How to fix error: cannot install "package-name": snap "package-name" has "install-snap" change in progress in APT

APTINTERMEDIATEMEDIUMUpdated Dec 29, 2025· 217 views

This error occurs when a snap installation is interrupted or when concurrent snap operations are attempted simultaneously, leaving the snap daemon unable to complete. The snap system locks the package to prevent further actions until the stuck process is aborted.

Quick fix

Fixes error: cannot install "package-name": snap "package-name" has "install-snap" change in progress

snap changes
  1. Check active snap changes
  2. Abort the stuck change
  3. Verify the change was aborted
  4. Retry the snap operation
apt — error
snap changes
error: cannot install "package-name": snap "package-name" has "install-snap" change in progress

What this error means

The "install-snap" change in progress error indicates that the Snap daemon detected an incomplete or interrupted installation operation. This lock prevents any further actions on that snap package. The error typically occurs when an installation is interrupted due to manual cancellation, system freeze, network interruption, or when multiple snap operations are attempted at the same time. The snap system uses change tracking to manage operations, and this error means a previous change is still marked as "Doing" even though it may not be actively running.

Typical symptoms

  • snap install commands fail with "change in progress" error
  • Unable to install, remove, or update any snap packages
  • snap commands hang or timeout
  • Error occurs consistently for the same snap package
  • May occur after a sudden system reboot or installation interruption

Common causes

  1. Interrupted snap installation (manual cancellation, system crash, or power failure)
  2. Concurrent snap operations attempted simultaneously
  3. Network connectivity lost during snap operation
  4. Snap daemon crash or service issue leaving processes in locked state
  5. Previous snap change marked as "Doing" but never completed

How to fix "error: cannot install "package-name": snap "package-name" has "install-snap" change in progress"

1Check active snap changes

First, list all ongoing snap operations to identify which one is stuck:

bash
snap changes

This command displays all snap changes with their status. Look for any change with a status of "Doing" - this is your stuck process. Note the ID number of the stuck change.

2Abort the stuck change

Once you've identified the stuck change ID, abort it using the sudo snap abort command:

bash
sudo snap abort <ID>

Replace <ID> with the actual change ID number from the previous step. For example: sudo snap abort 8

3Verify the change was aborted

Run snap changes again to confirm the stuck change is now marked as "Done" or "Error":

bash
snap changes

The previously stuck change should no longer show a "Doing" status.

4Retry the snap operation

Now attempt to install (or perform your desired operation) on the snap package again:

bash
sudo snap install package-name

The installation should now proceed without the "change in progress" error. If you're installing a different package, replace package-name with the actual snap name.

Advanced notes

If aborting the change doesn't resolve the issue, you can try removing snap lock files manually: sudo rm /var/lib/snapd/lock and sudo rm /var/lib/snapd/seed.lock. In severe cases, restarting the snap daemon with sudo systemctl restart snapd or rebooting the system may be necessary. To prevent this error in the future, avoid running multiple snap operations concurrently and monitor your system resources to prevent interruptions during installations. If the error persists after all attempts, check snap daemon logs with sudo snap debug requests for more detailed error information.

Frequently asked questions

What does "error: cannot install "package-name": snap "package-name" has "install" mean?
The "install-snap" change in progress error indicates that the Snap daemon detected an incomplete or interrupted installation operation. This lock prevents any further actions on that snap package. The error typically occurs when an installation is interrupted due to manual cancellation, system freeze, network interruption, or when multiple snap operations are attempted at the same time.
How do I fix "error: cannot install "package-name": snap "package-name" has "install"?
This error occurs when a snap installation is interrupted or when concurrent snap operations are attempted simultaneously, leaving the snap daemon unable to complete. The snap system locks the package to prevent further actions until the stuck process is aborted.
What causes "error: cannot install "package-name": snap "package-name" has "install"?
Interrupted snap installation (manual cancellation, system crash, or power failure) Concurrent snap operations attempted simultaneously Network connectivity lost during snap operation
Is the "error: cannot install "package-name": snap "package-name" has "install" error serious?
It is a medium-severity error — more of a blocker than a risk. The steps above resolve it.

Official resources & further reading