Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-19

How to Fix: E: Unable to correct probl..., you have held broken packages. Error while upgrading & installing Steam

Unable to correct problems with held broken packages during system upgrade and Steam installation.

Quick Answer: Try removing the held packages using `sudo apt-mark hold --reverse ` for each package, then proceed with the upgrade or installation.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. ⚠️ Common Causes
  2. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  3. 💡 Conclusion

The error 'E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.' occurs when the system is unable to upgrade or install packages due to held-back packages. This issue affects users of Parrot Electro Ara (Debian-Mate) operating systems who are trying to upgrade their system using `sudo apt upgrade`. The frustration lies in not being able to resolve the issue with previous attempts such as autoremove, purge, and safe-upgrade.

This error can be particularly frustrating when installing Steam, as it prevents users from accessing the latest version of the popular gaming platform. In this guide, we will walk through the steps to resolve this issue and provide alternative solutions.

⚠️ Common Causes

  • The primary reason for this error is that held-back packages are preventing the system from upgrading or installing new packages. When a package is held back, it means that the system has not yet removed it, and it's being kept on purpose by another package.
  • An alternative reason could be due to a missing or corrupted package dependency, which can cause the system to fail when trying to upgrade or install new packages.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Clearing held-back packages

  1. Step 1: Open the terminal and run `sudo apt-mark showhold` to list all the held-back packages.
  2. Step 2: Identify the specific package causing the issue by running `dpkg -L libgl1-mesa-dri:i386` or `dpkg -L steam-libs-i386:i386`. Note down the name of the package and its version.
  3. Step 3: Run `sudo apt-get autoremove ` to remove the held-back package. Replace `` with the actual package name.
  4. Step 4: Repeat the process for any other held-back packages that are causing issues.

Resolving dependency issues

  1. Step 1: Run `sudo apt-get update` to refresh the package list and ensure all dependencies are up-to-date.
  2. Step 2: Try installing the Steam package again using `sudo apt install steam`. If the issue persists, proceed with the next step.

💡 Conclusion

To resolve the 'E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.' error, start by clearing held-back packages and resolving any dependency issues. If manual intervention doesn't work, try updating the package list and reinstalling Steam. By following these steps, users should be able to successfully upgrade their system and install Steam without any issues.

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