As a Linux user, you’re likely aware of the importance of system updates to keep your operating system running smoothly and securely. When updating Ubuntu using the Advanced Package Tool (APT), the APT cache is used to speed up the process by storing package files for future installations. However, this can lead to storage issues, especially on machines with limited disk space. If you’re facing such issues or prefer to download packages fresh each time, disabling the APT cache may be the solution for you. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through how to disable the APT cache on Ubuntu, step-by-step. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to free up disk space and prevent package conflicts that may arise due to outdated packages in the APT cache. So, let’s get started!
What is APT Cache
APT cache is a storage location for downloaded packages on Ubuntu. When you install or upgrade a package, APT downloads the package from the internet and stores it in the local cache. The next time you install or upgrade the same package, APT will use the cached version instead of downloading it again. The APT cache is located at /var/cache/apt/archives and can occupy a significant amount of disk space over time.
Why disable APT cache
There are several reasons why you may want to disable the APT cache on Ubuntu:
- To free up disk space: The APT cache can occupy several hundred megabytes of disk space, and over time, this space can add up, especially on systems with limited storage.
- To avoid caching sensitive package information: In some cases, you may not want APT to cache package information on disk, especially if the system is shared among multiple users.
- To force APT to always download packages from the internet: If you want to ensure that you always have the latest version of a package, you can disable APT cache to force APT to download the package from the internet every time.
How To Disable APT Cache on Ubuntu
There are two ways to disable APT cache on Ubuntu:
- Method 1: Using APT configuration file.
APT uses a configuration file located at /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/10noinstall-recommends to control whether it installs recommended packages by default. You can use this file to disable the APT cache by adding the following line to the end of the file:
APT::Get::Disable-Download-Reschedule "true";
To add the line, open the terminal and run the following command:
nano /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/10noinstall-recommends
This will open the nano text editor. Add the line to the end of the file and save the changes by pressing Ctrl+X, followed by Y, and then Enter.
- Method 2: Using APT environment variables.
You can also disable the APT cache by setting the APT environment variable to 1. To do this, open the terminal and run the following command:
sudo sh -c 'echo "Acquire::http {No-Cache=True;};" >> /etc/apt/apt.conf'
This will append the line “Acquire::http {No-Cache=True;};” to the APT configuration file located at /etc/apt/apt.conf. This line tells APT to download packages from the internet every time and not to use the cache.
Note: This method will disable the cache for all package repositories.
Conclusion
APT cache is an essential component of the Ubuntu package management system. However, in some cases, you may want to disable APT cache to free up disk space or prevent the caching of sensitive package information. However, keep in mind that disabling the APT cache can slow down package installations and updates, as APT will always have to download packages from the network instead of using the cached packages on your system.