GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 765482
Unable to install third-party .deb packages
Last modified: 2016-04-26 01:08:58 UTC
I have found that on a Ubuntu 16.04 64-bit fresh install that GNOME Software does not allowing one to install any third-party (not from the repositories) .deb files. When one attempts to open one with GNOME Software and click the "Install" button nothing happens except for a super quick progress bar animation. No matter how many times one tries this it does not work (though it does work in other tools similar to GNOME Software such as Gdebi), there is even an icon that pops up in the panel saying "Waiting to install" but nothing seems to happen. I am filling this report because somebody filed a report downstream (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu-gnome/+bug/1573206) on this issue but I couldn't find an upstream report.
Note that you can still install with many tools - apt-get, dpkg and others. It seems to be only GNOME Software with the issue.
That's true, but Ubuntu users are accustom to being able to install deb files using the default GUI, and now that Ubuntu has switch to gnome-software as their default gui (for software installation), less advanced users are desperately confused. Even advanced users will likely appreciate if gnome-software were modified to handle deb file installation successfully. There's probably open-source-code already available that would greatly ease the implementation of this feature. In Ubuntu 16.04, if you find a deb using Firefox, it showcases the option to open the deb with gnome-software. Once the user does this, gnome-software appears to TRY to install it, but it fails without GUI notification.
Yes, good points - and I too wish to be able to just click a download and install. On Ask Ubuntu, we got an influx of these questions, promoting this Q&A pair, which we redirect new users to. http://askubuntu.com/q/761525 The attempt to install is bizarre - why would it manage to open and do *something* but not manage with no errors. Such a frustrating bug to be shipped!
https://git.gnome.org/browse/gnome-software/commit/?h=wip/iainl/ubuntu-xenial&id=a98db57a724ea4433b03e9101964c1b594fa89e5
I don't know if this is still an upstream issue, but people are commenting on the LaunchPad bug report I linked to say that the fix doesn't actually properly fix the problem and that it is still present just to let you know.
This is working for me in GNOME Ubuntu 16.04, I restarted and installed updates earlier today.
Sadly, no joy for me on a fresh install of Ubuntu 16.04 the same exact bug description are still being exhibited when trying to install "third party non-free software". Clicking on install just does nothing. I am able to Install third party with Gdebi Package installer all drama free. But Ubuntu Software still has this problem. In other words, it doesn't seem this bug fix is working for everyone. Frustrating.