Fixing Claude Code Installation Lock Error

📅 2025-12-26 👤 colosieve

Fixed Claude Code update stuck on “another process is currently installing” error.

❯ claude update
Setting up Claude Code...

✘ Installation failed

Could not install - another process is currently installing Claude. Please try again in a moment.

Try running with --force to override checks

Very frustrating:

“Try running with –force to override checks” can’t be applied with how Claude Code is installed or updated
Even fully uninstalling Claude didn’t work
Rebooting also didn’t help

Turns out stale lock directories in ~/.local/state/claude/locks/ were blocking new installs. Remove those and the update works instantly:

rm -rf ~/.local/state/claude/locks/*
claude update

Setting up Claude Code...
✔ Claude Code successfully installed!

  Version: 2.0.76

  Location: ~/.local/bin/claude

  Next: Run claude --help to get started

✅ Installation complete!