The guide explains how to get Snap and its official Store client working on Fedora 36, a system that omits snapd because it prefers Flatpak. First you add the RPM Fusion repository, install snapd with dnf, enable its socket so it starts on demand, create the /snap symlink for classic confinement snaps, and then reboot or log out to refresh the session. After those prerequisites you install the Snap Store GUI using the --classic flag, and the article notes a common pitfall where users encounter a “snapd isn’t running” error if they forget to enable the socket before launching the store. Once launched from your application menu the store will download its initial data, after which you can browse and install any snap with a single click, letting you enjoy the convenience of graphical package management on Fedora.

How to Install Snap and Snap‑Store on Fedora 36 Linux

If you’re stuck trying to get that new app from the Snap store onto Fedora 36, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve been chasing broken packages with this distro for months, and finally figured out a clean way to pull in snapd and then drop in the official Snap‑Store client.

Why Snap Needs a Handshake on Fedora

Fedora ships its own flatpak/flatpak‑based ecosystem, so it doesn’t include snapd by default. Without snapd, you can’t even run snap commands. Enabling it is one extra step, but once that’s done the rest of your life will feel a little more snappy.

Step 1: Add RPM‑Fusion (if you haven’t already)

sudo dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-36.noarch.rpm

This repo hosts the snapd package. If you’ve already installed it, skip this command.

Step 2: Install snapd

sudo dnf install snapd

The snapd service will appear in the list of services once that’s done, but it won’t start automatically yet.

Step 3: Enable and Start snapd Service

sudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socket

Enabling the socket makes sure snapd starts on demand. If you prefer to run it always, use snapd.service instead, but the socket is lighter.

Step 4: Create a Symbolic Link for Classic Snaps

sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snap

Classic confinement snaps need this mount point. If you skip it, the Snap‑Store client will complain that it can’t find its data directory.

Step 5: Reboot or Log Out/Back In

Rebooting ensures your user session sees the new snap binary and the /snap mount. If you’re impatient, just log out and back in.

Step 6: Install the Snap‑Store App (the GUI)

sudo snap install --classic snap-store

The --classic flag is required because the store itself uses classic confinement to access the full filesystem.

Common Pitfall I’ve Seen

A few people run into a “snapd isn’t running” error after installing snapd but before enabling the socket. The fix is always to double‑check systemctl status snapd.socket and make sure it says active (running).

Using Snap Store After Installation

Open the “Snap Store” from your application launcher. The first launch will download a few hundred megabytes, so be patient if you’re on metered Wi‑Fi. Once open, you can search for and install any snap with just a click.

That’s it—snapd is up, the store is installed, and you can start downloading snaps like the next app that suddenly appears in your favorites list.