Note: This guide is written for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS users who want to remove the Firefox Snap package and replace it with the traditional Firefox DEB package from Mozilla’s official APT repository. Before changing browser packages, back up your Firefox profile, bookmarks, passwords, and open tabs. Linux is powerful, but it has never once said, “Oops, my bad” after a mistyped command.
Why Firefox Is a Snap in Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, also known as Jammy Jellyfish, made a noticeable change for desktop users: Firefox is provided by default as a Snap package instead of a traditional DEB package. For many users, this works perfectly fine. The Snap version is maintained with help from Mozilla, receives browser updates through the Snap system, and runs with sandboxing benefits. In plain English, Ubuntu wanted a Firefox package that could be updated quickly and maintained more consistently across the long support life of the operating system.
That sounds sensible. It also sounds like the sort of thing that makes Linux forums grow 900-comment threads overnight. The issue is not that Firefox Snap is “bad” for everyone. The issue is that some Ubuntu users prefer DEB packages because they integrate more predictably with APT, system themes, native messaging tools, password managers, development workflows, and enterprise environments.
If you searched for how to disable Firefox Snap in Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, you are probably not here for philosophy. You want your browser installed the old-fashioned way: through APT, with a DEB package, without Ubuntu quietly pulling the Snap version back into your life like a sitcom character who refuses to leave.
Should You Remove Firefox Snap?
Removing Firefox Snap makes sense if you have a specific reason. Maybe Firefox starts slowly on your machine. Maybe a browser extension that communicates with a local desktop app is acting like it has never heard of your file system. Maybe you use smart cards, KeePassXC, custom enterprise certificates, development tools, or desktop integrations that behave better with a DEB package. Or maybe you simply prefer managing software through APT because your terminal muscle memory is older than some social media platforms.
However, do not remove Firefox Snap just because it is fashionable to complain about Snaps. The Snap version is official, maintained, and secure for many normal desktop users. If it works for you, there is no urgent need to replace it. This guide is for users who have tested it, found limitations, and want a clean Firefox DEB setup on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.
What This Guide Will Do
This tutorial will walk through a practical approach:
- Check whether Firefox is installed as a Snap.
- Back up your Firefox Snap profile.
- Remove the Firefox Snap package.
- Remove the transitional Ubuntu Firefox package if needed.
- Add Mozilla’s official APT repository.
- Tell APT to prefer Mozilla’s Firefox package.
- Install Firefox as a DEB package.
- Verify that the Snap version does not return.
The method below focuses on Mozilla’s official APT repository, which is now the cleanest choice for many Ubuntu users. Older guides often used third-party repositories or PPAs. Those may still work, but when Mozilla provides an official route, it makes sense to take the highway instead of the suspicious alley with a flickering “free packages” sign.
Step 1: Check Whether Firefox Snap Is Installed
Open a terminal. You can press Ctrl + Alt + T or search for “Terminal” in the Ubuntu application menu. Then run:
If Firefox is installed as a Snap, you should see an entry named firefox. You can also check where the Firefox command points:
If the output points to something like /snap/bin/firefox, you are using the Snap version. If it points to /usr/bin/firefox, you may already be using a DEB installation. Do not skip this check. It prevents you from removing the wrong thing and later staring at your desktop like it betrayed you.
Step 2: Back Up Your Firefox Profile
Your browser profile contains bookmarks, extensions, saved logins, settings, history, containers, and other personal data. Firefox Sync can restore much of this if you use it, but a local backup is still smart. Close Firefox completely before copying profile files.
Create a backup folder:
Then copy the Snap Firefox profile data:
If that path does not exist, do not panic. Some systems may not have profile data there, especially if Firefox was never opened. You can check manually with:
This backup gives you a safety net. It is the Linux equivalent of putting your keys in the same place every day: boring, responsible, and suddenly heroic when something goes sideways.
Step 3: Remove the Firefox Snap Package
Now remove Firefox Snap:
By default, Snap may keep a snapshot of the app’s data for a limited time. That is useful if you change your mind. If you are absolutely sure you do not want Snap to preserve Firefox data, you can use the purge option:
For most users, the safer command is the first one without --purge. Storage is cheaper than regret.
