How to unlock a locked file

[Bumpalot]

How do I unlock /var/lib/dpkg ?

[claydoh]

Actually, the existence of a lock file is there to prevent more than one instance of dpkg or apt running at the same time. (and hence any package manager install/removal action)

The lock file can be in a variety of places, and is called...... lock.

Guessing from your post, the file is located in /var/lib/dpkg so you need need to delete the file

/var/lib/dpkg/lock

using sudo from the terminal, or dolphin with kdesudo.

Sent from my LG G4

[Bumpalot]

I am not sure exactly how:
Is this correct udo apt-get remove /var/lib/dpkg/lock ??

[claydoh]

No, it is a file, you'd treat it like a text file and delete it as you would anything else, either using kdesudo dolphin , or in a terminal with sudo rm [full path to the file]

Sent from my LG G4

[oshunluvr]

sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock

[Bumpalot]

bumpy@peterputer:~$ sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock
[sudo] password for bumpy:
rm: cannot remove ‘/var/lib/dpkg/lock’: No such file or directory
bumpy@peterputer:~$
Success!! Thanks for your help!