Public bug reported:
Here is what I sent to Grok, and the reply. I tried many of these, as
you will see:
I recently updated Ubuntu from 25.04 to 25.10. After doing this upgrade,
one of my icons is missing. The "software updater", which is an A with a
circle around it, is no longer there. Where did it go?
1) The release of Ubuntu you are using, via 'lsb_release -rd' or System ->
About Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu Questing Quokka (development branch)
Release: 25.10
2) The version of the package you are using, via 'apt-cache policy pkgname' or
by checking in Software Center
??
3) What you expected to happen
Wanted to see the updates come in on the software updater.
4) What happened instead
It is not working properly.
The Software Updater (officially called "update-manager" in Ubuntu) is a
standard application included by default in Ubuntu Desktop editions, including
25.10. It should appear in your applications overview (accessed via the Super
key or Activities button) under the "Administration" category, with its icon
being a blue circle around a white "A" (representing "updates available"). If
it's missing after your upgrade from 25.04, this is likely due to one of a few
common issues: an incomplete upgrade process, a missing or broken package, icon
theme glitches, or a change in how the desktop environment handles pinned or
visible apps.
Quick Checks and Fixes
Search for It in the Applications Menu:
Press the Super key (Windows key) and type "software updater" or
"update manager".
If it appears in the search results but isn't showing in the grid or
dock, it exists but may not be pinned or visible by default. Right-click it and
select "Add to Favorites" to pin it to your dock.
Launch It via Terminal to Verify:
Open a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run:
text
update-manager
If it launches successfully, the app is installed but the
icon/shortcut is the issue. If it doesn't launch (e.g., "command not
found"), proceed to reinstall it.
Reinstall the Software Updater Package:
Upgrades can sometimes fail to carry over certain packages cleanly. Run
these commands in the terminal:
text
sudo apt update
sudo apt install --reinstall update-manager
This will reinstall the app without affecting your system. After it
completes, search for it again in the applications menu or relaunch via
terminal. Log out and back in (or reboot) if the icon still doesn't
appear.
Fix Icon or Desktop Integration Issues:
Reset GNOME Extensions: Ubuntu 25.10 uses GNOME 49 (with Wayland as
default), and extensions can glitch during upgrades, causing icons to vanish
from the dock or overview. Install the Extensions app if needed (sudo apt
install gnome-shell-extension-manager), then:
Open Extensions > Go to the "Installed" tab.
Disable all extensions, log out/in, then re-enable them one by one to
identify any culprits.
Alternatively, reset all extensions via terminal:
text
gnome-extensions reset
Then log out and back in.
Update Icon Cache: If the icon specifically is broken:
text
sudo gtk-update-icon-cache /usr/share/icons/hicolor
Restart your session afterward.
Check for Conflicting Themes: Go to Settings > Appearance and switch to the
default "Yaru" theme temporarily to see if a custom theme is hiding the icon.
Ensure No Upgrade Artifacts:
Run a full system upgrade to catch any missed packages:
text
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
If you have third-party PPAs or snaps from 25.04, they might
conflict—disable them temporarily in Software & Updates (which you can
launch via software-properties-gtk in terminal).
If It Still Doesn't Work
Check if you're on the standard Ubuntu Desktop (GNOME). Run echo
$XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP in terminal—it should output "ubuntu:GNOME". If it's
something else (e.g., due to a partial install), reinstall the full desktop:
text
sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop
Search for bugs: Visit the Ubuntu Discourse forums or Launchpad and look
for "update-manager icon missing 25.10". Upgrades from interim releases like
25.04 to 25.10 can occasionally skip UI elements.
As a workaround, you can always update via terminal (sudo apt update &&
sudo apt upgrade) or use the "Software" app (GNOME Software) for graphical
updates, which handles most of the same tasks.
This should restore it—upgrades are generally smooth, but icon visibility is a
frequent hiccup in GNOME-based releases. If you provide more details (e.g.,
error messages from terminal), I can refine the advice.
