Unable to correct problems you held broken packages (nala)

Question

I am trying to install nala, but I get this error message:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 nala : Depends: python3-anyio but it is not installable
        Depends: python3-httpx but it is not installable
        Depends: python3-rich but it is not installable
        Depends: python3-tomli but it is not installable
        Depends: python3-typer but it is not installable
        Recommends: python3-socksio but it is not installable
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.

I have tried using -f, I did apt update, and I tried installing the dependencies manually, but neither have worked.

Here is the link for the nala installation instructions, and I'm installing using the repo and key.

I am on Ubuntu 20.04.

The repo and key don't work because the pre-built binary package seems incompatible with 20.04. That's why you get the dependency errors and the held broken packages error. You can try the package with 22.04, or you can follow the build instructions for 20.04. — user535733, Aug 04 '22 at 21:51
try this, I also had a problem with nala on Ubuntu 20.04, it works for me according to this procedure.How to use the Nala package manager on Ubuntu — Maxximus999, Feb 05 '24 at 12:47

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Jan 25 '24 at 12:06

2

Edit: Since this answer was written, the nala-legacy package has been removed, since it was too difficult to maintain. Nala is officially now only supported on Ubuntu 22.04 and newer.

Old Answer

As per the Nala wiki page, older releases (Debian Stable and Ubuntu 20.04) should use the nala-legacy package, which is built for older dependencies.

Since you already installed the "wrong" nala package, first remove it using:

sudo apt remove nala

Then install the correct nala package using:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install nala-legacy

The latest nala package can only be used on Ubuntu 22.04 or later.

edited Jan 25 '24 at 12:06

Rael Gugelmin Cunha

6,834

answered Aug 05 '22 at 08:42

Artur Meinild

26,018

The voilan repo still maintains the nala-legacy package for 20.04. – Rael Gugelmin Cunha May 05 '23 at 17:53
@RaelGugelminCunha use this command istead: sudo apt remove nala --remove-essential – Tassisto Oct 28 '23 at 16:58
@RaelGugelminCunha Not anymore, that's been pulled too. :/ – Sysfu Jan 24 '24 at 22:42
1

@Seth I moved the edit about removed package to the top. Thanks! – Rael Gugelmin Cunha Jan 25 '24 at 12:06

Unable to correct problems you held broken packages (nala)

1 Answers1

Old Answer