Can't Install VLC software: Ubuntu server error

Hello, I have been trying to resolve this Ubuntu server connection error. I already tried changing from"Main server" to "best available" and still get errors. I have also disabled ipV6 method for my WiFi. Still no luck. Any suggestions? I'm beginning to dread the thought of installing anything on Zorin OS 18 because of these kind of issues.

Here is the error:
E: http://co.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-updates/universe amd64 libqt5qml5 amd64 5.15.13+dfsg-1ubuntu0.1 is not (yet) available (Could not connect to co.archive.ubuntu.com:80 (200.25.7.49), connection timed out)

Do you have a VPN enabled? It may help to turn it off.

I only have a VPN on Firefox (which is not enabled nor open) when I'm trying to connect to Ubuntu.

At the moment there are shown no outages of the ubuntu servers.

https://status.canonical.com/#/

Brave A.I. search result suggests:

" The inability to download or install VLC on Ubuntu 24.04 is typically caused by missing repository sources , package conflicts , or corrupted Snap/Flatpak installations .

1. Missing or Disabled Repositories If the apt package manager cannot find VLC, your system may only be pointing to the security pocket, missing the main , universe , restricted , and multiverse archives. To fix this, enable the standard repositories and update:

sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list <<'EOF'
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-backports main restricted universe multiverse
EOF
sudo apt update
sudo apt install vlc

2. Ubuntu Pro Priority Conflicts If Ubuntu Pro is enabled, its security packages may have a higher priority (510) than the standard repository (500), causing unmet dependency errors. You can bypass this by explicitly installing the version from the noble repository:

sudo apt install vlc/noble

Alternatively, you can set a higher priority for the PPA or standard repository by creating a config file at /etc/apt/preferences.d/vlcupdates .

3. Snap or Flatpak Issues If you installed VLC via the App Center (which often defaults to Snap or Flatpak ), it may fail to launch due to sandboxing issues or missing dependencies like libaribb24-0 .

  • Solution: Uninstall the Snap/Flatpak version and reinstall via apt :
sudo snap remove vlc
sudo apt install vlc
  • Snap Font Cache Fix: If the Snap version fails to start, clear the font cache:
sudo rm /var/cache/fontconfig/*
rm ~/.cache/fontconfig/*
fc-cache -r

4. Corrupted Installations Previous upgrades may have left broken packages. Purge existing installations and reinstall:

sudo apt remove --purge vlc
sudo apt autoremove
sudo apt update
sudo apt install vlc

AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts."

Note: Zorin 18 is a fork of Ubuntu 24.04.

If no different, I would change back to "Main Server" , as that is generally considered the best source.

2 Likes

Could You switch to Main Server and then try the Installatio in Terminal with sudo apt update && sudo apt install vlc again and post the whole Output here please?

1 Like

After switching back to Main Server, I ran this code:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install vlc

I'm still getting the port 80 error:
Err:11 http://co.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-updates InRelease
Cannot initiate the connection to co.archive.ubuntu.com:80 (2800:1e0:d1f:ffff::49). - connect (101: Network is unreachable) Could not connect to co.archive.ubuntu.com:80 (200.25.7.49), connection timed out

I also am getting similar errors when running the Software Updater. These errors are no way related to internet connection, because I have tried installing/updating in multiple locations resulting in the same error

Do you have a firewall enabled, e.g. the ufw? Check if the rules are set correctly or test it with disabled firewall.

You could also check your router settings.

Your output shows that you are using a local Regional server in Columbia, not the Main Server.

The Main Server supplies to the regional locations; the onus is on them to ensure that their servers are updated and running. Sadly... many mirrors are a bit lax. For this reason, we suggest users having issues with regional mirrors to stay on Main Server.

What you can do to Make Certain you are on the Main Server is elevate to root as @Forpli explains here:

Once elevated to Root, select "Other locations" in the left pane, then "computer" in the right pane.
Double click on etc then on the folder named apt and then Right Click the sources.list and select to open it in Text Editor.
You can select all - then backspace and remove All Its Content to blank it out, then paste in:

# deb cdrom:[Zorin-OS 18 Core 64bit]/ noble main restricted

# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble main restricted
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ noble main restricted

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-updates main restricted
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ noble-updates main restricted

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team. Also, please note that software in universe WILL NOT receive any
## review or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble universe
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ noble universe
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-updates universe
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ noble-updates universe

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu 
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to 
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in 
## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
## security team.
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble multiverse
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ noble multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-updates multiverse
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ noble-updates multiverse

## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-backports main restricted universe multiverse
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ noble-backports main restricted universe multiverse

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-security main restricted
# deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-security main restricted
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-security universe
# deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-security universe
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-security multiverse
# deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-security multiverse

# This system was installed using small removable media
# (e.g. netinst, live or single CD). The matching "deb cdrom"
# entries were disabled at the end of the installation process.
# For information about how to configure apt package sources,
# see the sources.list(5) manual.

Save The File.
Once you have saved it and ensured it was saved,
In terminal try:

sudo apt update

1 Like

Thanks so much for this detailed fix. It worked and I was finally able to successfully update and upgrade the system files. As we say in spanish "mil gracias". After the updates I was also able to successfully install VLC from software store. Thanks to Zorin and folks like you I can now enjoy my life without Windows, while also no longer supporting the disgusting Bill Gates and his cabal. You've made my day man!

1 Like