snap Command
Beginner Package Management man(1)Install and manage snap packages
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📅 Updated: Mar 15, 2026
SYNTAX
snap [OPTION]... COMMAND [SNAP]
What Does snap Do?
snap installs and manages snap packages — self-contained application bundles that include all dependencies. Snaps update automatically, run in sandboxes, and work across many Linux distributions.
Snaps are designed for cross-distribution compatibility. A single snap works on Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Arch, and more. They include all libraries and dependencies, avoiding "dependency hell".
snap is maintained by Canonical and is the default on Ubuntu for many applications. Snaps auto-update in the background and provide automatic rollback if updates fail.
Snaps are designed for cross-distribution compatibility. A single snap works on Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Arch, and more. They include all libraries and dependencies, avoiding "dependency hell".
snap is maintained by Canonical and is the default on Ubuntu for many applications. Snaps auto-update in the background and provide automatic rollback if updates fail.
Options & Flags
| Option | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| install | Install a snap | sudo snap install firefox |
| remove | Remove a snap | sudo snap remove firefox |
| list | List installed snaps | snap list |
| find | Search for snaps | snap find "text editor" |
| refresh | Update snaps | sudo snap refresh |
| info | Show snap details | snap info firefox |
| --classic | Install with classic confinement (no sandbox) | sudo snap install code --classic |
Practical Examples
#1 Install snap
Installs VS Code with classic confinement (full filesystem access).
$ sudo snap install code --classic#2 List installed
Shows all installed snaps with versions.
$ snap list
Output:
Name Version Rev Tracking\nfirefox 120.0 3432 latest/stable
#3 Search snaps
Searches the Snap Store for Node.js related snaps.
$ snap find node#4 Update all snaps
Updates all snaps to latest versions.
$ sudo snap refresh#5 Remove snap
Removes the snap and its data.
$ sudo snap remove firefox#6 Revert update
Rolls back to the previous version.
$ sudo snap revert firefoxTips & Best Practices
Classic vs strict: Strict snaps run in a sandbox (limited filesystem access). Classic snaps (--classic) have full access. IDEs and dev tools often need --classic.
Auto-updates: Snaps update automatically. Use snap refresh --hold to pause updates. snap refresh --unhold to resume.
Startup can be slower: Snaps may start slower than native packages because they mount a squashfs filesystem. This is a known trade-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a snap package?
A self-contained application bundle with all dependencies included. Works across distributions and updates automatically.
How is snap different from apt?
apt installs distribution packages that share libraries. snap installs self-contained bundles. snap is cross-distribution; apt is Debian/Ubuntu only.
How do I roll back a snap update?
sudo snap revert snap_name reverts to the previous version.
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