Iam a new Debian Linux / Ubuntu Linux LTS user. How do I reinstall a package using apt-get command line? Is there an ‘apt-get force reinstall package’ command? How do I force reinstall apt-get?
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.
| Tutorial details | |
|---|---|
| Difficulty level | Easy |
| Root privileges | Yes |
| Requirements | Linux terminal |
| Category | Package Manager |
| Prerequisites | apt-get command |
| OS compatibility | Debian • Mint • Pop!_OS • Ubuntu |
| Est. reading time | 3 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 --reinstall install pkg1
# apt-get --reinstall install Package1 Package2
The --reinstall option re-install packages that are already installed and at the newest version. This is also useful when you removed / uninstalled packages like Nginx but want to reinstall it again.
$ sudo mkdir /root/nginx.mmddyyyy/
$ sudo 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
sudo apt-get --purge remove package1 sudo apt-get install package1
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'
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