Ubuntu relies heavily on “Snaps”—containerized software packages managed by a background service called snapd. By design, Canonical built the Snap system to automatically check for and install updates in the background up to four times a day. Unlike traditional APT packages, there is no graphical button in Ubuntu to turn off these automatic Snap updates.
While automatic updates ensure you always have the latest security patches, they can be a nightmare for users on metered internet connections or developers whose local environments break when a background dependency suddenly changes versions without warning. If you need absolute control over when your software updates, you can reconfigure the snapd service to effectively stop automatic updates.
How to Delay Snap Auto-Updates in Ubuntu
Because Canonical refuses to allow users to permanently disable Snap updates, the official workaround is to configure the system to only update on the last Saturday of the month, or to pause them entirely while on a metered connection.
Open your Terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run one of the following commands based on your preference:
Method 1: The Metered Connection Trick (Best for Laptops)
You can tell Snap to permanently pause all background downloads whenever you are connected to a metered network (like a mobile hotspot).
- Run this command:
sudo snap set system refresh.metered=hold - Next, open the graphical Ubuntu Settings app.
- Go to the Wi-Fi tab and click the gear icon next to your current network.
- Check the box for Metered Connection: has data limits or can incur charges.
As long as you are on this Wi-Fi network, Snap will never automatically update.
Method 2: The Scheduling Delay (Best for Desktops)
You can configure Snap to only attempt updates during an incredibly narrow, inconvenient window—such as 3:00 AM on the last Sunday of the month—guaranteeing it never interrupts your active work.
- Run this exact command in the terminal:
sudo snap set system refresh.timer=last,03:00~04:00 - Press Enter. This schedules the updates to only occur once a month, during a specific one-hour block in the middle of the night.
While neither method completely kills the snapd update service, both approaches successfully stop the daemon from silently downloading massive software packages in the background while you are trying to work.