Flatpak mask misbehaving, F42 workstation

josevillani · November 29, 2025, 3:04pm

$ flatpak mask
Masked patterns:
  com.google.Chrome
  org.freedesktop.Platform/x86_64/24.08

~$ flatpak update
Looking for updates…

Info: runtime org.freedesktop.Platform branch 22.08 is end-of-life, with reason:
   org.freedesktop.Platform 22.08 is no longer receiving fixes and security updates. Please update to a supported runtime version.
Info: applications using this runtime:
   com.google.Chrome

Info: runtime org.freedesktop.Platform.GL32.default branch 23.08 is end-of-life, with reason:
   org.freedesktop.Platform 23.08 is no longer receiving fixes and security updates. Please update to a supported runtime version.

Info: runtime org.freedesktop.Platform.GL.default branch 22.08-extra is end-of-life, with reason:
   org.freedesktop.Platform 22.08 is no longer receiving fixes and security updates. Please update to a supported runtime version.
Info: applications using this extension:
   com.google.Chrome

Info: runtime org.freedesktop.Platform.GL.default branch 22.08 is end-of-life, with reason:
   org.freedesktop.Platform 22.08 is no longer receiving fixes and security updates. Please update to a supported runtime version.
Info: applications using this extension:
   com.google.Chrome
Required runtime for com.google.Chrome/x86_64/stable (runtime/org.freedesktop.Platform/x86_64/24.08) found in remote flathub
Do you want to install it? [Y/n]: n
error: The application com.google.Chrome/x86_64/stable requires the runtime org.freedesktop.Platform/x86_64/24.08 which is not installed

Shouldn’t be listed as upgradable and should really get excluded from upgrades. Worked for a while then broke. Used not to be listed at all within upgradables. I had the same problem with kodi flatpak until I uninstalled it.

And yes I tried both flatpak mask -u com.google.Chrome and flatpak mask com.google.Chrome

If you do not want to reproduce, try not to run those commands in a serie:

 9277  flatpak remove kodi
 9284  flatpak remove heroic
 9293  flatpak list --runtime
 9294  flatpak list --unused
 9295  flatpak uninstall --unused
 9296  flatpak pin --user --remove '*'
 9297  flatpak --user list --pinned
 9298  flatpak remote-ls --user
 9299  flatpak list --app
 9302  flatpak repair
 9303  flatpak repair --user
 9304  flatpak uninstall --unused
 9305  flatpak uninstall --unused --user
 9307  flatpak --user uninstall --unused --delete
 9310  flatpak --user uninstall --unused --dry-run
 9311  flatpak uninstall --unused --user
 9312  flatpak pin --user --remove runtime/org.freedesktop.Platform.Compat.i386/x86_64/23.08
 9313  flatpak uninstall --unused --user
 9314  flatpak pin --user --remove runtime/org.freedesktop.Platform.Compat.i386/x86_64/23.08
 9315  flatpak pin --user --remove runtime/org.freedesktop.Platform.Compat.i386/x86_64/24.08
 9316  flatpak pin --user --remove runtime/org.freedesktop.Platform/x86_64/23.08
 9317  flatpak pin --user --remove runtime/org.freedesktop.Platform/x86_64/24.08
 9318  flatpak pin --user --remove runtime/org.gnome.Platform/x86_64/46
 9319  flatpak pin --user --remove runtime/org.kde.Platform/x86_64/5.15-23.08
 9320  flatpak pin --user --remove runtime/org.kde.Platform/x86_64/6.7
 9321  flatpak repair --user
 9322  flatpak --user uninstall --unused
 9323  flatpak uninstall --unused
 9324  flatpak list --runtime | wc -l
 9325  flatpak list --runtime
 9326  flatpak list | wc -l
 9328  flatpak pin --user list
 9329  flatpak --user uninstall --unused
 9330  flatpak uninstall --unused
 9331  flatpak list --app
 9332  flatpak list --runtime
 9421  history|grep flatpak|grep mask
 9422  flatpak mask com.google.Chrome
 9423  flatpak mask --list
 9424  flatpak list --masked
 9425  flatpak mask
 9427  man flatpak
 9428  man flatpak-mask
 9429  flatpak mask
 9430  flatpak mask -u
 9431  flatpak mask -u com.google.Chrome
 9432  flatpak mask -u
 9435  flatpak info com.google.Chrome
 9436  flatpak info com.google.Chrome -u
 9837  flatpak update
 9838  flatpak mask -u com.google.Chrome
 9839  flatpak mask com.google.Chrome
 9840  flatpak update
 9843  flatpak mask
 9844  flatpak update

pg-tips · November 29, 2025, 3:06pm

I think it’s the same as this issue that has been raised upstream:

