Table of Contents
What the “software center” is for
Most beginner-friendly Linux distributions include a graphical “software center” (also called “app store” or “software manager”). It lets you:
- Search for applications
- Install, update, and remove them
- Browse by category (Office, Games, Internet, etc.)
- See ratings, screenshots, and descriptions
Under the hood, it uses the system’s package manager and repositories, but hides most of the complexity behind a point‑and‑click interface.
You’ll see different names depending on the distribution, for example:
- Ubuntu / many GNOME-based distros: Ubuntu Software, Software, or GNOME Software
- Linux Mint (Cinnamon/MATE/Xfce): Software Manager
- Fedora Workstation: Software (GNOME Software)
- KDE-based distros: Discover
- Others (e.g., Pop!\_OS, Zorin): customized but similar tools
The ideas in this chapter apply to all of them, even if the exact screens differ slightly.
Starting the software center
Common ways to open it:
- From the application menu: look for icons named “Software”, “App Center”, “Software Manager”, “Discover”, or “Store”.
- Using the search function in your desktop environment: start typing “soft…”, “store…”, or your distro’s name plus “software”.
- From a panel/dock icon: some desktops pin it by default.
Once open, you’ll typically see:
- A featured or explore page
- Categories (Office, Development, Multimedia, etc.)
- A search bar at the top
- A list of installed applications in a separate tab or section
Searching and browsing for applications
There are two main ways to find software:
Using categories
Most software centers provide category browsing:
- Click Categories (or similar).
- Pick a section (e.g., Internet, Office, Games, Graphics, Multimedia).
- Scroll through the list of apps, click one to see details.
Categories are useful when:
- You don’t know the exact app name.
- You want to discover alternatives (e.g., several office suites or media players).
Using search
Use search when you have an idea of what you want:
- Type app names:
vlc,gimp,libreoffice. - Type functions: “video player”, “image editor”, “pdf viewer”, “note taking”.
Results usually display:
- Application name and short description
- Icon
- Sometimes ratings and source (e.g., “from Ubuntu repository”, “Flatpak”, “Snap”)
If you see multiple entries with similar names, check:
- The publisher/maintainer
- The source (system repository vs Flatpak/Snap, if shown)
- The last updated date (if displayed)
Understanding application pages
Clicking on an application opens a detail page. Common sections:
- Name and icon – the app’s identity
- Short description – what it does in one sentence
- Screenshots – how it looks
- Long description – features and typical use cases
- Ratings and reviews – optional; helps gauge quality
- Permissions – what the app can access (filesystem, camera, network, etc.), more common with Flatpak/Snap
- Source/channel – where the package comes from:
- Distribution’s main repository (e.g., “Fedora” or “Ubuntu”)
- Third-party format (e.g., “Flatpak”, “Snap”)
- Version and size – which version you’ll get, and how much disk space it needs
Use this page to decide:
- Is this really the tool you need?
- Does it look maintained and safe?
- Is the interface and feature set reasonable for your needs?
Installing applications
The install process is usually:
- Find the app (by search or browsing).
- Click the Install button.
- Enter your password if prompted (this authorizes system changes).
- Wait for the progress indicator to complete.
Once installed:
- The button usually changes to Remove, Uninstall, or Open.
- The app appears in your application menu under the relevant category.
- You can often launch it directly by clicking Open from the software center.
If you get an error during installation:
- Make sure your system is online.
- Sometimes running a system update (from the software center or separately) solves dependency issues.
- If multiple sources exist (e.g., repo version vs Flatpak), trying the other source may help in some cases.
Updating software through the software center
Software centers usually manage:
- Application updates
- Often system updates (libraries, drivers, security patches)
Typical approaches:
Manual updates
- Look for an Updates tab or section.
- You may see:
- A list of available updates for apps
- Possibly system/component updates (kernel, libraries, etc.)
- Options:
- Update all at once (button like “Update All”)
- Update individual items
This is useful when:
- You have limited bandwidth and want to pick only essential updates.
- You want to avoid large updates while on battery power.
Automatic update notifications
Many desktops:
- Show notifications when updates are available.
- Offer to install them now or remind later.
In some software centers, you can configure:
- Whether to automatically check for updates.
- Whether to automatically install:
- Only security updates.
- All updates.
- None (only manual).
Look in the software center’s Settings, Preferences, or your system’s Update settings.
Removing (uninstalling) applications
To remove an application:
- Open the software center.
- Go to the Installed tab/list.
- Find the app (you can usually search within the installed list).
- Click the app.
- Click Remove, Uninstall, or Delete.
- Confirm and enter your password if requested.
After removal:
- The app disappears from the application menu.
- Most of its files are removed; some configuration data may remain in your home directory for future reuse of settings.
Be cautious about removing:
- Items labeled as “System component”, “Library”, or “Runtime” unless you understand what they do; other apps might depend on them.
Managing multiple sources (Flatpak, Snap, etc.) in the software center
Some software centers can show the same app from multiple sources:
- Distribution repository – the “native” package format of your distro.
- Flatpak – often indicated by a Flatpak/Flathub label.
- Snap – indicated as Snap or from “Snap Store”.
In the app page, you might see:
- A Source dropdown (e.g., “Fedora”, “Flathub”).
- Separate entries for each variant (e.g., “VLC (Flatpak)” and “VLC” from the distro).
Common practical tips:
- If you’re unsure, the distribution’s default repository is usually a safe starting point.
- Flatpak/Snap apps:
- Often newer versions.
- Sometimes larger downloads.
- More sandboxed (more granular permissions settings).
If you click Install while a different source is selected, that specific variant will be installed. You can usually uninstall one variant and install another if you want to switch.
Discovering safe and useful software
The software center is a curated way to discover tools. Some habits:
- Prefer applications:
- With clear descriptions and known publishers.
- With good ratings and recent updates (if shown).
- Use categories like:
- Office: office suites, note apps, PDF tools.
- Graphics: image editors, drawing tools.
- Multimedia: audio players, video players, video editors.
- Developer Tools: IDEs, editors, debuggers.
For extra safety:
- Stick mostly to software from:
- Your distro’s official repositories.
- Well-known sources like Flathub (if your distro uses it).
- Be cautious with:
- Apps that look like clones or duplicates of well-known projects but have unclear publishers.
Configuring basic software center settings
Most software centers provide a Settings or Preferences area. Common options:
- Update behavior:
- Automatically check for updates (on/off).
- Automatically install security updates.
- Sources:
- Enable/disable Flatpak, Snap, or additional repositories (if supported).
- View which repositories are currently in use.
- Download options:
- Only download on unmetered networks (if your system supports this concept).
- Show or hide beta/unstable software.
As a beginner, reasonable defaults are usually:
- Automatic update checks: enabled
- Automatic installations: security updates only (if available), or manual control if you prefer
- Additional sources: only what the distribution enabled by default, unless you need software that requires enabling an extra source
When to use the software center vs other tools
The software center is ideal when:
- You prefer a graphical way to manage software.
- You’re exploring and don’t know exactly what you need yet.
- You want to quickly see screenshots and descriptions.
Later, if you need more control or are working on servers, you’ll learn to use command-line package managers and other tools. For now, the software center gives you a safe, simple way to build up your system with the applications you need.