Short Version for Experts
Why do we want to update the Snap Store? Isn’t it done automatically?
Yes and no. We want the Snap Store to update (also called “refresh”) nicely. Ubuntu Software tells us that an update for Snap Store is pending. It tells us that 14 days in advance.
If we don’t update Snap Store nicely, Ubuntu will do it brutally. When an app is asked nicely to quit itself for an update, it can do any necessary housekeeping first. It can write files to disk, etc.
The brutal approach has Ubuntu just kill the app. There is no opportunity to do housekeeping. This can sometimes cause problems.
Hence the dual approach. There is a snap daemon that is running, and this daemon will not allow the snap-store app to close itself and update. The “Close the app to avoid disruptions” is asking us to close the app so it can be updated. If it isn’t done within the 14 day warning period, Ubuntu will forcibly, and brutally, close the app for us.
There are technical reasons why this app closure, etc., is not done automatically. These are beyond the scope of this article.
How to Update the Snap Store
First, remember the name of the app. In this case, it is snap-store.
Quit Ubuntu Software.
First, we will ask nicely to refresh snap. Run the following command in Terminal. It is better to ask nicely. We only want to kill processes when necessary. If we ask nicely and the app responds to our request, it will do any housekeeping necessary before quitting.
sudo snap refresh
This might work, but will likely give you the same error message.
Sadly, we have to be brutal. We will use the kill command, with just stops the app. There is no housekeeping done.
Run the following command in Terminal.
Remember, snap-store is the name of the app that will not update.
sudo snap refresh snap-store
This will also give an error message, but this error message gives us the PID for the snap-store app. Take note of the PID, which is right after “pids:”. In our example, the PID is 2295.
Tell Terminal to kill that PID. This will brutally stop the running app with the process ID of 2295.
kill 2295
With the interfering app out of the way, request a snap refresh, or update again.
sudo snap refreshThis time the update, or refresh, command works! Wait for it to complete. This can take a few minutes.
Now snap has bee updated! Quit Terminal.
If you want to check your work, go back into Ubuntu Software.
The software catalogue will be downloaded.
Click on the Updates tab.
The snap store is now updated!
