Automatic updates of flatpaks

Ask Fedora
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1

Hi fedorians.

I want to find out how flatpaks are updated. So far I know:

  • Updating is done by gnome-software automatically when you use GNOME and you enabled the corresponding setting.
  • There’s a systemd user service that starts /usr/bin/gnome-software --gapplication-service on login.

What I don’t know.

  1. When are updates run? Only on login? I haven’t found a systemd timer.
  2. How are system flatpaks updated? Gnome-software is started as user.

I’d like to make sure user and system apps are up to date, even when I’m logged in GNOME for days.

2

I don’t use GNOME Software, but on a general point here: elevated privileges aren’t necessary to update system flatpaks.

From the command line, flatpak update works fine to update system flatpaks, without sudo. (This might depend on the user being in the ‘wheel’ group, but that’s normally true on a single-user Fedora system).

4

@pg-tips Thanks. You’re right. Forgot about polkit. This answer some of my questions.

5

Well given that /usr/bin/gnome-software --gapplication-service runs in the background, no systemd timer should be needed.

As noted above by @pg-tips .