How To Fix “Could not resolve ‘my.old-releases.ubuntu.com'” Error in Ubuntu 20.04

In this article, we will guide you through the process of resolving the “Could not resolve ‘my.old-releases.ubuntu.com'” error in Ubuntu 20.04. This error typically occurs when running the sudo apt-get update command and can be a source of frustration. However, with a few simple steps, you can easily correct this issue.

Understanding the Error

Before we dive into the solution, it’s important to understand what this error means. When you run the sudo apt-get update command, your system tries to fetch the latest updates from the repositories listed in the /etc/apt/sources.list file. If the system can’t reach the repository, it throws the “Could not resolve ‘my.old-releases.ubuntu.com'” error.

The error occurs because the packages for Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal Fossa) are located in the archive repository, not the old-releases repository. Therefore, any lines in your sources.list file that refer to my.old-releases or old-releases will cause this error.

Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing the Error

Step 1: Open the Terminal

Firstly, open a terminal on your Ubuntu system. You can do this by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T or by searching for ‘Terminal’ in the application menu.

Step 2: Edit the sources.list File

Next, we need to edit the sources.list file. This file contains the list of repositories from which your system fetches updates. Run the following command to open the file in the nano text editor:

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

Here, sudo runs the command as the root user, nano is a command-line text editor, and /etc/apt/sources.list is the path to the file you want to edit.

Step 3: Replace the Incorrect Repository URLs

In the sources.list file, look for any lines that contain my.old-releases or old-releases. Replace my.old-releases with archive and old-releases with archive. For example, change:

http://my.old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal InRelease

to:

http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal InRelease

Step 4: Save and Exit

After making the changes, save the file and exit the text editor. In nano, you can do this by pressing Ctrl + X, then Y to confirm the save, and finally Enter to exit.

Step 5: Update the Package Lists

Finally, run the following command to update the package lists:

sudo apt-get update

This command fetches the latest updates from the repositories listed in the sources.list file.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the “Could not resolve ‘my.old-releases.ubuntu.com'” error in Ubuntu 20.04. If you continue to encounter the same error, there may be additional issues with your system that require further investigation. In such cases, consider seeking help from the Ubuntu community or a professional system administrator.