1.2s
This used to come up with a list of software to install, and you could check
off which ones you wanted. It would tell you how much space it took, and the
versions. I do not see this now.
It sounds like you're describing the functionality of the Software Updater
(update-manager) in Ubuntu, which typically shows a list of available updates
for installed software, including package names, versions, and the size of the
updates, allowing you to selectively install them. If this interface is no
longer appearing after your upgrade to Ubuntu 25.10 and the icon is missing,
it’s likely that the update-manager package is either not installed, corrupted,
or misconfigured, or the desktop environment is not displaying it correctly.
Let’s troubleshoot and restore this functionality.
Steps to Resolve the Issue
Verify Software Updater is Installed:
Open a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run:
text
update-manager
If it launches and shows the familiar interface (a list of updates
with checkboxes, version details, and sizes), the app is installed but
not appearing in your applications menu or dock. If it fails with an
error (e.g., "command not found"), proceed to reinstall.
Reinstall Software Updater:
Run the following commands to ensure the package is properly installed:
text
sudo apt update
sudo apt install --reinstall update-manager
After reinstalling, try launching it again with update-manager. If
it opens and shows the update list with checkboxes, versions, and sizes,
the core issue is resolved. Now, we need to fix the icon visibility.
Check for the Icon in the Applications Menu:
Press the Super key (Windows key) and search for "Software Updater" or
"Update Manager".
If it appears in the search but not in the applications grid or dock,
right-click it and select "Add to Favorites" to pin it to the dock, or drag it
to your desired location.
If it doesn’t appear in the search, the desktop file may be missing or
corrupted. Create or restore it:
text
sudo nano /usr/share/applications/update-manager.desktop
Ensure it contains (or create it with) the following:
text
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Software Updater
Comment=Show and install available updates
Exec=update-manager
Icon=system-software-update
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=System;Settings;
Save (Ctrl+O, Enter, Ctrl+X) and run:
text
sudo chmod +x /usr/share/applications/update-manager.desktop
sudo update-desktop-database
Log out and back in, then search for it again.
Check for GNOME Software Interference:
Ubuntu 25.10 uses GNOME Software (gnome-software) alongside Software
Updater, and sometimes the system defaults to GNOME Software for updates, which
has a different interface (less detailed, no checkboxes for individual
packages).
To confirm you’re using Software Updater and not GNOME Software:
Run update-manager in terminal to ensure you get the detailed interface
with package lists, versions, and sizes.
If GNOME Software is opening instead when you click updates, go to
Settings > Software & Updates > Updates tab and ensure "Check for updates" is
set to a regular interval (e.g., daily). This ensures update-manager is
triggered for updates.
If you prefer GNOME Software but want the detailed view, you may need to
rely on update-manager explicitly or use terminal commands (apt list
--upgradable to see available updates with versions).
Fix Icon or Desktop Environment Issues:
Icon Cache Issue: If the icon (blue circle with a white "A") is missing or
broken:
text
sudo gtk-update-icon-cache /usr/share/icons/hicolor
Log out and back in.
GNOME Shell Glitch: Ubuntu 25.10 uses GNOME 49, and upgrades can disrupt shell
extensions or icon rendering. Reset GNOME Shell settings:
text
dconf reset -f /org/gnome/shell/
Then reboot. This resets the application grid and dock to defaults, which
may restore the icon.
Theme Conflict: Go to Settings > Appearance and switch to the default Yaru
theme to rule out a custom theme hiding the icon.
Alternative: Check Updates via Terminal:
If the GUI is still not working, you can view the same information (package
names, versions, sizes) in the terminal:
text
sudo apt update
apt list --upgradable
This lists all available updates with their current and new versions. To
selectively install updates, use:
text
sudo apt install <package-name>
For example, sudo apt install firefox to update only Firefox. This
replicates the checkbox functionality of Software Updater.
Verify Upgrade Integrity:
Upgrades from 25.04 to 25.10 can sometimes leave packages in an
inconsistent state. Run:
text
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
sudo apt autoremove
sudo apt autoclean
This ensures all dependencies are resolved and stray packages are
cleaned up.
