Is there a way to use Ubuntu Software Center without snaps?

Is there a way to use Ubuntu Software Center without snaps?

As it is I prefer no Ubuntu Software Center to having any snaps on my system, so I will live without Ubuntu Software Center unless there's a way to get it going without snaps.

I understand the Ubuntu Software Center used to work without requiring installed snaps, and I'm hoping there's still a way to do this.

Thank you!

You can remove the snap store with the command

sudo snap remove snap-store

and install GNOME software center (if it is not already present) with the command

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends gnome-software

The --no-install-recommends ensures that snap plugins are not pulled as recommended packages.

Alternatively, you can also install the synaptic package manager, which is not an "app store", but provides a lot more functionality.

sudo apt install synaptic

Take, for example, VLC from the Ubuntu Software Center (which has both snap and deb packages available).

If you select VLC you will see a drop down on the header bar to the right. Select the down arrow and you will be provided with a list of VLC packages at the bottom of which (in this case) is the deb package.

This will mean that you will not have to delete the snap store, just select the deb package (if its available) and this will preserve matters for the future.

Instead of using the Ubuntu Software Center, you may want to use the GNOME Software Center. It is just like the Ubuntu Software Center, but it doesn't have Snap (or Flatpack) capabilities enabled by default.

sudo apt install gnome-software

If you want to enable Flatpak support in Gnome Software, execute the following:

sudo apt install gnome-software-plugin-flatpak

If you want to enable Snap support in Gnome Software, execute the following:

sudo apt install gnome-software-plugin-snap

If you don't add these two plugins, GNOME Software Center will just allow you to work with and mange deb packages, which is what you wanted.