# Can't seem to run apt upgrade

**URL:** https://dietpi.com/forum/t/cant-seem-to-run-apt-upgrade/19337
**Category:** General Discussion
**Created:** [17 February 2024 19:45 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/cant-seem-to-run-apt-upgrade/19337 "2024-02-17T19:45:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![TWHH](https://dietpi.com/forum/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@TWHH](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/TWHH)
#### Post date: [17 February 2024 19:45 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/cant-seem-to-run-apt-upgrade/19337/1 "2024-02-17T19:45:30Z")

</div>

I’m getting the following when I attempt `apt upgrade`

```auto
**E:** Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock-frontend - open (13: Permission denied)

**E:** Unable to acquire the dpkg frontend lock (/var/lib/dpkg/lock-frontend), are you root?

```

any ideas what I need to do?

Thanks in advance

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![trendy](https://dietpi.com/forum/user_avatar/dietpi.com/trendy/32/61_2.png) [@trendy](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/trendy)
#### Post date: [17 February 2024 19:47 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/cant-seem-to-run-apt-upgrade/19337/2 "2024-02-17T19:47:36Z")

</div>

> [@TWHH](#):
>
> `are you root?`

Are you? 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Joulinar](https://dietpi.com/forum/user_avatar/dietpi.com/joulinar/32/57_2.png) [@Joulinar](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/Joulinar)
#### Post date: [17 February 2024 19:52 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/cant-seem-to-run-apt-upgrade/19337/3 "2024-02-17T19:52:21Z")

</div>

as non root user, use `sudo apt upgrade`

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![TWHH](https://dietpi.com/forum/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@TWHH](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/TWHH)
#### Post date: [17 February 2024 21:29 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/cant-seem-to-run-apt-upgrade/19337/4 "2024-02-17T21:29:48Z")

</div>

Thanks for that - will give it a go when back home.

Noob question (as all mine are!), but why am  
I not a root user and how do I change so that I am?

Thanks

EDIT: I see what I’ve done

Now I feel silly

Night all

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Joulinar](https://dietpi.com/forum/user_avatar/dietpi.com/joulinar/32/57_2.png) [@Joulinar](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/Joulinar)
#### Post date: [18 February 2024 06:22 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/cant-seem-to-run-apt-upgrade/19337/5 "2024-02-18T06:22:04Z")

</div>

> [@TWHH](#):
>
> I not a root user and how do I change so that I a

You can login as root user directly

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![trendy](https://dietpi.com/forum/user_avatar/dietpi.com/trendy/32/61_2.png) [@trendy](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/trendy)
#### Post date: [18 February 2024 19:27 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/cant-seem-to-run-apt-upgrade/19337/6 "2024-02-18T19:27:24Z")

</div>

No need to feel bad, we all were where you are!

> [@TWHH](#):
>
> I not a root user and how do I change so that I am?

Either login directly as @Joulinar mentioned, or use `sudo -i` to become. You can also run the commands that need root privileges with `sudo` in the beginning. This may save you from making mistakes that may mess the system up.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![system](https://dietpi.com/forum/uploads/default/original/1X/7e1021de2213860bce185915ce2c1786e56490ec.png) [@system](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/system)
#### Post date: [18 May 2024 19:27 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/cant-seem-to-run-apt-upgrade/19337/7 "2024-05-18T19:27:26Z")

</div>

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.