Add Flatpak

Add Flatpak

Add Flatpak is a small setup helper for Ubuntu desktop systems.

The confined snap prepares a user-launched helper. The helper then runs at the user request, outside snap confinement so it can clearly explain and perform the host package-management steps needed to install Flatpak and enable Flathub.

Its job is simple: help a user install Flatpak support, optionally add Flathub, optionally install graphical software-store integration, validate the result, and then remove itself when it is no longer needed.

Who This Is For

This app is intended for Ubuntu desktop users who do not want to copy and paste terminal commands from a website.

It is especially aimed at fresh Ubuntu installs where Flatpak is not already installed.

What It Does

On a supported Ubuntu system, Add Flatpak can:

• install flatpak
• add the Flathub remote;
• install GNOME Software if needed;
• install gnome-software-plugin-flatpak on GNOME or Ubuntu Desktop;
• install plasma-discover-backend-flatpak on KDE Plasma;
• check that the setup worked;
• offer to remove the setup helper when finished.

What It Will Not Do

Add Flatpak is deliberately cautious.

• It will not run host package-management commands while still inside snap confinement.
• It will not try to use apt on Fedora, Red Hat, immutable systems, or other non-Ubuntu systems.
• It will not build privileged shell commands from user input.
• It will not remove gnome-software during normal cleanup, because that may have existed before Add Flatpak was used.

Supported Systems

This beta build currently allows setup on:

• Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
• Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
• Ubuntu 26.04 LTS

Other Ubuntu releases and non-Ubuntu distributions are blocked for now.

Why There Are Two Steps

Add Flatpak is packaged as a strictly confined snap.

That is good for safety, but it means the first app launch cannot directly change the host system with apt install or system Flatpak remote commands.

The app therefore uses two steps:

1. Add Flatpak Initial Setup This is the snap app. It prepares a Desktop launcher.

2. Enable Flatpak This is the Desktop launcher created by the first step. It runs the same app from the snap mount without the snap runtime environment, so it can clearly ask for permission and perform host setup.

This is why the user sees an initial setup window, then a Desktop icon named Enable Flatpak.