Debian / Ubuntu: apt-get force reinstall package
The Advanced Packaging Tool [APT] works on both Debian / Ubuntu Linux. It can handle the installation and removal of software including reinstalling packages to fix problems. You need use apt-get command as follows to forcefully reinstall package. This page shows to reinstall packages on an Ubuntu and Debian server or cloud based virtual machine.
| Difficulty level | Easy |
| Root privileges | Yes |
| Requirements | Debian/Ubuntu Linux |
| Est. reading time | 2 minutes |
apt-get force reinstall package
The syntax is as follows for the apt command/apt-get command to force reinstall:
apt-get --reinstall install PackageNameHere
apt-get --reinstall install Package1 Package2
The --reinstall option re-install packages that are already installed and at the newest version.
Pro tip: Backup all configuration files before reinstalling packages. For example, if you are reinstalling nginx web server package, backup /etc/nginx/ directory with the help of cp command as follows:
mkdir /root/nginx.mmddyyyy/ && cp -avr /etc/nginx/* /root/nginx.mmddyyy/
How to reinstall a package using apt-get
Let us see some example that shows how to reinstall package and its installed dependencies on a Debian or Ubuntu Linux. The following command will reinstall rsync package. Open a terminal application and then type:
$ sudo apt-get --reinstall install rsync
OR
# apt-get --reinstall install rsync
Sample outputs:
Fig.01: Debian / Ubuntu Linux reinstall a package using apt-get command
Debian or Ubuntu reinstall package command
Type the following apt command or apt-get command to reinstall htop:
sudo apt --reinstall install htop
OR
sudo apt-get --reinstall install htop
The apt-get is the command-line tool for handling packages. The apt command provides a high-level command-line interface for the package management system. It is intended as an end user interface. Both, apt command and apt-get accepts the --reinstall option for reinstalling packages to fix problems.
apt-get reinstall package and dependencies
One can use aptitude command too. The syntax is:
sudo aptitude reinstall pkg
sudo aptitude reinstall nginx
What if I want to reinstall ALL packages
You need to use the aptitude command as follows:
sudo aptitude reinstall '~i'
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Conclusion
You learned how to use the apt-get to force reinstall package on a Debian and Ubuntu Linux. For more information please apt-get man page here or use the man command to read it offline on your computer:
man apt
man apt-get
man dpkg
man cp
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