Can't install or update as unattended-upgr locks system

[ianp5a]

Non-IT user can't install Zoom because of error:
"Unable to install Zoom. E: Could not get lock /var/dpkg/lock-frontend. It is held by process 6462 (unattended-upgr)"

Attempt to update gets this error: "Waiting for unattended-upgr to exit"

Problem: User can't use the app for a University lecture. Online helps suggests IT solutions with knowledge outside the experience of the user.

Requirement suggestion 1:
   An improved error message that gives non IT users clear instructions on what to do.

Requirement suggestion 2:
   A GUI based operation to solve the problem.

Requirement suggestion 3:
   Integrate the GUI solution into a button in the error message.

Requirement suggestion 4.
   Avoid the problem in the first place by mitigating the conflict for non IT users.

Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS, Gnome 3.36.8, X11 (Fresh install)

[Julian Andres Klode (juliank)]

The message tells you that unattended upgrades are running in the background, so it seems that users should be able to deduct that they have to wait for them to complete before continuing.

Of course, it's not always unattended-upgrades, you might be installing something else yourself and forgot about it, so the message is really as good as it gets.

There is no solution, as there is no problem. You just gotta wait.

[ianp5a (ianp)]

The error message does not say something is running in the background.
It does not say they should wait or for how long to wait.
It only says 'something' is locked.

It is not clear to normal users what to do. The user cannot progress. So it is serious.

Many people have put a lot of effort into making Ubuntu a user friendly distro. This bug report is to help them fix this usability issue.