The Ubuntu Software Center makes life easier for those who want to install their favorite software without using a terminal or building things from source code. It also enables users to quickly search for software and packages, and automatically handle dependencies in the process. Although rare, errors may occur that prevent the software center from working properly. Some troubleshooting can help you fix the non-working problem in the Ubuntu Software Center.
Issues After Clearing Cache or System
Some users reported that after clearing the cache or using any system cleaning tools, they started to not work properly in the Ubuntu Software Center. If the software center loads and displays the update tab, click it.
Click the update button in the upper left corner. This will update the available updates and the software center. It is also one of the few solutions that does not require a terminal.
Software Center Not Loading
Sometimes the Ubuntu Software Center won’t load. If you see a message like “Cannot download from”, it generally means that you cannot read the local cache because it does not exist. To solve this problem, you need to open a terminal and enter:
sudo apt update && sudo apt -y upgrade
If the above doesn’t work, then you may need to reinstall Gnome-Software.
sudo apt autoremove gnome-software && sudo apt install gnome-software
You can also try the following:
sudo apt update && sudo apt dist-upgrade -f
This should pull down the latest version of Ubuntu, which should fix the issue.
Corrupted Cache
This is a bit complicated to handle and is different from the above. Basically, there is a problem with the cache package, and the software center cannot read them. Return to the terminal and enter:
sudo apt clean
Now the cache will be completely clear. Next, enter the command:
sudo apt update
This will pull a clean package list to your machine and should allow you to install software via the search.
No Images or Software
When searching for software, sometimes nothing is loaded. The same problem occurs when there are no images in the “Editor’s Choice” section.
To fix this, type the following command in the Terminal:
killall gnome-software
This kills the software running within the Software Center.
Next, you need to remove the gnome file software location “~/.local/share/gnome-software.” Do this by entering the following in the Terminal:
sudo rm -rf ~/.local/share/gnome-software
If this scares you or you are concerned that it will ruin your installation, you can choose to avoid removal by moving it to another location. Either way, the software center can function normally. If you have added it as a favorite, just launch it from the app menu or launcher as usual.
Issues After Upgrading
Although upgrading to a new version of Ubuntu will generally go smoothly, sometimes you will encounter glitches after the process is complete. For example, the Ubuntu Software Center might not load or not work at all. In this case, you may need to install the Gnome software from scratch instead of reinstalling it.
As with most solutions, open the terminal and enter the following:
sudo apt install gnome-software
You’ll need to reboot to complete the process.
Crashing
This is a somewhat unusual problem, but sometimes the software center crashes when entering categories. This can usually be resolved by running the update command shown earlier in this article or reinstalling as before.
sudo apt install --reinstall software-center
The Language Fix
One of the strangest solutions to the Ubuntu Software Center not working problem is to simply change the language. You can even re-select the current language. This solution usually only works if you have recently installed a new version of Ubuntu, used the system cleanup tool, or updated the software center. This will update your system enough to get the software center to work normally again. Strange, but effective for many users.
Go to “Settings -> Region & Language”. Select Language.
Although you can choose other languages as needed, you only need to choose the currently installed language. If this does not affect, please select another language temporarily, restart, and then open the software center again to see if it helps. After this, you can change your language back to the original language.
Select a language and press the green Select button.
You can also install a new language completely. Select “Manage installed languages” at the bottom of the Region & Language page.
Then, select “Install / Remove Languages.”
Select a language from the list and choose “Apply.” You can also simply uncheck your language and choose “Apply” to uninstall it. Then, reboot, go back to this window, and reinstall your language.
Finally, click “Apply System-Wide” to apply your changes at the next restart. If you need to reinstall your language, simply repeat the steps to reinstall.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I prevent this issue in the future?
Ideally, keep your software center up-to-date. It is important to note that older versions of Ubuntu may not be compatible with the latest version of the Software Center. If you update the Software Center and start to experience problems, you may need to downgrade or upgrade Ubuntu.
2. What if I’m using an older device?
Software Center isn’t easy on your device’s resources, since it’s such a major program. For older devices that keep having issues, it may be better to switch to Synaptic. While it’s not as user-friendly, it does work much smoother on older hardware.
Open the terminal and enter:
sudo apt install synaptic
3. Do I have to use Software Center?
No, it is just an easier option. You can still use other methods to find and install software. Ubuntu supports .deb files. You can find multiple alternative methods to install the software you need from the Software Center. In addition, the Software Center is not all-encompassing, so you may need to use these other methods to install software from time to time.
