snap

Updated

September 4, 2026

Overview

snap installs Snap packages from the Snap Store. On Ubuntu Server you mainly meet snaps as optional delivery for server tools (for example some Canonical products, confinement demos, or ops utilities) — not as a desktop app store. Prefer distro packages (apt / dnf) for core system software; use snaps when a vendor ships only that channel or you want the snap’s isolation/refresh model.

Many minimal server images ship without snapd; install it only if you need it.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install snapd    # Debian/Ubuntu when required

Syntax

snap [options] command

Common Commands

Command	Description
`find query`	Search store
`info name`	Details / channels / confinement
`install name`	Install
`remove name`	Remove
`list`	Installed snaps
`refresh`	Update
`channels name`	Track/channel info
`services`	Services shipped inside snaps
`logs name`	Snap service logs
`connections`	Interface plugs/slots (confinement)

Safety

Snaps auto-refresh by default — on production hosts, understand refresh timing or hold refreshes for critical tools.
Prefer apt/dnf for libraries and daemons that integrate tightly with the OS.
Classic confinement is less sandboxed — review snap info before install.
Disk growth under /var/lib/snapd from old revisions — prune intentionally.

Key Use Cases

Vendor-distributed server tools published only as snaps
Optional Ubuntu server components that use snapd
Inspecting what snapd already installed on a host

Examples with Explanations

Inventory and search

snap version
snap list
snap find lxd
snap info lxd

Use info to see tracks, confinement, and whether the snap is maintained.

Install / remove (server-oriented)

# Example only — choose packages you actually need
sudo snap install hello-world
snap list
sudo snap remove hello-world

Prefer well-known server snaps you operate deliberately; avoid random desktop apps on headless hosts.

Channels / tracks

snap info kubectl
# sudo snap install kubectl --classic --channel=1.29/stable

--classic relaxes confinement (common for developer/ops CLIs). Pin channels on production.

Services and logs

snap services
# sudo snap restart <snap>.<service>
snap logs <snap-name>

Some snaps bundle systemd-like services managed through snapd.

Hold refreshes (ops)

sudo snap refresh --hold
# review: snap refresh --time
# later: sudo snap refresh --unhold

Useful in maintenance windows so unattended refreshes do not change binaries mid-incident.

Revisions / disk use

snap list --all
du -sh /var/lib/snapd
# remove disabled old revisions when appropriate:
# sudo snap remove <name> --revision=N

Notes & Pitfalls

Headless servers: no GUI plugs; do not install GUI-oriented snaps.
Mixing snap and apt packages of the same tool can put two binaries on PATH — check which -a.
Network-restricted environments need store/proxy access for install and refresh.
For Fedora/RHEL, this ecosystem is uncommon; use distro packages or containers instead.

Additional Resources

man snap
Ubuntu Server documentation on snapd (when using Ubuntu)