Command Not Found in Linux: Real Error Examples & How to Fix Them

Linux is powerful, but if you're new to it, encountering a message like "command not found" can be frustrating. Whether you're using Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian, Arch, or any other distro, this is one of the most commonly searched and seen errors.

In this guide, I'll break down real-life examples of this error and show you exactly how to fix them across different distributions.

• The command is not installed.
• The command is installed, but not in your PATH.
• You made a typo in the command.

Here are some of the most commonly searched "command not found" errors users encounter:

• bash: ifconfig: command not found

  # Ubuntu/Debian:
  sudo apt install net-tools
  # CentOS/RHEL:
  sudo yum install net-tools
  # Fedora:
  sudo dnf install net-tools
  # Arch Linux:
  sudo pacman -S net-tools
  # Alpine:
  sudo apk add net-tools
  # openSUSE:
  sudo zypper install net-tools
              

• bash: pip: command not found

  # Ubuntu/Debian:
  sudo apt install python3-pip
  # CentOS/RHEL:
  sudo yum install python3-pip
  # Fedora:
  sudo dnf install python3-pip
  # Arch Linux:
  sudo pacman -S python-pip
  # Alpine:
  sudo apk add py3-pip
  # openSUSE:
  sudo zypper install python3-pip
              

• bash: python: command not found

  # Ubuntu/Debian:
  sudo apt install python3
  # CentOS/RHEL:
  sudo yum install python3
  # Fedora:
  sudo dnf install python3
  # Arch Linux:
  sudo pacman -S python
  # Alpine:
  sudo apk add python3
  # openSUSE:
  sudo zypper install python3
              

• bash: git: command not found

  # Ubuntu/Debian:
  sudo apt install git
  # CentOS/RHEL:
  sudo yum install git
  # Fedora:
  sudo dnf install git
  # Arch Linux:
  sudo pacman -S git
  # Alpine:
  sudo apk add git
  # openSUSE:
  sudo zypper install git
              

• zsh: node: command not found

  # Recommended for all distros:
  curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.7/install.sh | bash
  nvm install node
              

• bash: curl: command not found

  # Ubuntu/Debian:
  sudo apt install curl
  # CentOS/RHEL:
  sudo yum install curl
  # Fedora:
  sudo dnf install curl
  # Arch Linux:
  sudo pacman -S curl
  # Alpine:
  sudo apk add curl
  # openSUSE:
  sudo zypper install curl
              

• bash: sudo: command not found
  (If you're logged in as root)

  # Ubuntu/Debian:
  apt install sudo
  # CentOS/RHEL:
  yum install sudo
  # Fedora:
  dnf install sudo
  # Arch Linux:
  pacman -S sudo
  # Alpine:
  apk add sudo
  # openSUSE:
  zypper install sudo
              

You might need to add it to your PATH.

Check PATH:
echo $PATH

Example Fix:
export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/bin

To make it permanent, add that line to your .bashrc or .zshrc file.

• Debian/Ubuntu:

  apt-cache search 
  apt-file search  # install via: sudo apt install apt-file

• CentOS/Red Hat:

  yum provides "*/"

• Fedora:

  dnf provides 

• Arch Linux:

  pacman -F  # Needs updated file database

• Alpine:

  apk search -v 

• openSUSE:

  zypper search 

If you're creating custom bash scripts:

• Save them in a known location, e.g., ~/scripts
• Add that location to your PATH:
  export PATH="$PATH:$HOME/scripts"