NOTICE SEPT 2025: I'm no longer removing snapd. I just ignore it and avoid any app that is snap only. The reason is fear that I make break the upgrade to the next LTS release.

Instead, I uninstall the snap version of firefox, and then reinstall it properly:

sudo snap remove --purge firefox
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/ppa
sudo apt update
sudo apt install firefox

Here’s how you can completely remove snap from Ubuntu.

WARNING: This will break some default apps (like Firefox on newer Ubuntu releases) since they are shipped as snaps. You may need to reinstall replacements from the official apt repositories or PPAs.

1. First, install and load a temporary desktop environment

  1. install the lxqt desktop
sudo apt install lxqt

  1. reboot

  2. At the login window click your name, and then in the gear at the bottom right corner, choose lxqt.

  3. complete the following steps from lxqt...

2. Remove snapd and installed snaps

# List all snaps
snap list

# Remove all snaps (do them one by one, starting with dependencies)
sudo snap remove --purge firefox
sudo snap remove --purge snap-store
sudo snap remove --purge gnome-3-*
sudo snap remove --purge gtk-common-themes
sudo snap remove --purge core*
# ...repeat until `snap list` is empty (some won't go, that's ok -- ignore snapd itself)
# ...note, this includes gnome*

# Finally, remove snapd itself
sudo apt purge --autoremove snapd -y

3. Remove leftover directories

sudo rm -rf /var/cache/snapd/
rm -rf ~/snap

4. Block snapd from being reinstalled automatically

Ubuntu sometimes reinstalls snapd as a dependency. To prevent this:

sudo apt-mark hold snapd

Or add a preference rule:

sudo nano /etc/apt/preferences.d/nosnap.pref

Put this inside:

Package: snapd
Pin: release a=*
Pin-Priority: -10

Save and exit.

6. Reinstall Ubuntu and Any Other Desired Desktops

  1. Reinstall Ubuntu Desktop, even if you don't plan to use it right now
sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop
  1. [Optional] Install Other Dekstops.
If You Prefer the Full Stock GNOME Desktop
sudo apt install gnome
If you're coming from Linux Mint, you may be more happy with Cinnamon
sudo apt install cinnamon
I personally use KDE Plasma
sudo apt install kde-plasma-desktop
# For the meta package (WARRNING: INSTALLS ALL KDE KUBUNTU APPS!!):
# sudo apt install kubuntu-desktop
I Sometimes Install the ENTIRE KDE Plasma Suite (HUGE)
# WARNING: This meta-package installs lots of stuff:
sudo apt install kubuntu-desktop
Others

etc...

6. Reload Your Preferred Desktop

I use GNOME, so I loaded GNOME with Wayland, but if you want to go back to the normal Ubuntu flavor of GNOME, just load Ubuntu Desktop.

7. (Optional) Reinstall APT versions of apps

Some apps (like Firefox) need to be reinstalled from the official Ubuntu repositories or PPAs:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/ppa
sudo apt update
sudo apt install firefox

At this point, snap should be completely removed and prevented from coming back.