Step 4: Remove Ubuntu’s Transitional Firefox Package
On Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, the APT package named firefox may act as a transitional package that points users toward the Snap version. To prevent confusion, remove it before installing Mozilla’s DEB package:
Then clean up unused dependencies:
This does not remove the entire Snap system. It only removes Firefox-related APT leftovers. Unless you have a larger plan to remove Snap from Ubuntu completely, leave snapd alone. Other Ubuntu components or applications may depend on it, and removing it just to fix Firefox is like replacing your kitchen because you dislike one spoon.
Step 5: Install Required Tools
Before adding Mozilla’s repository, make sure your system has the basic tools needed to download and verify repository keys:
Most Ubuntu desktop systems already have these tools, but running the command is harmless. It also saves you from reaching step six and being greeted by the terminal’s favorite comedy routine: “command not found.”
Step 6: Add Mozilla’s Official APT Repository Key
Create the keyrings directory:
Download Mozilla’s repository signing key:
To verify the key fingerprint, run:
You want to see a message that the fingerprint matches. Repository signing keys matter because they help APT verify that packages come from the expected source. It is not glamorous, but neither is a seat belt, and both become important at exactly the wrong moment.
Step 7: Add the Mozilla APT Repository
Add Mozilla’s repository to your APT sources:
This tells Ubuntu where to find Mozilla’s Firefox DEB package. The repository is separate from Ubuntu’s default repositories, which is why the next step is important: you need to make sure APT prefers Mozilla’s Firefox package instead of sliding back to Ubuntu’s Snap-oriented package.
Step 8: Prioritize Mozilla’s Firefox Package
Create an APT preferences file:
This process is called APT pinning. In simple terms, it tells APT, “When packages are available from Mozilla, treat them as preferred.” Without this step, Ubuntu may choose a different package source later, and Firefox Snap could make an unwanted comeback. Nobody asked for a browser sequel.
Step 9: Install Firefox as a DEB Package
Update your package list:
Install Firefox from Mozilla’s APT repository:
When installation completes, launch Firefox from the application menu or run:
You should now have Firefox installed as a traditional DEB package, managed by APT, updated through normal package upgrades, and no longer tied to the Firefox Snap package.
Step 10: Verify That Firefox Snap Is Disabled
Run:
If there is no Firefox result, the Snap version is gone. Next, check the APT policy:
Look for packages.mozilla.org in the candidate or installed version information. You can also check the installed Firefox version:
Finally, confirm the command path:
A DEB install commonly runs from /usr/bin/firefox. If you still see /snap/bin/firefox, log out and back in, check your shell path, or restart your system. Sometimes Linux just needs a polite nap.
How to Restore Your Firefox Profile
If the DEB version opens with a fresh profile and your bookmarks or extensions are missing, close Firefox first. Then check whether a regular Firefox profile directory already exists:
If the directory does not exist, you can restore the backup created earlier:
If ~/.mozilla/firefox already exists, do not blindly overwrite it. Instead, open Firefox and visit:
From there, you can inspect profiles, set the default profile, or create a new one. Advanced users may copy specific profile folders manually, but take care. Firefox profiles are precious little filing cabinets, and dragging random drawers between cabinets is how bookmarks end up in witness protection.
How to Set Firefox DEB as the Default Browser
If links still open in another browser, set Firefox as the default browser from Ubuntu Settings or run:
You can confirm the default browser with:
If it returns firefox.desktop, you are good. If not, open Firefox, go to Settings, and click the option to make it your default browser.
Common Problems and Fixes
APT Still Wants to Install Firefox Snap
Run:
If Mozilla’s repository is not listed, check your repository file:
Then check your pinning file:
After confirming both files, update APT again:
Firefox Does Not Open After Installation
Try launching Firefox from the terminal:
The terminal output may reveal a profile lock, missing library, or path issue. If Firefox says the profile is in use, make sure all Firefox processes are closed:
Then try launching it again.
Extensions or Password Managers Cannot Communicate With Local Apps
This is one of the reasons users move from Snap Firefox to DEB Firefox. Native messaging tools often expect files in standard locations. After switching to the DEB version, reinstall or reconfigure the desktop integration component for your password manager, security tool, or development extension.
