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How to Install and Use Snap on Ubuntu: A Complete Beginner's Guide (2025)

LightNode
By LightNode ·

Introduction

Snap is a revolutionary package management system developed by Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu. It represents a modern approach to software distribution and installation on Linux systems, offering several unique advantages over traditional package managers.

What makes Snap special is its ability to package applications with all their dependencies, creating self-contained applications that work across different Linux distributions. This containerized approach ensures that applications run consistently regardless of the system's environment, eliminating the common "dependency hell" problem that Linux users often face.

Key benefits of using Snap include:

  1. Self-contained packages: Each Snap package contains all the libraries and dependencies it needs to run, preventing conflicts with other installed software.

  2. Automatic updates: Snap packages can update automatically in the background, ensuring you always have the latest version without manual intervention.

  3. Security: Snaps run in isolation from the rest of your system, providing an additional layer of security through containerization.

  4. Universal compatibility: The same Snap package can run on any Linux distribution that supports Snap, making software distribution easier for developers and installation simpler for users.

This guide will walk you through the process of installing Snap on Ubuntu, show you how to use basic Snap commands, and address common questions that new users might have.

Installation Steps

Before installing Snap, ensure you have sudo privileges on your Ubuntu system. Here's how to install Snap using the command line:

  1. Update Package Lists 
    sudo apt update

apt update

  1. Install Snap 
    sudo apt install snapd

Snap installed

  1. Verify Installation 
    snap version

snap check

This command should display the version information for both snapd and snap if the installation was successful.

Using Snap

Once Snap is installed, you can start using it to manage applications. Here are the most common commands you'll need:

Finding Applications

# Search for an application
snap find application_name

# Get detailed information about a specific snap
snap info application_name

Installing Applications

# Install a snap package
sudo snap install application_name

# Install a specific version
sudo snap install application_name --channel=version/stable

Managing Installed Applications

# List all installed snaps
snap list

# Update all snap packages
sudo snap refresh

# Update a specific snap
sudo snap refresh application_name

# Remove a snap
sudo snap remove application_name

Working with Snap Services

# View running snap services
snap services

# Start/stop a snap service
sudo snap start/stop service_name

Remember that Snap packages are automatically updated by default. However, you can manually check for updates using the snap refresh command. Some applications might require a system restart after installation or update to function properly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why is my first Snap installation taking longer than expected?

A: The first time you install a Snap package, the system needs to download and set up the core Snap runtime. Subsequent installations will be much faster since the core components are already in place.

Q: How do I fix "snap: command not found" error?

A: This error typically occurs if the Snap binary isn't in your PATH. Try these solutions:

  1. Restart your system
  2. Run source /etc/profile
  3. Make sure snapd is installed: sudo apt install snapd

Q: Can I use Snap alongside apt?

A: Yes, you can use both package managers simultaneously without conflicts. They operate independently and manage different types of packages.

Q: Why are Snap packages generally larger than their apt counterparts?

A: Snap packages include all their dependencies, making them self-contained. While this increases the package size, it ensures better compatibility and isolation.

Q: How can I disable automatic updates for Snap packages?

A: You can disable automatic updates for specific snaps using:

sudo snap refresh --hold application_name

To re-enable updates:

sudo snap refresh --unhold application_name

Q: What should I do if a Snap package isn't working?

A: Try these troubleshooting steps:

  1. Check the application status: snap list application_name
  2. Try removing and reinstalling: sudo snap remove application_name && sudo snap install application_name
  3. Ensure snapd is running: sudo systemctl status snapd
  4. Check system logs: journalctl -u snapd
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