github.com/flatpak/flatpak

[Bug]: flatpak update of masked app asks for runtime update

opened 12:07AM - 06 Dec 21 UTC

Mershl

bug

### Checklist - [X] I agree to follow the [Code of Conduct](https://github.co…m/flatpak/flatpak/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md) that this project adheres to. - [X] I have searched the [issue tracker](https://www.github.com/flatpak/flatpak/issues) for a bug that matches the one I want to file, without success. - [X] If this is an issue with a particular app, I have tried filing it in the appropriate issue tracker for the app (e.g. under https://github.com/flathub/) and determined that it is an issue with Flatpak itself. ### Flatpak version 1.12.2 ### What Linux distribution are you using? Fedora Silverblue ### Linux distribution version 35 ### What architecture are you using? x86_64 ### How to reproduce 1. Ensure `org.kde.Platform/x86_64/6.2` has not been agreed on or installed on this system 2. Install strawberry before the KDE 6.2 transition `flatpak update --commit 055442b1a56e75362ac94b10fe71f53f9791ea4f95350b0dbec834e0b4ab2d4e org.strawberrymusicplayer.strawberry` 2. `flatpak mask org.strawberrymusicplayer.strawberry` 3. `flatpak update` Will show: `required runtime org.kde.Platform/x86_64/6.2 do you want to install it? (Y/N)` 4. Choosing N: results in stopping the update. Repeating 3. will show it again -> user thinks flatpak wants to update the masked application. 5. Choosing Y: `flatpak update` shows that the mask actually worked - the masked application is not among the updates. Updates of other applications / or none are installed. ~The asked for runtime is not installed as well.~ 6. Future runs of `flatpak update` will not ask for the runtime update and immediatly mask application updates as expected. ### Expected Behavior Masked applications should not have visible (side-)effects in `flatpak update`. ### Actual Behavior Latest version of a **masked** application introducing a new runtime asks for runtime installation on `flatpak update`. ### Additional Information Asking permission for a runtime update of a masked application leads to confusion for the user - as they will assume `flatpak update` is about to install the runtime + the application update.

josevillani · November 29, 2025, 3:09pm

Not looking good. It’s a very old issue.

tqcharm · November 29, 2025, 4:58pm

This is just a guess, but could it be that your installed com.google.Chrome Flatpak app is missing it’s referred runtime, which in this case would be org.freedesktop.Platform/x86_64/24.08?

It this is true, than the behavior you’re experiencing could be right: even thought Chrome is masked from receiving updates, flatpak still checks for unresolved runtime dependencies and tries to solve them.

pg-tips · November 29, 2025, 5:01pm

I thought the Flatpak devs would have closed the Github issue down if the behaviour was intended, but idk.

tqcharm · November 29, 2025, 5:12pm

I wonder if the issue here is the same as the one reported. In the reported bug, the issue described is that flatpak wants to update a specific runtime to a version required by the current version of the Fatpak app referring it, even though the version of the installed (masked) app was not requesting it (but rather a previous version of the runtime).

Whereas here I assumed that the installed Chrome Flatpak app was requesting the runtime org.freedesktop.Platform/x86_64/24.08, which, if true, had to be installed in order for Chrome to run properly (even if masked from receiving updates).

@josevillani, could you check what runtime is the currently installed Chrome Flatpak app requesting, with flatpak info com.google.Chrome?

josevillani · November 29, 2025, 5:17pm

I don’t know why it’s reported missing. It’s clearly there:

$ flatpak list --runtime
Name                                         Application ID                               Version                         Branch            Installation
peazip i386 addon                            io.github.peazip.PeaZip.Addon.i386           1.0.0                           stable            system
Freedesktop Platform                         org.freedesktop.Platform                     freedesktop-sdk-22.08.28        22.08             system
Freedesktop Platform                         org.freedesktop.Platform                     freedesktop-sdk-23.08.34        23.08             user
Freedesktop Platform                         org.freedesktop.Platform                     freedesktop-sdk-24.08.21        24.08             user

Besides, Chrome is working perfectly well.

$ flatpak info com.google.Chrome

Google Chrome - The web browser from Google

          ID: com.google.Chrome
         Ref: app/com.google.Chrome/x86_64/stable
        Arch: x86_64
      Branch: stable
     Version: 120.0.6099.71-1
     License: LicenseRef-proprietary
      Origin: flathub
  Collection: org.flathub.Stable
Installation: system
   Installed: 19,9 Mo
     Runtime: org.freedesktop.Platform/x86_64/22.08
         Sdk: org.freedesktop.Sdk/x86_64/22.08

      Commit: e753bcff984519f35c329d6cbe113878426816b16449bd4024b756802ec359f3
      Parent: 187764f56f383de814fc4f43dfff9b43326c8e705ca379ae0a03b6fa75b3986c
     Subject: Update chrome.deb to 120.0.6099.71-1 (17c09490)
        Date: 2023-12-08 15:57:42 +0000

tqcharm · November 29, 2025, 5:39pm

Then it should be the fact that Chrome is installed system-wide, yet the runtime is user-installed.

