Ubuntu 26.10 App Center: apps and graphics drivers

Ubuntu 26.10 App Center unifies Snap and DEB details and adds a graphics-driver page. Check the source before selecting an app. The official release notes  describe the update.

Check the source before installing

Open App Center, search for an app, and open its details. Inspect:

1. Publisher and source: confirm that you trust the project or distribution repository.
2. Package format: determine whether you selected Snap or DEB. Two versions with the same app name may be installed separately.
3. Version and download size: check your requirements and available disk space.
4. Permissions: consider the files, camera or devices the app needs to access.

A shared details layout does not merge the underlying update systems. Snap and APT continue to manage their own packages.

Identify installed versions

Use the management page to inspect apps. These read-only commands help distinguish installation sources:

snap list
dpkg-query -W

They list Snap and DEB installation records respectively. Output can be lengthy; identify the package in App Center before narrowing a query. Matching icons do not prove that two launchers refer to the same installation.

Before uninstalling, confirm the format and package name, and separately back up important app data. Removing an app does not necessarily remove all user configuration and should not be the first response to a dependency problem.

Graphics-driver page

Open the driver page and inspect options for your detected hardware. Available choices depend on the device, enabled repositories and driver availability. Not every computer will show NVIDIA options.

Save your work and read the NVIDIA guide before installing or changing drivers. Restart if prompted, then test your displays and normal apps.

The page does not replace a Secure Boot and boot-layout check, particularly on systems that depend on custom modules.

Missing software or updates

Check connectivity, package sources and the selected format. Some updates roll out in phases; absence on your particular device does not necessarily mean a broken updater. Let an existing package operation finish before starting another installation.

Read the software installation guide for Flatpak setup. GNOME Software features should not be assumed to exist in Ubuntu App Center.

Next: Ubuntu 26.10 overview.