Problem:

You go to install a package with yum command on CentOS and you get the error saying that “Another app is currently holding the yum lock; waiting for it to exit… The other application is: PackageKit”. PackageKit get launched automatically in the background, interfering with yum command

Example

[root@centos ~]# yum install php-mysqlnd
Existing lock /var/run/yum.pid: another copy is currently running as pid 4852.
Another app is currently holding the yum lock; waiting for it to exit...
  The other application is: PackageKit
    Memory :  25 M RSS (908 MB VSZ)
    Started: Sat Sep 14 12:43:34 2019 - 00:00 ago
    State  : Sleeping, pid:  4852
Another app is currently holding the yum lock; waiting for it to exit...
  The other application is: PackageKit
    Memory : 25 M RSS (908 MB VSZ)
    Started: Sat Sep 14 12:43:34 2019 - 00:02 ago
    State : Sleeping, pid: 4852

PackageKit is a suite of programs designed for checking, updating, and (un)installing packages on a Linux system. When PackageKit is running in the background, it blocks any other software management initiated by users (e.g., with yum command).

When you fail to run yum command due to PackageKit holding the yum lock, you can simply wait for PackageKit to finish, and then run yum command again.

There are two reasons to disable/remove PackageKit –

1. You dont want to wait for it to get done so you can install another application
2. You dont want it to eat up your bandwidth on your mobile device / hotspot that your laptop is tethered to

Disabling

I found disabling does not work on Centos 7 as it is already disabled and Gnome will launch it

Removing

I have removed it with no negative effects

yum remove PackageKit