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When updating, I get the following error message: 

W: The repository 'http://ppa.launchpad.net/mc3man/trusty-media/ubuntu xenial Release' does not have a Release file.

Here, I find another statement on this error: How can I fix a 404 Error when using a PPA or updating my package lists?

This recommends removing certain PPAs; and, I'm not sure if I should do that since it might mean not getting the updates that I need.

Is this what I should do?

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  • 1
    xenial is probably no longer supported should upgrade. You should change all repositories to use old-release.ubuntu.com instead, and then do sudo do-releases-upgrade to get an supported release of Ubuntu. help.ubuntu.com/community/EOLUpgrades Oh, it was an old PPA. I just had this problem myself, and it was solved by this trick. I came here first when I did a search.
    – Anders
    Commented Jan 26, 2018 at 4:58
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    Before you try anything else make sure you have network access from your server to the internet. Otherwise you will get this error too.
    – user92240
    Commented May 15, 2018 at 13:25
  • 3
    @Anders as of this date Xenial is still supported with maintenance updates. When in doubt you can check the release schedule
    – Elder Geek
    Commented Feb 19, 2019 at 16:03

5 Answers 5

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The PPA you've added does not support your version of Ubuntu, meaning there aren't any packages for your particular release.

For example, the ppa:mc3man/trusty-media PPA is only for Trusty (Ubuntu 14.04) only (trusty-media). Obviously, it has no files for Xenial (16.04). You can check the PPA's Launchpad page to see which versions of Ubuntu are supported.

I'd suggest the following:

  • Remove the PPA for an older release. For this example:
    sudo ppa-purge ppa:mc3man/trusty-media
  • If there's a PPA for your curent release, add it. In this case, there's a PPA for Xenial: mc3man/xerus-media. You can add it using
    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mc3man/xerus-media

To summarize, you need to remove the added PPA, and use another one that has packages for your particular release.

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    So first thing: I didn't have ppa-purge so as a note if anyone in the future reads this answer: You may first need to get it by running sudo apt-get install ppa-purge.
    – Addem
    Commented Jan 1, 2017 at 23:02
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    Second, I tried the first bullet point and I got the warning Warning: apt-get update failed for some reason after some other error messages that usually come with sudo apt-get update.
    – Addem
    Commented Jan 1, 2017 at 23:03
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    Also after doing the second bullet point and then running sudo apt-get update I get the usual error messages. I'm guessing at this point I should disable the associated Trust Media thing.
    – Addem
    Commented Jan 1, 2017 at 23:05
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    Yep, after un-checking some check boxes for Trusty Media and mc3man under System Settings > Software and Updates > Other software, then I ran update again and get no error messages. I have about 90% confidence I didn't remove anything that I need.
    – Addem
    Commented Jan 1, 2017 at 23:09
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    If you don't have ppa-purge just use sudo add-apt-repository -r ppa:… instead.
    – dessert
    Commented Oct 1, 2017 at 21:29
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Remove the PPA with the line:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:mc3man/trusty-media

Now run 

sudo apt-get update
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    Thanks, I had the same issue, this method worked for me.
    – lobjc
    Commented Apr 17, 2022 at 8:30
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    My repository was named 'http://ppa.launchpad.net/network-manager/trunk/ubuntu focal Release' so I had to sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:network-manager/trunk instead.
    – usersina
    Commented Aug 22, 2022 at 9:59
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    THis worked for me on POpOS20.04. Thanks!
    – demid
    Commented Feb 19, 2023 at 6:45
  • worked for me as well I removed some python error repo
    – Greg Konush
    Commented Mar 22 at 6:40
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Yes, unchecking some tick boxes for Trusty Media and mc3man under

System Settings > Software and Updates > Other Software

did the trick. ppa-purge didn't work for me.

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    What to do if this is used on a server?
    – Brainmaniac
    Commented Dec 5, 2018 at 10:36
  • An advantage of this is being able to re-enable the PPA if you just want to disable it temporarily, rather than simply purging the whole thing.
    – GDP2
    Commented Jul 30, 2019 at 20:01
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From my personal experience I can recommend to directly contact the PPA owner (if we talk about PPA) to kindly ask him/her to prepare packages for needed (usually newer, so supported release) with steps below:

  1. Temporarily disable the PPA in your system (see other answer).
  2. Visit PPA page on https://launchpad.net and login to it.
  3. Determine the uploader's name in Uploaded by column, click on the name's hyperlink

  4. Then click on Contact this user

    Contact this user

  5. And fill the form with all necessary information:

    From: your e-mail will be shown in plain here
    Subject: Packaging of AppName for Ubuntu NN.MM release
    Message:

    Dear PPA owner!

    Thank you for your work on the AppName.
    It would be great if you create the package for it for Ubuntu NN.MM release.

    With best regards,
    user.

  6. Wait for an e-mail from PPA owner.

  7. Add PPA again to the system when package get published.
  8. Enjoy!
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3

In some cases a package meant for an older release of Ubuntu works in a newer release, too. This is currently the case with my ppa-purge PPA; see the website for instructions. Note that the official ppa-purge has had the same version 0.2.8+bzr63 since Ubuntu Xenial (16.04).

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