Firefox Looks Like a Fresh Install
Your old profile is probably still in the Snap profile location. Restore it carefully from your backup or use Firefox Sync. Do not copy profile files while Firefox is running.
Should You Remove Snap Completely?
For this guide, no. The goal is to disable Firefox Snap, not start a dramatic breakup with the entire Snap ecosystem. Removing Snap completely can affect other applications, the Ubuntu Software app, and packages installed from the Snap Store. If you dislike Snap as a general package format, that is a separate project with separate risks.
Keeping Snap installed while using Firefox from Mozilla’s APT repository is a balanced approach. You get the Firefox package format you want without making your Ubuntu system more fragile than necessary.
Firefox Snap vs Firefox DEB: Which Is Better?
The honest answer is: it depends. Firefox Snap offers sandboxing, simple distribution, and a package maintained for the Ubuntu desktop experience. Firefox DEB offers familiar APT management, traditional file locations, and often smoother integration with local tools. Developers, sysadmins, and power users may prefer the DEB package because it behaves like the rest of their APT-managed system.
Casual users may never notice a difference. Power users notice everything. That is both our gift and our curse.
Extra Experience Notes: What It Feels Like to Disable Firefox Snap on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
In real-world use, the biggest benefit of replacing Firefox Snap with Firefox DEB is not always raw speed. Sometimes the difference is simply that the browser feels more predictable. Files open where expected. Extensions communicate with local services more naturally. Terminal commands behave the way long-time Ubuntu users expect. Updates appear in the same mental bucket as other APT packages, which makes maintenance easier for people who manage multiple machines.
One common experience is that the Snap version may feel slightly detached from the rest of the desktop. That is not always a bug; it is partly a result of confinement and packaging design. For example, users who rely on native messaging, smart card authentication, certain password managers, custom scripts, or local development tools may find that the DEB version reduces friction. It is less like asking Firefox to speak through a glass wall and more like letting it sit at the same table as the rest of the system.
Another practical point is profile handling. The Snap version stores user data under the Snap directory, while the DEB version uses the traditional hidden Mozilla folder in the home directory. This is why backups matter. Many users remove the Snap package, install the DEB package, open Firefox, and briefly think everything is gone. Usually, it is not gone; it is just living in another folder, wearing a fake mustache. Backing up the Snap profile before removal turns that scary moment into a routine file copy.
On workstations used for development, the DEB version can also make troubleshooting simpler. When a browser launched from the terminal behaves oddly, it is easier to inspect paths, environment variables, helper binaries, and native integrations. With Snap, some of those details are intentionally abstracted or confined. That design has security and maintenance benefits, but it can be annoying when you are debugging a local web app at 1:00 a.m. and your browser decides to become a containerized mystery novel.
For everyday browsing, the difference may be subtle. You may not suddenly feel as though Firefox has been training for the Olympics. But if your previous Snap setup caused slow startup, theme mismatches, permission prompts, extension headaches, or awkward file access, the DEB package can feel refreshingly normal. And sometimes “normal” is exactly what you want from a web browser. Nobody wakes up hoping their browser will become the most interesting part of the day.
The best long-term habit is to check apt policy firefox after major upgrades or repository changes. Ubuntu’s packaging decisions can change over time, and a quick policy check confirms that Firefox still comes from the source you intended. Think of it as checking the label before drinking from a mystery bottle in the fridge. Most of the time, everything is fine. But the one time it is not, you will be glad you looked.
Conclusion
Disabling Firefox Snap in Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is not difficult, but it should be done carefully. The safest modern approach is to back up your profile, remove the Firefox Snap package, purge the transitional APT package, add Mozilla’s official APT repository, configure APT priority, and install Firefox as a DEB package. This gives you a traditional Firefox installation that fits naturally into APT-based system management.
Firefox Snap is not the villain of the Linux universe. It solves real maintenance and security problems for Ubuntu and Mozilla. But Linux is about choice, and if the DEB version works better for your workflow, you have a clean path to use it. That is the beauty of Ubuntu: even when it makes a default decision, the terminal still hands you the steering wheel.
