't know how those files got there. I am trying to go through this guide as well to remove unowned files https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Pacman … y_packages. When I do pacman -Qo /path/to/file is says the files are not owned. I am not having any luck removing those files.

BrunoVicious

Member

Registered: 2025-06-01

Posts: 8

Re: Keep getting "Errors occurred, no packages were upgraded"

So I have used the following with no luck. Am I missing something?

sudo pacman -Sc
sudo pacman -Scc
sudo pacache -r
sudo pacman -R $(pacman -Qtdq)
sudo pacman -Qdtq | sudo pacman -Rns -

Last edited by BrunoVicious (2025-06-02 19:07:08)

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 13,247

Re: Keep getting "Errors occurred, no packages were upgraded"

Where in that troubleshooting section did it say to do any of that? Stop flailing around and understand what the error says.

BrunoVicious

Member

Registered: 2025-06-01

Posts: 8

Re: Keep getting "Errors occurred, no packages were upgraded"

Where in that troubleshooting section did it say to do any of that? Stop flailing around and understand what the error says.

I've managed to get things working, but I want to clarify a few things.

Yes, I’ve been "flailing" — but flailing is what led me to a working solution. I spent two full days troubleshooting init hook issues because my system wouldn't boot. After a lot of searching, I managed to get it running. To fix this pacman issue I manually removed the problematic files one by one. That approach worked for me, but I'm not sure it's the right approach.

And that's why I came here: not just to fix it, but to understand the correct way to handle this kind of error. I understood the error message early on. The problem was that the documentation (particularly the wiki) didn’t clearly explain what the appropriate response should be.

So if support is going to be helpful, it needs to go beyond just restating the error or pointing to documentation—it should help clarify the why and how, especially when official resources are vague.

Last edited by BrunoVicious (2025-06-02 22:47:30)

dakota

Member

Registered: 2016-05-20

Posts: 415

Re: Keep getting "Errors occurred, no packages were upgraded"

I don't know how to copy and past to this board from a command line.

Pastebin Services. Also, the manual for whatever terminal application you're using.

Yes, I’ve been "flailing" — but flailing is what led me to a working solution.

After a lot of searching, I managed to get it running. To fix this pacman issue I manually removed the problematic files one by one. That approach worked for me, but I'm not sure it's the right approach.

The problem was that the documentation (particularly the wiki) didn’t clearly explain what the appropriate response should be.

If the file is not owned by another package, rename the file which "exists in filesystem" and re-issue the update command. If all goes well, the file may then be removed.

So if support is going to be helpful, it needs to go beyond just restating the error or pointing to documentation—it should help clarify the why and how, especially when official resources are vague.

With all due respect, the official source is not vague. If anything, it is the opposite of vague; it is concise.

The wiki section in question is 5 paragrahps long, but those five paragraphs pack a lot of information.

We have no way of knowing what you have tried and what you haven't unless you tell us. We have no idea what you understand and what you don't unless you ask. And since we don't know what you've tried or what you understand we can't help clarify the why and how.

Did you try to rename the files as the Wiki suggests? We don't know. Did you run an installation script with root priveleges? We don't know. Did you use some method other than Pacman to install those files? We don't know.

I'm not trying to pick on you, so please don't get upset. I'd just like you to understand that experienced users ask questions for a reason. The most common is that they are trying to guide you in the right direction, not just so you can "fix the problem", but so you can "understand the correct way to handle this kind of error".

Now that you've fixed the problem, it might be wise to read over that section of the Wiki again and ask questions here about anything you don't understand. You might also want to review the manual to find out what each of those Pacman commands actually did. And if you don't understand why they didn't work, maybe ask for clarification?

Arch is not voodoo. But it does have a steep learning curve.

Best of luck.

Cheers,

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"Before Enlightenment chop wood, carry water. After Enlightenment chop wood, carry water." -- Zen proverb

seth

Member

From: Don't DM me only for attention

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 70,964

Re: Keep getting "Errors occurred, no packages were upgraded"

I don't know how those files got there.

You put them there, possibly w/ some side-channel python installation.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Python … y_packages
Or you had installed python before and trashed the package database or -R --dbonly

flailing is what led me to a working solution. I spent two full days

Maybe reconsider the approach then?
Flailing eventually achieves everything and the opposite. It just takes a good while.

I manually removed the problematic files one by one. That approach worked for me, but I'm not sure it's the right approach

Depends on what got those files there. If this is the consequence of your previous flailings trashing the pacman database, restoring that to a sane state would be more sound. And simpler.
And more complete - you may run into this again if you did whatever you did here to more packages (though python is kinda notorious for users finding funny ways to jam it into the filesystem…)

I understood the error message early on. The problem was that the documentation (particularly the wiki) didn’t clearly explain what the appropriate response should be.

Congratulations, you mastered basic English.
Reminder:

I don't know how those files got there.

Understanding the error is not the same as understanding the error message and understanding the error allows you to select and apply the various strategies outlined in the wiki - which also mentions some possible causes of what got you here.

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mpan

Member

Registered: 2012-08-01

Posts: 1,526

Website

Re: Keep getting "Errors occurred, no packages were upgraded"

BrunoVicious: yesterday I didn’t feel well enough to continue replying.

There are unanswered questions and you also got scorched, so a few more words from me.

⁂

All the evidence pointing to the cause is already deleted or obscured, so it’s going to remain a mystery. Only guesses are possible now.

The usual cause of this issue is using more than one package manager or running installers. Use one and only one package manager globally: pacman and pacman alone. Don’t run other package managers with root privileges: be it pip, npm, or anything else. Pacman will encounter unexpected files and it has no way of knowing, what those files are. It can only bail out and let the administrator address the issue. Running installers leads to the same situation.⁽¹⁾

The other cause is damage to pacman’s local database. This is much less common. It happens due to random occurances, like power loss during an update or hardware malfunction. As such you can’t avoid this issue. Only fix afterwards. Whereas blanket-restoring that database is often the right “cure,” each medicine should only be applied after pinpointing the illness. If that is a disk failing or a filesystem damage, just blindly rebuilding local databse may only make the situation worse and destroy your own, precious data. If the original cause of the damage is repetitive, it has to be identified and removed; otherwise the entire fix is a waste of time.

⁂

You got some harsh responses. The downside of remote communication is that both sides got only a partial view of the situation. Most of the non-verbal cues are missing too.

What shows on “our side” of the line is all three: leaving helpers in the dark, doing what people here despise, and making support much harder. A few other missteps, even if minor, didn’t make the picture any better. Trust me, it requires some good self-control to not react with irritation.

____
⁽¹⁾ Installers cause much greater harm than that. But it’s beyond this topic, as there is usually no effect on pacman’s behavior.

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Paperclips in avatars? | Sometimes I seem a bit harsh — don’t get offended too easily!

tekstryder

Member

Registered: 2013-02-14

Posts: 459

Re: Keep getting "Errors occurred, no packages were upgraded"

Arch is not voodoo.

No? Then why does Seth keep bringing it up?!

EDIT: Apparently search IDs are transient and links to searches do not persist.

Oh well, the joke stands.

Last edited by tekstryder (2025-06-03 22:59:17)