Try installing the runtime system-wide, then check if the issue still persists.

EDIT: My mistake, Chrome is requesting runtime 22.08, which is installed system-wide.

josevillani · November 29, 2025, 5:47pm

Maybe it’s more obvious with this shot:

$ flatpak list
Name                         Application ID                         Version                  Branch      Origin                                    Installation
Google Chrome                com.google.Chrome                      120.0.6099.71-1          stable      flathub                                   system
(...)
Freedesktop Platform         org.freedesktop.Platform               freedesktop-sdk-22.08.28 22.08       flathub                                   system
Freedesktop Platform         org.freedesktop.Platform               freedesktop-sdk-23.08.34 23.08       flathub                                   user
Freedesktop Platform         org.freedesktop.Platform               freedesktop-sdk-24.08.21 24.08       flathub                                   user
Freedesktop Platform         org.freedesktop.Platform               freedesktop-sdk-25.08.5  25.08       flathub                                   system

tqcharm · November 29, 2025, 5:48pm

It seems you are hitting the bug linked by @pg-tips indeed.

My guess is that you’ll still benefit of the old (locked/masked) Chrome Flatpak (so no issue there), it’s only that you will have a non-needed runtime installed on your system.

josevillani · November 29, 2025, 5:50pm

Yeah, maybe it’s a requirement and purging a pinned runtime caused that.

josevillani · November 29, 2025, 6:00pm

Confirmed, no issue. After installing freedesktop-sdk-24.08.28 system, chrome is masked.

~$ flatpak install runtime/org.freedesktop.Platform.Compat.i386/x86_64/24.08
Looking for matches…
Remotes found with refs similar to ‘runtime/org.freedesktop.Platform.Compat.i386/x86_64/24.08’:

   1) ‘flathub’ (system)
   2) ‘flathub’ (user)

Which do you want to use (0 to abort)? [0-2]: 2


        ID                                              Branch            Op           Remote            Download
 1. [✓] org.freedesktop.Platform.Compat.i386            24.08             i            flathub           128,6 Mo / 146,2 Mo

Installation complete.

~$ flatpak mask
Masked patterns:
  com.google.Chrome
  org.freedesktop.Platform/x86_64/24.08

~$ flatpak update
Looking for updates…
Info: applications using this extension:
   com.google.Chrome
Required runtime for com.google.Chrome/x86_64/stable (runtime/org.freedesktop.Platform/x86_64/24.08) found in remote flathub
Do you want to install it? [Y/n]: y


        ID                                        Branch           Op           Remote            Download
 1. [✓] org.freedesktop.Platform.Locale           24.08            i            flathub            22,8 Ko / 388,2 Mo
 2. [✓] org.freedesktop.Platform                  24.08            i            flathub           129,5 Mo / 269,3 Mo

Installation complete.


~$ flatpak mask
Masked patterns:
  com.google.Chrome
  org.freedesktop.Platform/x86_64/24.08

~$ flatpak update
Looking for updates…

Nothing to do.

~$ flatpak info com.google.Chrome 

Google Chrome - The web browser from Google

          ID: com.google.Chrome
         Ref: app/com.google.Chrome/x86_64/stable
        Arch: x86_64
      Branch: stable
     Version: 120.0.6099.71-1
     License: LicenseRef-proprietary
      Origin: flathub
  Collection: org.flathub.Stable
Installation: system
   Installed: 19,9 Mo
     Runtime: org.freedesktop.Platform/x86_64/22.08
         Sdk: org.freedesktop.Sdk/x86_64/22.08

      Commit: e753bcff984519f35c329d6cbe113878426816b16449bd4024b756802ec359f3
      Parent: 187764f56f383de814fc4f43dfff9b43326c8e705ca379ae0a03b6fa75b3986c
     Subject: Update chrome.deb to 120.0.6099.71-1 (17c09490)
        Date: 2023-12-08 15:57:42 +0000

~$ flatpak list --runtime
Name                                         Application ID                               Version                         Branch            Installation
peazip i386 addon                            io.github.peazip.PeaZip.Addon.i386           1.0.0                           stable            system
Freedesktop Platform                         org.freedesktop.Platform                     freedesktop-sdk-22.08.28        22.08             system
Freedesktop Platform                         org.freedesktop.Platform                     freedesktop-sdk-23.08.34        23.08             user
--> Freedesktop Platform                         org.freedesktop.Platform                     freedesktop-sdk-24.08.28        24.08             system <--
Freedesktop Platform                         org.freedesktop.Platform                     freedesktop-sdk-24.08.21        24.08             user
Freedesktop Platform                         org.freedesktop.Platform                     freedesktop-sdk-25.08.5         25.08             system
(...)

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Flatpak mask misbehaving, F42 workstation

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