Fix: “Error While Loading Shared Libraries: Cannot Open Shared Object File”

If you encounter the error message “Error while loading shared libraries: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory”, follow these steps to resolve it.

What Causes This Error?

This error occurs when a program cannot find the required shared library. Common reasons include:

• The library is missing or not installed.
• The library is in a non-standard location.
• The system is not configured to locate the library.

Solution 1: Install the Missing Library

Use the package manager to install the required library.

1. Identify the missing library from the error message (e.g., libxyz.so).
2. On Ubuntu/Debian, run:

   sudo apt update && sudo apt install libxyz

3. On Fedora/RHEL, run:

   sudo dnf install libxyz

4. On Arch Linux, run:

   sudo pacman -S libxyz

Solution 2: Update the Library Cache

If the library exists but is not found, update the system’s library cache.

1. Run:

   sudo ldconfig

2. Try running the program again.

Solution 3: Add Library Path to LD_LIBRARY_PATH

If the library is in a non-standard location, add it to LD_LIBRARY_PATH.

1. Find the library location:

   find /usr -name "libxyz.so"

2. Export the path:

   export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/path/to/library:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH

3. Try running the program again.
4. To make it permanent, add the export command to ~/.bashrc or /etc/environment.

Solution 4: Reinstall the Application

If the issue persists, reinstall the application.

1. Uninstall the application:

   sudo apt remove app-name

2. Reinstall it:

   sudo apt install app-name

3. Check if the error is resolved.

For more “Linux” solutions, please check our Linux.