Cydia Errors

Cydia.app includes many error messages that might not be easy to understand at first, including error messages that are directly from Debian APT. Here are explanations for them. (This is also covered in the JailbreakQA FAQ.)

Could not get lock /var/lib/apt/lists/lock - open (35: Resource temporarily unavailable)

Could not get lock /var/lib/apt/lists/lock - open (35: Resource temporarily unavailable)

Cydia temporarily can't refresh data because another program is already using a system component that Cydia needs. This error commonly happens if you're also using another program that refreshes package data, such as Curiosa. To fix it, try rebooting. If that doesn't help, you may need to uninstall Curiosa (and any other packages that do this).

Domain #10: -72000

Domain #10: -72000

Cydia ran into some kind of network problem. The usual cause of this error message is using packages that add tons of ad-blocking lines to your hosts file; uninstalling those packages should fix this error.

dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'dpkg configure -a' to correct the problem

dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'dpkg configure -a' to correct the problem

Cydia tries to fix this problem automatically. If this is the only error message displayed, you can ignore it and use Cydia normally.

Encountered a section with no Package: header

Encountered a section with no Package: header
You may want to run apt-get update to correct these problems

One or more of your installed sources is set up incorrectly. You should be able to remove the problematic source by going to Manage -> Sources on iPhone and iPod touch (or Sources on iPad) and tapping "Edit" at top right. If you are not sure which one to remove, try removing all of them except the defaults (BigBoss, Cydia/Telesphoreo, Dev Team, ModMyi, and ZodTTD/MacCiti).

failed in buffer_write(fd) (7, ret=-1)

failed in buffer_write(fd) (7, ret=-1)
Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

There is not enough disk space (on the system or user partitions or both) for Cydia to install this package. Try removing some files first, such as large bootlogo or theme files; you may need to use iFile, OpenSSH, or some other way to access the filesystem. You can also check iFile's trash folder (/var/mobile/Library/iFile/Trash). On iPhone and iPod touch, you can go to Manage -> Storage to check available space on both the system and user partitions.

GPG error: [repository] stable Release: The following signatures were invalid: BADSIG [number]

GPG error: [repository] stable Release: The following signatures were invalid: BADSIG [number]

This is a minor problem with a source. You did nothing wrong and can continue to use Cydia normally.

GPG error: [repository] stable Release: The following signatures were invalid: NODATA 1 NODATA 2

GPG error: [repository] stable Release: The following signatures were invalid: NODATA 1 NODATA 2
Failed to fetch [repository] Sub-process /bin/bzip2 returned an error code (2)
Some index files failed to download, they have been ignored, or old ones used instead.

One or more of your installed sources is temporarily or permanently unavailable. You may have typed in the wrong URL, the source may have shut down, the source may be broken, or the source may be denying your connection for some other reason. Try again later. If this problem keeps happening over many days, you can remove the problematic source by going to Manage -> Sources on iPhone and iPod touch (or Sources on iPad) and tapping "Edit" at top right.

Hash Sum mismatch

Hash Sum mismatch

The downloaded file does not match the file on the source's server. This is often caused by a download getting interrupted before it finished, sometimes due to network problems and sometimes due to server problems. Try installing this package again later.

Host Unreachable

Host Unreachable

This may mean that your internet connection is not working, a source is not working, or something else is not working (such as the Cydia Store system). This is probably a temporary problem, so try again later.

HTTP/1.0 403

HTTP/1.0 403 This package is either paid or requires a paid package to function. If you paid: contact saurik@saurik.com for help. If not, purchase the original package.

If you get this error while trying to download a paid package you have already purchased, email saurik@saurik.com for help. If you are trying to download a paid package you have not purchased, buy it and then try downloading it again. If you are trying to download a free add-on to a paid package (for example, a package adding a new option to Color Keyboard), you have to purchase that paid package before you will be able to download this add-on.

HTTP/1.1 500 Internal Server Error

HTTP/1.1 500 Internal Server Error

Something seems to be wrong with the source hosting this package. This is probably a temporary problem, so try again later.

I wasn't able to locate file for the [package] package. This might mean you need to manually fix this package.

I wasn't able to locate file for the [package] package. This might mean you need to manually fix this package.

Something weird went wrong. Try going to the Changes tab, tapping "Refresh" at top left, waiting for data to finish downloading, and then installing this package again.

POSIX error: Operation Timed Out.

POSIX error: Operation Timed Out.
POSIX: Socket is not connected.
NetDB: Open nodename nor servname provided, or not known.

Cydia is working properly, but something is wrong with your device's connection to one or more of your installed sources. Your internet connection may not be working properly, or the source may not be working properly. Check your internet connection and try again later.

Problem parsing dependency

Problem parsing dependency Pre-Depends or Problem parsing dependency Depends
Error occurred while processing [repository]
Problem with MergeList [file]
The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened

One or more of your installed sources is set up incorrectly. (This is a problem with that source, not with Cydia.) You should be able to remove the problematic source by going to Manage -> Sources on iPhone and iPod touch (or Sources on iPad) and tapping "Edit" at top right.

subprocess pre-removal script returned error exit status [number]

subprocess pre-removal script returned error exit status [number] or subprocess dpkg-deb --fsys-tarfile returned error exit status [number] or similar
Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

Something seems to be wrong with this package. Tap "Author" at the top of the package page and email the developer (and ideally the repository manager as well) to let them know about the problem and ask for help.

trying to overwrite [file], which is also in package [package]

trying to overwrite [file], which is also in package [package]
Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

You are trying to install a new package that contains the same filenames as a package you already have installed, so you cannot install this new package. You can usually avoid this problem by avoiding (or uninstalling) illegally copied versions of packages.

Wow, you exceeded the number of package names this APT is capable of.

Wow, you exceeded the number of package names this APT is capable of.
Problem with MergeList [file]
The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

You have more than 65,535 packages available from your installed sources, and Cydia cannot handle this many. Go to Manage -> Sources on iPhone and iPod touch (or Sources on iPad), tap "Edit" at top right, and remove some sources. It's recommended to keep the default repositories (BigBoss, Cydia/Telesphoreo, Dev Team, ModMyi, and ZodTTD/MacCiti).

If some sources seem to not have a "remove" button when you try to remove them, that usually means they were installed as packages. Go to Manage -> Packages on iPhone/iPod touch (or to Installed on iPad), find the package with the source's name, and uninstall that package.

(Why does Cydia have this limit? See saurik's explanation here. Also note that the default sources have approximately 41 thousand packages available, which means that you have room for approximately 24 thousand extra packages from non-default sources. And keep in mind that refreshing and reloading data can get very slow if you have many sources installed; it's much quicker if you only keep the default sources.)