How to Ignore Specific Package Updates on Arch Linux

Arch Linux is renowned for its rolling release model and its philosophy of giving users full control over their system. However, this level of control also brings responsibility — especially when it comes to system updates. While it’s generally advisable to keep your system up-to-date to benefit from the latest features and security patches, there may be situations where you want to ignore specific package updates temporarily or even permanently.

Whether it’s due to compatibility issues, custom configurations, or simply wanting to wait until a package stabilizes, Arch Linux gives you the tools to exclude packages from updates using Pacman’s built-in mechanisms. This article will guide you through the process of ignoring specific packages during updates, discuss why you might want to do so, and present best practices and caveats to be aware of.

Why Ignore Package Updates?

Before diving into the how-to, it’s important to understand the scenarios where ignoring a package update may be a practical decision:

• Custom patches or modifications: If you’ve modified a package (e.g., patched the source or rebuilt it with specific flags), an update could overwrite your changes.
• Temporary regressions or bugs: Occasionally, an upstream update might introduce a regression or a critical bug that affects your workflow.
• Package deprecations or major changes: Major updates can break existing configurations or remove features you rely on.
• Kernel updates: Some users, especially those using proprietary drivers or specialized hardware, may wish to avoid kernel updates until compatibility is verified.

While these are valid reasons, it’s crucial to remember that ignoring updates should be approached carefully to avoid system inconsistencies or security vulnerabilities.

The Basics: Pacman and the IgnorePkg Option

Pacman, the package manager for Arch Linux, allows you to ignore packages through its configuration file: /etc/pacman.conf.

Step-by-Step: Ignoring a Package

1. Open the Pacman configuration file:

   You can use any text editor. For example:

   sudo nano /etc/pacman.conf
   

2. Locate the [options] section:

   This is typically near the top of the file.

3. Add the IgnorePkg directive:

   Example — to ignore the linux kernel package:

   [options]
   IgnorePkg = linux
   

   You can list multiple packages by separating them with spaces:

   IgnorePkg = linux nvidia firefox
   

4. Save and exit the file.

   In Nano, press CTRL+O to save, then CTRL+X to exit.

5. Test the configuration:

   Run a system update and verify that the listed packages are being ignored:

   sudo pacman -Syu
   

   You should see a message like:

   warning: linux: ignoring package upgrade (6.8.1.arch1-1 => 6.9.0.arch1-1)
   

   This confirms the package is being skipped during the upgrade process.

Ignoring Package Groups or Patterns

Pacman does not support wildcards like linux* in IgnorePkg. You must specify the exact package name. If you want to ignore related packages (e.g., linux, linux-headers, and linux-docs), each one must be explicitly listed:

IgnorePkg = linux linux-headers linux-docs

Temporarily Ignoring Packages (One-Time)

If you want to ignore a package just once — say, for a particular update — you can do it without editing the config file by using the --ignore flag.

Example

sudo pacman -Syu --ignore=linux

You can also list multiple packages:

sudo pacman -Syu --ignore=linux,firefox

This approach is useful when you only want to defer a specific update but resume normal updates afterward.

Use Case: Holding Back Kernel Updates

Let’s say you’re using proprietary drivers (like NVIDIA or VirtualBox) and you want to avoid updating the kernel until driver updates are available. You can hold back the kernel and its headers:

In /etc/pacman.conf

IgnorePkg = linux linux-headers

This will ensure your running kernel and its matching headers stay in sync — a crucial point for things like DKMS modules.

Alternative: Locking Packages with pacman -Qet and pacman -Qm

If you’re using custom-built packages (e.g., via makepkg or from the AUR), you might want to track them separately to avoid accidental overwrites. Use pacman -Qet to list explicitly installed native packages, and pacman -Qm to list manually installed foreign (non-repo) packages.

Locking in this case can be achieved by not updating them via Pacman at all, or by only updating AUR packages using tools like yay, paru, etc., with package-specific filters.

Caveats and Considerations

While the ability to ignore updates is powerful, it comes with risks:

1. Dependency Hell

If a package you ignore becomes a dependency for another package that’s being updated, you might encounter conflicts. For instance:

error: failed to prepare transaction (could not satisfy dependencies)
:: installing foo (2.0) breaks dependency 'bar=1.5' required by baz

In such cases, you may be forced to either update or rebuild the conflicting package.

2. Security Risks

By ignoring updates — especially for key components like openssl, systemd, or bash — you might miss critical security patches. Always monitor upstream or the Arch Security Tracker if you choose to do this.

3. Maintenance Burden

The more packages you ignore, the harder it becomes to maintain your system. Over time, this can lead to instability, broken functionality, or incompatibility with newer libraries.

Monitoring Ignored Packages

To keep track of packages you’ve chosen to ignore, consider creating a script or alias that lists them for review.

Example alias in ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc

alias ignored="grep '^IgnorePkg' /etc/pacman.conf"

Reload your shell config and run:

ignored

This quick check helps ensure you don’t forget what you’re holding back.

Best Practices

Here are a few suggestions to help you make the most of this feature without compromising your system:

• ✅ Use temporary ignoring for unstable packages, and remove the ignore directive after a patch is released.
• ✅ Rebuild AUR packages that depend on ignored core packages, using tools like yay, paru, or makepkg.
• ✅ Document your ignores somewhere (e.g., in a README or system notes).
• ✅ Use a VM or container to test packages before updating in your production system.
• ❌ Don’t ignore too many packages. The more you deviate from upstream, the harder it becomes to maintain.
• ❌ Don’t forget to update ignored packages manually when it’s safe to do so.

Manually Updating an Ignored Package

If you’ve ignored a package but later want to update it manually:

sudo pacman -S package_name

This bypasses the IgnorePkg directive for that command.

You can also remove the package from IgnorePkg temporarily, update, and then re-add it if needed.

Conclusion

Arch Linux gives you full control over your system, and the ability to ignore specific package updates is a prime example of that flexibility. Whether you’re delaying a kernel update, protecting custom packages, or avoiding unstable versions, Pacman’s IgnorePkg feature is a powerful tool in your hands.

However, with great power comes great responsibility. Always be mindful of the broader impact of holding back updates — especially on system stability and security. Use this feature sparingly and review ignored packages regularly to ensure they don’t become a liability.

When used wisely, ignoring package updates can help you maintain a more stable and customized Arch Linux environment tailored exactly to your needs.