If I install a snap package, will the config files be carried over and the already installed deb package be removed automatically?

Question

I'm running Ubuntu 22.04, Thunderbird is installed as deb package (version 91). I'd like to use the new Thunderbird version 102, which is only available as a snap package.

What will happen if I say sudo snap install thunderbird?

Will my TB config and mail folders be carried over? Will the deb package be removed?

Pablo Bianchi · Answer 1 · 2022-08-01T07:50:07.670

2

Both installations of the app would work independently one from the other. The deb package won't be uninstalled. The snap one won't take the deb config.

You can also have a flatpak alternative, which much more people seem to prefer. Same with a lot of other apps like Firefox or Brave.

Related: How to completely remove snap and replace with flatpak?

edited Aug 01 '22 at 07:50

answered Aug 01 '22 at 07:36

Pablo Bianchi

15,657

But when upgrading to Ubuntu 22.04, the Firefox deb package was migrated to the snap version without losing any data. Was this a special-made upgrade script from the Ubuntu team? – foobar Aug 01 '22 at 07:40
1

Yes, is a controversial decision, already done with Chromium. – Pablo Bianchi Aug 01 '22 at 07:49
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@foobar in that case, there's a placeholder apt package which causes the installation of the snap package. In a sense, you still have both apt and snap packages installed when upgrading. – muru Aug 01 '22 at 08:29

If I install a snap package, will the config files be carried over and the already installed deb package be removed automatically?

1 Answers1