check_upgrade: "Updating repositories metadata" returned error code 1

753951

@stephenw10 I'm getting that error for the last week or so, and I'm still on 24.11. If I try to manually check for an update, the branch drop down is empty.

stephenw10

Ah, that seems like a different issue then; it's actually unable to check.

Try running: pkg -d update

And: pfSense-repoc -ND

See what errors are shown.

753951

@stephenw10
[24.11-RELEASE][root@pfsense.stanar.info]/root: pkg -d update
DBG(1)[92284]> pkg initialized
pkg: Unable to open '/usr/local/etc/pkg/repos//pfSense.conf':No such file or directory
No active remote repositories configured.

As for pfSense-repoc -ND

Messages:
Your device has not been registered for pfSense+. Please purchase a pfSense+ subscription to receive future updates. <a href="https://shop.netgate.com/products/pfsense-software-subscription" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Netgate store</a>

Don't get it. I made no changes in months.

stephenw10

Ok send me your NDI in chat and I'll check it.

renanlofiego

Me too, after the update, I started receiving the message "check_upgrade: "updating repositories metadata" returned error code 1".

I ran the command "pkg -d update" and it returned the following: "DBG(1)[56533]> pkg initialized
pkg: Unable to open '/usr/local/etc/pkg/repos//pfSense.conf': No such file or directory
No active remote repositories configured."

I don't know if it has to do with the license. Is there still a free pfSense+ license for labs?

stephenw10

So same as above; run pfSense-repoc -ND and see what error that returns.

Send me your NDI in chat and I'll check it.

mrpon8

check_upgrade: "Updating repositories metadata" returned error code 1
for resolve this problem only need update the pkg
into the "Diagnostics, then Command Prompt" run "pkg update -f"

renanlofiego

@mrpon8 When I run this command "pkg update -f" it returns this message "pkg: Unable to open '/usr/local/etc/pkg/repos//pfSense.conf': No such file or directory
No active remote repositories configured."

benhamou.ahmed

i have same issue

benhamou.ahmed

@stephenw10 i have same issue

hbbn

I had same issue for a long time.

Then I tried pkg update -f and got an error for SunnyVally repository
I figured that I had a old version of zenarmor installed that matches the FreeBSD 14 and not 15.
Upgraded the zenarmor to the latest version.

Haven't had any of the error messages for some time now. hopefully that was it.

Maybe this can be helpfull to someone.

JonnyQuest

I did a fresh install of 2.8.0 and do not get the error anymore.

Cre8or

@JonnyQuest

im on 2.8.0 and i also had no problems

Shell Output - pkg update -f

Updating ntop repository catalogue...
Fetching meta.conf: . done
Fetching data.pkg: . done
Processing entries: . done
ntop repository update completed. 6 packages processed.
Updating pfSense-core repository catalogue...
Fetching meta.conf: . done
Fetching data.pkg: . done
Processing entries: . done
pfSense-core repository update completed. 4 packages processed.
Updating pfSense repository catalogue...
Fetching meta.conf: . done
Fetching data.pkg: ......... done
Processing entries: .......... done
pfSense repository update completed. 541 packages processed.
All repositories are up to date.

lutel

Same problem here, i'm running 2.8.0 updated from 2.7.2. It also takes much longer to login to dashboard than in previous version.

SuperTypeGuy

I am also encountering the (check_upgrade: "Updating repositories metadata" returned error code 1) Upgrade Notice after updating from 2.8.0 => 2.8.1

The notice timestamp updates on every reboot even with the dashboard auto-update check disabled. Even if I wait 10 minutes after the reboot before logging into the gui, the notice timestamp is when the system rebooted and not at time of log in.

Also, no repository errors when checking from the cli or the System Update gui. Other than the notice message, everything seems fine.

stephenw10

Yup the check that fails is during boot. The alert should be there however long you wait to login. But, yes, it's just ugly. It shouldn't actually be a problem.

SuperTypeGuy

fwiw, after checking a few other systems I am seeing this exact notice on several other 2.8.0 systems. Now I am geussing the above system had the notice before upgrading to 2.8.1.

ag0s

This post is deleted!

f1d094

@SuperTypeGuy said in check_upgrade: "Updating repositories metadata" returned error code 1:

Also, no repository errors when checking from the cli or the System Update gui. Other than the notice message, everything seems fine.

Just chiming in. I came here to report this "check_upgrade: "Updating repositories metadata" returned error code 1 @ 2025-10-01 17:41:46" which is reported on each boot This was for a new host, installed fresh via USB. The config was then updated from backup of the (failed) host it was replacing.

Everything works...but we get this message on every reboot.

f1d094

Point of interest: This may be related to my other issue/unbound. It seems that unbound is taking an inordinately long time to load now on v2.8.1 (1-2 minutes). @Gertjan pointed out that I am running an archaic config with pfBlocker in unbound mode and should update that to "python mode" for speed...

Is there something new with 2.8.2 / unbound / pfBlocker that causes DNS to take too long and therefore isn't available to "pkg update" when it is first run?