Check for Known Bugs:
Search Ubuntu’s Launchpad (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu) or the
Ubuntu Discourse forums for "update-manager missing 25.10" or "software updater
no icon". This can reveal if others are experiencing the same issue
post-upgrade.
If you suspect a bug, consider reporting it with ubuntu-bug
update-manager in the terminal to help the community diagnose it.
Additional Notes
Snap vs. APT: Ubuntu 25.10 uses a mix of APT (deb packages) and Snap for
software. Software Updater handles APT updates, while Snap updates are managed
by snap refresh or GNOME Software. To see Snap updates:
text
snap refresh --list
If you’re expecting Snap package details in the updater, you’ll need to use
GNOME Software or the terminal, as update-manager doesn’t list Snaps.
Fallback to GNOME Software: If you can’t restore Software Updater, GNOME
Software (gnome-software) can handle updates but with less granularity (no
checkboxes or detailed size/version info). Launch it via:
text
gnome-software
Go to the Updates tab to apply updates.
If It’s Still Missing
If none of these steps restore the Software Updater with its detailed
interface:
Confirm your desktop environment with echo $XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP. It should
say ubuntu:GNOME. If it’s different, you may have a partial desktop install.
Reinstall the full Ubuntu desktop:
text
sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop
Provide more details (e.g., any errors when running update-manager,
whether GNOME Software is showing updates, or if you use a custom
desktop setup), and I can tailor further steps.
This should get you back to the familiar Software Updater interface with the
list of updates, checkboxes, versions, and sizes. Let me know how it goes or if
you hit specific errors!
1.2s
Unsatisfied dependencies:
update-manager : Depends: gir1.2-snapd-2 but it is not going to be installed
Depends: ubuntu-release-upgrader-gtk but it is not going to
be installed
Depends: update-notifier
Error: Unable to satisfy dependencies. Reached two conflicting decisions:
1. ubuntu-release-upgrader-gtk:amd64 is selected for install because:
1. update-manager:amd64=1:25.04.5 is selected for install
2. update-manager:amd64 Depends ubuntu-release-upgrader-gtk
2. ubuntu-release-upgrader-gtk:amd64 Depends gir1.2-webkit2-4.1
but none of the choices are installable:
- gir1.2-webkit2-4.1:amd64 is available in versions 2.48.3-1ubuntu2,
2.48.6-1ubuntu1
but none of the choices are installable:
- gir1.2-webkit2-4.1:amd64=2.48.3-1ubuntu2 Depends libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0
(= 2.48.3-1ubuntu2)
but none of the choices are installable:
- libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0:amd64=2.48.3-1ubuntu2 is not selected for
install
- gir1.2-webkit2-4.1:amd64=2.48.6-1ubuntu1 is not selected for install
The error you're encountering indicates that update-manager cannot be installed
or reinstalled due to unmet dependencies, specifically gir1.2-snapd-2,
ubuntu-release-upgrader-gtk, and update-notifier. The root of the issue seems
to be a dependency conflict with ubuntu-release-upgrader-gtk, which requires
gir1.2-webkit2-4.1, but the available versions of gir1.2-webkit2-4.1
(2.48.3-1ubuntu2 or 2.48.6-1ubuntu1) have their own dependency issues,
particularly with libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0. This is a common issue after an Ubuntu
upgrade (e.g., from 25.04 to 25.10), as package repositories or dependency
chains can become misaligned. Let’s resolve this step-by-step to restore the
Software Updater and its icon.
Steps to Fix Unmet Dependencies
Update Package Lists:
Ensure your package lists are up-to-date to rule out stale repository
data:
text
sudo apt update
If you get errors about missing or unreachable repositories, check your sources
in /etc/apt/sources.list and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/. Ensure they point to
Ubuntu 25.10 (Oracular Oriole) repositories. For example:
text
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oracular main restricted universe
multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oracular-updates main restricted
universe multiverse
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oracular-security main restricted
universe multiverse
Edit with sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list if needed, then run sudo
apt update again.
