Question

5

How can I remove a package completely?

rated 0 times [ 5] [ 0] / answers: 1 / hits: 5674 / 2 Years ago, fri, june 3, 2022, 6:52:13

I'm unable to remove the package python3-pip in Ubuntu 16.04:

$ apt list |& grep 'python3-pip/'

python3-pip/xenial-updates,xenial-updates 8.1.1-2ubuntu0.4 all

$ sudo apt-get remove python3-pip

Reading package lists... Done

Building dependency tree

Reading state information... Done

Package 'python3-pip' is not installed, so not removed

0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.

openstack@prclnx04:~/python/pybind11$ apt list |& grep 'python3-pip/'

python3-pip/xenial-updates,xenial-updates 8.1.1-2ubuntu0.4 all

$ sudo dpkg --remove --force-remove-reinstreq python3-pip

dpkg: warning: ignoring request to remove python3-pip which isn't installed

$ sudo dpkg --remove --force-remove-reinstreq python3-pip

dpkg: warning: ignoring request to remove python3-pip which isn't installed

$ sudo apt-get update

Ign:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu trusty InRelease

Hit:2 http://ppa.launchpad.net/diesch/testing/ubuntu xenial InRelease

Hit:3 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu trusty Release

Hit:4 http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-toolchain-r/test/ubuntu xenial InRelease

Hit:6 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial InRelease

Hit:7 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates InRelease

Hit:8 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-backports InRelease

Hit:9 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-security InRelease

Reading package lists... Done

$ apt list |& grep 'python3-pip/'           

python3-pip/xenial-updates,xenial-updates 8.1.1-2ubuntu0.4 all

$ sudo apt-get clean && sudo apt-get autoclean && sudo apt-get autoremove --purge python3-pip

Reading package lists... Done

Building dependency tree

Reading state information... Done

Reading package lists... Done

Building dependency tree

Reading state information... Done

Package 'python3-pip' is not installed, so not removed

0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.

$ apt list |& grep 'python3-pip/'           

python3-pip/xenial-updates,xenial-updates 8.1.1-2ubuntu0.4 all

Is there a way to force apt to completely remove the package?

Edit 1:

$ apt policy python3-pip

python3-pip:

  Installed: (none)

  Candidate: 8.1.1-2ubuntu0.4

  Version table:

     8.1.1-2ubuntu0.4 500

        500 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/universe amd64 Packages

        500 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/universe i386 Packages

     8.1.1-2 500

        500 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial/universe amd64 Packages

        500 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial/universe i386 Packages

     1.5.4-1 500

        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu trusty/universe amd64 Packages

        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu trusty/universe i386 Packages

$ apt list |& grep 'python3-pip/'

python3-pip/xenial-updates,xenial-updates 8.1.1-2ubuntu0.4 all

$



$ apt list --installed | grep python3-pip



WARNING: apt does not have a stable CLI interface. Use with caution in scripts.



$ dpkg --get-selections | grep python3-pip

$ apt list |& grep 'python3-pip/'

python3-pip/xenial-updates,xenial-updates 8.1.1-2ubuntu0.4 all

$

Answers

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velelf

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4 Years ago

answered 2 Years ago bsorbedeldy · Accepted Answer

First check whether the package is installed :

$ apt policy python3-pip

python3-pip:

  Installed: (none)

  Candidate: 8.1.2-2ubuntu0.1

  Version table:

     8.1.2-2ubuntu0.1 500

        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu yakkety-updates/universe amd64 Packages

        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu yakkety-updates/universe i386 Packages

     8.1.2-2 500

        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu yakkety/universe amd64 Packages

        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu yakkety/universe i386 Packages

In case it is (in this example it's not) execute :

sudo apt purge python3-pip

In case you mistakenly chose the wrong one :

dpkg --get-selections | grep python3

You get a list of installed python3 packages.

Clarification and general information : Your Edit 1 output shows that the package is not installed and hence it cannot be removed. The apt list command shows available packages, it does NOT show installed packages, unless you add --installed to the apt list command as mentioned in the comment from @Terrance. And, be very careful which packages you remove as pointed out by @ByteCommander ... sudo apt purge completely removes packages and configuration files !