If you are trying to stop or cancel an in-progress Snap installation on Ubuntu Linux, there are a few methods you can try. Snaps are self-contained software packages that provide an easy way to install and update apps on Ubuntu. However, you may want to stop a Snap installation if it is taking too long, you changed your mind, or there is an issue with the install.
Use Ctrl+C to Stop Snap Install
The easiest way to stop a Snap install in progress is to press Ctrl+C in the terminal window where you started the install. For example:
user@ubuntu:~$ sudo snap install firefox [ensures snapd is up-to-date] Preparing to install 'firefox'... ^C
Pressing Ctrl+C will send a termination signal to the Snap installation process and attempt to stop it. This is the fastest way to interrupt a running Snap install.
Kill the Snap Process
If Ctrl+C does not work, you can try killing the Snap process directly using the kill command. To do this, first get the process ID (PID) of the Snap install:
user@ubuntu:~$ ps aux | grep snap user 2935 0.1 0.6 421912 51620 ? SLl 13:32 0:00 /usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/snap install firefox
Here we can see the Snap install process has a PID of 2935. Now run:
user@ubuntu:~$ kill 2935
This will terminate the Snap install process immediately. Be sure to verify the correct PID before running kill to avoid stopping unrelated processes.
Remove Lock Files
If killing the process does not work, another option is to remove the lock files that Snap creates during an install. These files prevent multiple instances of Snap from running simultaneously. To remove the lock files:
user@ubuntu:~$ sudo rm /tmp/snapd.lock /tmp/snapd-sideload.lock
After removing these lock files, you should be able to Ctrl+C or kill any remaining Snap processes.
Stop and Remove Partially Installed Snaps
If a Snap did not install completely but is still showing as installed, you may need to remove the partial install. First list all installed snaps:
user@ubuntu:~$ snap list Name Version Rev Tracking Publisher Notes core18 20230109 2661 latest/stable canonical✓ base firefox 81.0.2-1 279 latest/stable mozilla -
Here we can see Firefox is installed but failed during the install based on the “-” under Notes. To remove it:
user@ubuntu:~$ sudo snap remove firefox
This will remove any partially installed Snap packages.
Reset Snap’s State
As a last resort, you can try resetting the state of Snap on your system. This will clear any locks and return Snap to a fresh state. To do this, run:
user@ubuntu:~$ sudo snap abort
After aborting any pending or incomplete Snap commands, you should be able to install Snaps normally again.
Conclusion
In summary, here are some effective ways to stop a Snap install in progress on Ubuntu:
- Press Ctrl+C in the terminal where Snap is installing
- Kill the Snap process using its PID and the kill command
- Remove the Snap lock files in /tmp
- Stop and remove any partially installed Snaps
- Reset the state of Snap using snap abort
Following these steps should allow you to interrupt even stubborn in-progress Snap installations. Just remember to use caution when killing processes or removing lock files, as this could impact other applications running on your system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to stop a Snap install?
There are a few common reasons you may want to stop a Snap install in progress:
- The install is taking too long and you want to troubleshoot or retry
- You change your mind and don’t want to install the Snap anymore
- The install seems stuck or frozen
- There are errors during the install you want to investigate
Is it safe to kill a Snap process with kill or remove its locks?
Generally it is safe to kill a Snap process or remove its lock files as long as you verify the correct process ID and lock file paths. This will forcefully terminate the running process and allow you to stop the install. However, be very careful to avoid impacting other system processes when using kill.
Can I resume a stopped Snap install?
Unfortunately you cannot resume an interrupted Snap install. If you stop an install before it completes, you will have to start over from the beginning with snap install. Any downloaded packages will need to be fetched again.
What happens if I remove a partially installed Snap?
When you remove a partially installed Snap using snap remove, it will delete any files and data associated with the incomplete install. This will completely reset the Snap and allow you to install it again if desired.
Why does resetting Snap with snap abort help?
The snap abort command resets the state of the Snap service on your system. It clears out any locks, pending operations, or incomplete installs. This takes Snap back to a clean state so you can start fresh.
Alternatives to Stopping Snap Install
While it is possible to stop a Snap install in progress, sometimes it may be better to just let it finish. Here are some alternatives to consider:
- Wait it out – Unless the install is clearly frozen, you can usually just wait for it to finish.
- Install from a deb package – For some Snaps, deb packages are available that may install faster.
- Use apt instead – Ubuntu’s apt package manager can install alternatives for many Snaps.
- Switch mirrors – Try a different Snap mirror site if downloads are slow from the default.
In many cases letting Snap run its course is simpler than stopping and re-running installs. But if you do need to interrupt an install, the methods covered here will help you terminate even stubborn Snap processes.
Snap Install Troubleshooting Guide
If you are regularly having issues with failed or slow Snap installations, there are also some troubleshooting steps you can take:
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Slow download speeds | Try a different Snap mirror with sudo snap set system proxy.mirror= |
| Connection timeouts | Check your network connection or try again later |
| Authentication errors | Run sudo snap login to authenticate |
| Permission denied | Prefix install command with sudo |
| Stuck install | Kill snap process with kill command |
Addressing these common Snap install issues should help prevent you from needing to stop installs as often.
Conclusion
Interrupting a Snap installation is sometimes necessary when things go wrong or take too long. Hopefully this guide has provided some useful techniques to stop Snap installs on Ubuntu Linux systems. A quick Ctrl+C or kill signal will stop most installs, but you may need to remove lock files or reset Snap’s state entirely in stubborn cases.
Keep in mind it is usually better to just let Snap run its course if possible. But if you absolutely must terminate a runaway install process, these tips will help you regain control over Snap. With robust package management tools like Snap and apt, Ubuntu gives you flexibility in how you install and update applications on your Linux desktop or server.