Fix Broken Dependencies:
Run the following to attempt automatic dependency resolution:
text
sudo apt install -f
This command tries to fix broken or missing dependencies by
installing or removing conflicting packages. If it reports specific
conflicts, note them for the next steps.
Install Missing Dependencies Explicitly:
The error mentions gir1.2-snapd-2, ubuntu-release-upgrader-gtk, and
update-notifier. Try installing them individually to identify the root issue:
text
sudo apt install gir1.2-snapd-2
sudo apt install ubuntu-release-upgrader-gtk
sudo apt install update-notifier
If any fail, the error output will point to the specific conflict. For example,
ubuntu-release-upgrader-gtk depends on gir1.2-webkit2-4.1, which depends on
libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0. Try installing the specific version mentioned:
text
sudo apt install libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0=2.48.3-1ubuntu2
sudo apt install gir1.2-webkit2-4.1=2.48.3-1ubuntu2
If version 2.48.3-1ubuntu2 fails, try the alternative:
text
sudo apt install libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0=2.48.6-1ubuntu1
sudo apt install gir1.2-webkit2-4.1=2.48.6-1ubuntu1
Clean Up Package Cache and Remove Conflicts:
Clear out any corrupted or partial packages:
text
sudo apt clean
sudo apt autoclean
sudo apt autoremove
If a specific package is causing conflicts (e.g., libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0), try
removing it temporarily (if it’s not critical) and reinstalling:
text
sudo apt remove libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0
sudo apt install update-manager
Check for Held or Locked Packages:
Sometimes, packages are held back, causing dependency issues. Check for
held packages:
text
dpkg --get-selections | grep hold
If any packages are listed, unhold them:
text
sudo apt-mark unhold <package-name>
Then retry installing update-manager:
text
sudo apt install update-manager
Force Installation of Compatible Versions:
If the specific versions of libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0 or gir1.2-webkit2-4.1 are
unavailable or conflicting, you can try forcing a compatible version. First,
check available versions:
text
apt-cache policy libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0
apt-cache policy gir1.2-webkit2-4.1
If a compatible version exists in the repository, install it explicitly:
text
sudo apt install libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0=<version>
gir1.2-webkit2-4.1=<version>
Replace <version> with a version from the apt-cache policy output
that matches your system’s architecture (amd64).
Reinstall the Full Ubuntu Desktop:
If the dependencies are too tangled, reinstalling the Ubuntu desktop
environment can resolve missing or broken system components:
text
sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop
This pulls in update-manager, update-notifier, and their
dependencies, ensuring a consistent setup for Ubuntu 25.10’s GNOME 49
environment.
Check for Third-Party Repositories or PPAs:
Third-party PPAs from Ubuntu 25.04 may be causing conflicts in 25.10. List
your PPAs:
text
ls /etc/apt/sources.list.d/
If any PPAs are present, disable them temporarily:
text
sudo mv /etc/apt/sources.list.d/<ppa-file>
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/<ppa-file>.bak
sudo apt update
Then retry installing update-manager.
Verify Snap Integration:
The dependency gir1.2-snapd-2 relates to Snap package integration. Ensure
the Snap daemon is installed and running:
text
sudo apt install snapd
sudo systemctl enable --now snapd
Then retry:
text
sudo apt install gir1.2-snapd-2
Restore Software Updater Icon and Functionality:
Once the dependencies are resolved and update-manager installs
successfully, ensure the desktop file is present:
text
sudo nano /usr/share/applications/update-manager.desktop
Verify or add:
text
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Software Updater
Comment=Show and install available updates
Exec=update-manager
Icon=system-software-update
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=System;Settings;
Save, then update the desktop database:
text
sudo chmod +x /usr/share/applications/update-manager.desktop
sudo update-desktop-database
Update the icon cache:
text
sudo gtk-update-icon-cache /usr/share/icons/hicolor
Log out and back in, then search for "Software Updater" in the
applications menu. Launch it to confirm it shows the list of updates
with checkboxes, versions, and sizes.
