---
title: 'Solving the problem "Could Not Find Command-not-found database"'
url: 'https://ra1ahq.blog/en/reshenie-problemy-could-not-find-command-not-found-database'
markdown: 'https://ra1ahq.blog/en/reshenie-problemy-could-not-find-command-not-found-database.md'
lang: en
date: '2023-10-11'
description: 'The "Command-not-found" stub program is triggered when a user mistakenly enters in the terminal a non-existent command name, such as "foobar". In some cases, the command-not-found program doesn''t work. How can I fix it? Introd'
taxonomy:
  archives_month:
    - oct_2023
  archives_year:
    - '2023'
---

# Solving the problem "Could Not Find Command-not-found database"

11 

 October 

 2023 

 ![Solving the problem "Could Not Find Command-not-found database"](https://ra1ahq.blog/images/2/d/b/e/d/2dbed54d06b935c48fd6772cce5ba4811f886547-cnf-title.png)16:44

### Solving the problem "Could Not Find Command-not-found database"

11 October 2023 16:44

The "Command-not-found" stub program is triggered when a user mistakenly enters in the terminal a non-existent command name, such as "foobar". In some cases, the command-not-found program doesn't work. How can I fix it?

### Introduction

As you know, the programs are contained in packages, and the packages are managed by the **apt** command based on the contents of the file `/etc/apt/sources.list` and files \*.list in subfolder `sources.list.d`. When changing the composition of the repositories, the **"command-not-found"** program database, which is located along the path `/var/lib/command-not-found/`, should be automatically updated. The symptoms of the problem I have encountered are the following:

1\) When performing an incorrect command, a message is displayed
`...<br></br>Could not find command-not-found database. Run 'sudo apt update' to populate it.<br></br>... : command not found`

2\) There is no database for the command, which is the fact:

```
ls -l /var/lib/command-not-found/ 
```

0 files

### Cause

After the call of utility `apt-get update` worked out, a Bash script must run: **`/etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50command-not-found`**. Linux LXLE doesn't have such a file, but Linux Mint does. The LXLE developers forgot to include the file `50command-not-found`?

### Solution: Method No. 1

Copy the file `/etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50command-not-found` from Linux Mint to LXLE or create it manually.
![script](https://ra1ahq.blog/images/5/d/d/6/3/5dd6305301a8b34eddc74e59051500babff0c303-cnf.png "скрипт")

The source text is 50command-not-found:
[50command-not-found.zip](https://ra1ahq.blog/en/reshenie-problemy-could-not-find-command-not-found-database/50command-not-found.zip)

After that, update the cache by calling **`apt update`**. It will also create SQLite database files for the **"command-not-found"** program in the `/var/lib/command-not-found/` directory. The files "commands.db" and "commans.db.metadata" are created by the Python script `/usr/lib/cnf-update-db`. (To do this, Python 2.7 or higher must be installed on the operating system - the condition in Linux LXLE is fulfilled).

### Solution: Method No. 2

Nach der Aktualisierung der Pakete **`apt update`** müssen Sie die folgenden 2 Befehle im Terminal manuell mit den Rechten von `sudo` ausführen:

```
sudo rm -f /var/lib/command-not-found/*.*
sudo /usr/lib/cnf-update-db
```

### Non-working solution (from the Internet)

– can be suitable for other distributions

Reinstalling the utility:
sudo apt purge command-not-found
sudo apt install command-not-found
sudo apt update

### Testing

Check the presence of files `commands.db` and `commands.db.metadata`:

```
ls -l /var/lib/command-not-found/
```

` Total 3156<br></br>-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 3223552 окт 11 15:53 commands.db<br></br>-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    3260 окт 11 15:53 commands.db.metadata<br></br>User@host:~$`

Führen Sie den „falschen“ Befehl aus, zum Beispiel „Appt“:

```
appt
```

`The Appt command was not found. Perhaps you meant:<br></br>command 'ppt' from deb bsdgames (2.17-29)<br></br>command 'apt' from deb apt (2.4.10)<br></br>command 'aapt' from deb aapt (1:10.0.0+r36-3)<br></br>Try: sudo apt install <deb name=""></deb>`

Message *"Could not find command-not-found database. Run 'sudo apt update' to populate it."* it is no longer displayed.' That's fix.

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