How do you fix a broken dpkg? Ubuntu fix broken package (best solution) sudo apt-get update -fix-missing. and. sudo dpkg -configure -a. and. sudo apt-get install -f. the problem of a broken package still exist the solution is to edit the dpkg status file manually. Unlock the dpkg - (message /var/lib/dpkg/lock) sudo fuser -vki /var/lib 1. Something is definitely discombobulated and it's related to dpkg. No idea what caused it. Here are the symptoms: The commands sudo apt upgrade, sudo apt install , sudo apt remove and sudo apt install -f all fail with the following error: