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Update Flatpak Apps with flatpak update

flatpak update refreshes all installed applications and runtimes; flatpak list shows what is installed and flatpak uninstall removes apps.

LinuxpackagesadministrationflatpakLow risk
Run `flatpak update` to update all installed Flatpak apps and runtimes, `flatpak list` to see them, and `flatpak uninstall <app-id>` to remove one.

01Command

Command
$ flatpak update

02What it does

GNOME Software's background updates make it easy to forget that Flatpak has its own package namespace, separate from apt/dnf, so `apt upgrade` never touches these apps. `flatpak list` shows installed apps (add --app to hide runtimes), and `flatpak update` interactively pulls new app and runtime versions. Old runtimes accumulate; `flatpak uninstall --unused` reclaims that space.

03Risk

RiskLow risk
Requirementsflatpak package; on minimal server distros install it first (apt install flatpak / dnf install flatpak) and add a remote with flatpak remote-add.

04Undo

Undo
$ flatpak uninstall <app-id>

05Sources

  • Using Flatpak — Flatpak documentation
    Flatpak Project · vendor-doc · 2026-09-17
    Evidence: Documents the basic commands: flatpak search, flatpak install, flatpak run, flatpak list, and flatpak update.
  • flatpak(1)
    Arch Linux Manual Pages · technical · 2026-09-17
    Evidence: flatpak list shows installed applications and/or runtimes; flatpak update updates applications and runtimes; flatpak uninstall removes them.

Last verified: 2026-09-17 · Category: System & Settings

06Related solutions

Find File Owners and Package Contents with dpkg -S / -L
Linuxpackagesdebiandpkg

dpkg -S tells you which installed package a file came from; dpkg -L lists everything a package put on disk.

Low risk ✓ 2026-09-17