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The Raspberry Pi is a versatile little computer used in everything from DIY home automation to lightweight desktop replacements. One powerful way to expand its app ecosystem is by installing Snap Store, a platform by Canonical that provides thousands of software packages via Snap.
Whether you’re running Raspberry Pi OS or Ubuntu, this guide will walk you through how to install Snap Store on your Raspberry Pi in just a few simple steps.
What Is Snap Store?
The Snap Store is a graphical and command-line interface for finding and installing software packages called Snaps. Snaps are containerized applications that work across many Linux distributions, and they automatically update, making them a great fit for Raspberry Pi projects.
Why Use Snap on Raspberry Pi?
🧩 Access to a wide range of apps and developer tools
🔐 Automatic updates and rollback support
🔌 Easy installation with no dependency hell
🔄 Cross-distro compatibility
What You’ll Need
Before we begin, make sure you have:
A Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 (Snap works best with 64-bit OS)
A microSD card with Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit) or Ubuntu for Raspberry Pi
Internet connection
Terminal access (either direct or via SSH)
How to Install Snapd (Snap Daemon)
Snapd is the background service that enables Snap support. Let’s install that first.
On Raspberry Pi OS (Debian-based):
Once installed, enable and start the Snap service:
Then, reboot your Pi:
Installing Snap Store GUI (Optional)
If you prefer a graphical interface to browse and install snaps instead of using the command line, install the Snap Store app:
This will install the GUI version of the Snap Store, which you can find in your app menu after installation.
⚠️ Note: The Snap Store GUI may not run smoothly on very lightweight Raspberry Pi OS setups. Ubuntu Desktop for Raspberry Pi provides a more compatible experience for GUI apps.
Installing Snaps via Terminal
Don’t want the GUI? You can install snaps directly using the command line. For example:
Or:
You can browse available snaps at https://snapcraft.io and install any with a single terminal command.
Common Issues & Fixes
Snap command not found?
Make sure Snapd is installed and that the system was rebooted after installation.
Permissions errors?
Use --classic flag for classic confinement apps, and make sure you’re running with sudo where required.
GUI won’t launch?
Ensure your desktop environment supports Snap apps. On Raspberry Pi OS Lite (headless), GUI apps won’t run without X11 or Wayland installed.
Final Thoughts
Installing Snap Store on your Raspberry Pi opens up a world of applications beyond what’s available in the default package repositories. Whether you’re running a desktop setup or using the terminal, Snap makes app management cleaner and more consistent.
Bonus Tip:
Try installing apps like:
snap install vlcsnap install chromiumsnap install spotify
to turn your Pi into a lightweight media machine!
Have you tried Snap on your Raspberry Pi? What apps are your favorites? Let us know in the comments!