How to fix dpkg-divert: error: rename involves overwriting 'path' with different file in APT

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The "dpkg-divert: error: rename involves overwriting" error occurs when dpkg-divert tries to rename a file during package operations but finds a different file in the target location. This typically happens due to package conflicts, leftover files from failed installations, or incorrect diversion configurations.

What this error means

dpkg-divert is a utility used to temporarily override Debian package files when there are conflicts between packages. When adding or removing a diversion with the --rename option, dpkg-divert attempts to physically move the file to its diverted location (or restore it). This error occurs when the destination path already contains a different file than what dpkg-divert expects. This can happen when: - Multiple packages try to manage the same file - Previous package installations left orphaned files - Manual edits corrupted the diversions database at /var/lib/dpkg/diversions - A file that was supposed to be managed by a diversion was overwritten by another package The error prevents the file operation from completing because dpkg-divert cannot safely overwrite an unexpected file without potentially losing data.

How to fix "dpkg-divert: error: rename involves overwriting 'path' with different file"

1List all current diversions to understand the conflict

First, examine what diversions exist on your system:

bash

dpkg-divert --list

This will show all active diversions and help identify which file is causing the conflict. Look for the file mentioned in your error message.

2Check for leftover conflicting files in diversion directories

Look for orphaned files in common diversion directories:

bash

ls -la /usr/lib/mesa-diversions/
ls -la /usr/lib/nvidia/diversions/
ls -la /etc/alternatives/

If you find files that don't correspond to active diversions (from dpkg-divert --list), these may be causing conflicts. Note their full paths.

3Attempt to remove the problematic diversion cleanly

If you identified the conflicting file, try to remove the diversion:

bash

dpkg-divert --remove /path/to/conflicting/file

If this works, the issue is resolved. If it still fails with the same error, proceed to the next step.

4Manually move or remove the conflicting file

If dpkg-divert --remove fails, you can manually remove the blocking file:

bash

sudo mv /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libglx.so /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libglx.so.backup

Replace the path with your actual conflicting file. Use mv instead of rm to keep a backup in case you need to restore it.

After moving the file, retry the package operation:

bash

sudo apt update && sudo apt install -f

5Purge and reinstall affected packages as a last resort

If manual removal doesn't resolve the issue, completely remove and reinstall the conflicting packages:

bash

# First, identify which package owns the conflicting file
dpkg -S /path/to/conflicting/file

# Purge the conflicting package (removes all files including diversions)
sudo apt purge package-name

# Verify all diversions for that package are gone
dpkg-divert --list | grep package-name

# Reinstall the package cleanly
sudo apt install package-name

This forces dpkg to reset the diversion state and properly configure the package.

How to fix dpkg-divert: error: rename involves overwriting 'path' with different file in APT

What this error means

Typical symptoms

Common causes

How to fix "dpkg-divert: error: rename involves overwriting 'path' with different file"

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Official resources & further reading