Unable to install packages in latest version of RStudio and R Version.3.1.1 [duplicate]

71
votes

I am unable to install packages through latest version of RStudio and R Version.3.1.1. Kindly help. I got the error as mentioned below:

Example:
Warning in install.packages :
  InternetOpenUrl failed: ''
Warning in install.packages :
  InternetOpenUrl failed: ''
Warning in install.packages :
  unable to access index for repository http://cran.rstudio.com/bin/windows/contrib/3.1
Installing package into ‘C:/Users/Documents/R/win-library/3.1’
(as ‘lib’ is unspecified)
Warning in install.packages :
  InternetOpenUrl failed: ''
Warning in install.packages :
  InternetOpenUrl failed: ''
Warning in install.packages :
  unable to access index for repository http://cran.rstudio.com/bin/windows/contrib/3.1
Warning in install.packages :
  package ‘reshape’ is not available (for R version 3.1.1)
9
r
Firewall/proxy issue? Did it work before? - user3710546
Response on RStudio support site: support.rstudio.com/hc/communities/public/questions/… - Andrie
I had this problem too. The solution was to use another mirror. - CoderGuy123
Following these steps solved my issue: github.com/ContinuumIO/anaconda-issues/issues/… In Terminal, run conda install libssh2 then conda install krb5 - Zack Katz
I tried everything, however only reinstalling R and Rstudio worked for me. I later installed it in Anaconda. - rishi jain

9 Answers

147
votes

Not 100% certain that you have the same problem, but I found out the hard way that my job blocks each mirror site option that was offered and I was getting errors like this:

Installing package into ‘/usr/lib64/R/library’
(as ‘lib’ is unspecified)
--- Please select a CRAN mirror for use in this session ---
Error in download.file(url, destfile = f, quiet = TRUE) : 
  unsupported URL scheme
Warning: unable to access index for repository https://rweb.crmda.ku.edu/cran/src/contrib
Warning message:
package ‘ggplot2’ is not available (for R version 3.2.2)

Workaround (I am using CentOS)...

install.packages('package_name', dependencies=TRUE, repos='http://cran.rstudio.com/')

I hope this saves someone hours of frustration.

74
votes

I think this is the "set it and forget it" solution:

options(repos='http://cran.rstudio.com/')

Note that this isn't https. I was on a Linux machine, ssh'ing in. If I used https, it didn't work.

7
votes

As @Pascal said, it is likely that you encounter problem with the firewall or/and proxy issue. As a first step, go through FAQ on the CRAN web page. After that, try to flag R with --internet2.

Sometimes it could be useful to check global options in R studio and uncheck "Use Internet Explorer library/proxy for HTTP". Tools -> Global Options -> Packages and unchecking the "Use Internet Explorer library/proxy for HTTP" option.

Hope this helps.

6
votes

Based on answers from the community, there appear to be several ways that might solve this:

  1. From the official FAQ and support forums and this answer, you may have have a firewall or proxy issue that is blocking RStudio from connecting to the internet:
  • Disable any firewalls
  • Tools -> Global Options -> Packages and unchecking the "Use Internet Explorer library/proxy for HTTP" option and restart R (#1, #2, #3)
  • Flag R with --internet2
  • On CentOS it was suggested to try the following: install.packages('package_name', dependencies=TRUE, repos='http://cran.rstudio.com/')
  1. Several answers suggest using an alternate mirror (#1, #2, #3):
  • Preferences > General > Default working directory > Browse and switch your mirror from local/global (whichever is unchecked)
  1. On Windows you can start the application with http_proxy=http://host:port/:
  • "C:\Program Files\RStudio\bin\rstudio.exe" http_proxy=http://host:port/
  1. Shut down and restart. Needed after many of the above operations, and suggested standalone.
3
votes

My solution that worked was to open R studio options and select global miror (the field was empty before) and the error went away.

3
votes

Please check the following to be able to install new packages:

1- In Tools -> Global Options -> Packages, uncheck the "Use Internet Explorer library/proxy for HTTP" option,

2- In Tools -> Global Options -> Packages, change the CRAN mirror to "0- Cloud - Rstudio, automatic redirection to servers worldwide"

3- Restart Rstudio.

4- Have fun!

1
votes

If you are on Windows, try this:

"C:\Program Files\RStudio\bin\rstudio.exe" http_proxy=http://host:port/

0
votes

What worked for me:

Preferences-General-Default working directory-Browse Switch from global to local mirror

Working on a Mac. 10.10.3

0
votes

Most of the time @cer solution works but if in case its not working then try installing it in base R (NOT in R studio). As R studio runs base R executable in background so new package will be available in R studio as well. [my experience in macOS]