Fallback: Use Alternative Update Tools:
If update-manager still won’t install, you can manage updates via the
terminal or GNOME Software:
Terminal:
text
sudo apt update
apt list --upgradable
sudo apt upgrade
This lists packages with versions and sizes, similar to Software Updater,
though without a GUI checkbox interface.
GNOME Software:
text
gnome-software
Go to the Updates tab. It’s less detailed but can apply updates.
Synaptic Package Manager (if you prefer a GUI with detailed control):
text
sudo apt install synaptic
synaptic
Synaptic allows you to see and select individual package
updates with version and size details.
If Problems Persist
Check Logs for Specific Errors:
Review APT logs for more clues:
text
cat /var/log/apt/term.log
cat /var/log/apt/history.log
Share any specific error messages for further diagnosis.
Report a Bug:
If the issue seems like a repository or package bug in Ubuntu 25.10, report
it:
text
ubuntu-bug update-manager
Check Launchpad
(https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager) for similar reports.
Consider a Fresh Install:
If the upgrade from 25.04 to 25.10 has caused too many dependency
issues, a fresh install of 25.10 may be cleaner. Back up your data first (e.g.,
to an external drive or cloud storage), then reinstall using a 25.10 ISO from
https://ubuntu.com/download.
Why This Happened
The upgrade from 25.04 to 25.10 likely left some packages in an
inconsistent state, especially since 25.04 was an interim release. The
libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0 dependency conflict suggests a mismatch between
available library versions and what ubuntu-release-upgrader-gtk expects,
possibly due to repository changes or partial upgrades. Ubuntu 25.10
uses newer versions of GNOME and WebKitGTK, which may not align
perfectly with packages carried over from 25.04.
Try these steps and let me know the output of any errors (e.g., from
sudo apt install update-manager or specific dependency failures). If you
can confirm whether the Software Updater launches at all or if the issue
is purely the missing icon, I can refine the solution further.
ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 25.10
Package: ubuntu-release-upgrader-core 1:25.10.6
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.17.0-4.4-generic 6.17.0-rc5
Uname: Linux 6.17.0-4-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.33.1-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
CrashDB: ubuntu
CrashReports:
640:60578:109:1454545:2025-09-18 02:08:07.823836018 -0400:2025-09-18
02:08:07.844836017 -0400:/var/crash/_usr_bin_wireplumber.60578.crash
644:60578:109:0:2025-09-18 02:08:07.823836018 -0400:2025-09-18
02:08:07.823836018 -0400:/var/crash/_usr_bin_wireplumber.60578.upload
644:0:109:0:2025-09-18 14:23:00.294497352 -0400:2025-09-18 01:34:56.396457368
-0400:/var/crash/kdump_lock
600:104:109:37:2025-09-18 02:08:08.865889159 -0400:2025-09-18
02:08:08.864835966 -0400:/var/crash/_usr_bin_wireplumber.60578.uploaded
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Thu Sep 18 19:40:28 2025
InstallationDate: Installed on 2025-06-11 (100 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 25.04 "Plucky Puffin" - Release amd64 (20250415.3)
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
LANG=en_US.UTF-8
PATH=(custom, no user)
SHELL=/bin/bash
TERM=xterm-256color
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
SourcePackage: ubuntu-release-upgrader
Symptom: ubuntu-release-upgrader
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to questing on 2025-09-18 (1 days ago)
VarLogDistupgradeXorgFixuplog:
INFO:root:/usr/bin/do-release-upgrade running
INFO:root:No xorg.conf, exiting
** Affects: ubuntu-release-upgrader (Ubuntu)
Importance: Undecided
Status: New
** Tags: amd64 apport-bug dist-upgrade questing wayland-session
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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2125167
Title:
After 25.04 to 25.10 upgrade, update-manager not working properly
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