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I have problems with apt-get update once in a while. This error is shown sometimes I try to run this command:

sudo apt-get update
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/apt/lists/lock - open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock directory /var/lib/apt/lists/
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?

What's going on? I'd like to know the problem and solve it. It's solved once I restart my pc though, but I would like to know what is this error. Thanks.

Amir Bandicoot
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1 Answers1

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That usually means you have another program that uses apt open. It could be Ubuntu Software Center, the program synaptic, or even another terminal that's running some apt-get ... function.

Try closing all programs that are used to manage software and trying again.

You could find out which program has the lock locked: 

sudo lsof /var/lib/apt/lists/lock
waltinator
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user1717828
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