GNOME Software does not install third-party .deb packages

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

Duplicate of https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-software/+bug/1572871

The same is true for this hangouts plugin I use in Firefox. It require this deb:
https://www.google.com/tools/dlpage/hangoutplugin

But, it won't install.

Same is true for this deb:
http://torrent-search.sourceforge.net/download

Please fix this, it's a no go for an LTS release!

Same issue here. Can't install any deb package in software centre.

Workarounds:
1) Use the GDebi Package Installer https://apps.ubuntu.com/cat/applications/precise/gdebi/
2) Use the command line: dpkg -i <filename>.deb

This is happening to me to.
I cant seem to get either of the workarounds to work. When i try to install the gdebi package installer in the software center it does the same thing as when I try to install .deb files.
I had previously installed things via the software center but now nothing is installing. I can't really do anything on my computer without any software. Please Fix!

Same problem for me. I try to install Chrome. it just keep me waiting. and didn't give any result. Please try to fix it quickly.

Please fix it. I'm too suffering from this irritating bug

I thought I was the only one facing this issue, but it seems that it's a common issue. Hope it gets resolved soon.

Same problem here!

It affects me as well....

The same problem is with Google Chrome's 64bit .deb package in completely fresh 16.04. First application in fresh installation (not upgrade). Thread here http://askubuntu.com/q/761190/25388

same bug here also ...
unfortunately :(

As Stanislav mentioned, in post #6, there are other ways you can installed these deb packages.

However, even after you get the deb package installed, it breaks your ability to sudo apt-get update.

See here:
http://askubuntu.com/a/760348/256054

Lonnie, the only error you should worry about is regarding dependencies after installing via dpkg. This can be fixed by doing a:

apt-get install -f

The other error is caused by SHA1 removal and can safely be ignored until the repos are updated:

https://wiki.debian.org/Teams/Apt/Sha1Removal

There is also another bug report addressing that issue.

Same thing happen to me. Please, fix it to continue enjoying Ubuntu 16!

I have a similar problem, was disappointed to watch the software center not able me to install third party .deb programs. I believe it's a step back and a bad promotion for ubuntu.

Also Gdebi doesn't solve the problem, returned me dependencies problem and wasn't able itself to solve.

I couldn't find a report filed on this issue upstream already so I have done so and added a bug watch to monitor that here.

also affects me.

Reproducible for multiple packages on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS

Same here, trying to install Chrome or Skype.

it affects me also

To anyone that has not noticed yet. Even the packages that ARE getting installed via this "Ubuntu Software" program, appear as NOT installed when one checks again. I tried with Audacity and Darktable. Both are properly installed.. both appear as if they are not.

@PanosKatertziadis, Please report that as a separate issue. Though I believe I have already seen a similar report upstream, though I could be mistaken.

the issue is fixed in https://git.gnome.org/browse/gnome-software/commit/?h=wip/iainl/ubuntu-xenial&id=a98db57a724ea4433b03e9101964c1b594fa89e5 and on the list for the first SRU

The fix is not working as it should, it seems to use the package name where the filename/path is wanted

It affects me also.

This affects me as well.

Affects me too.

Hi, this has been fixed upstream. If you still have issues, please fully update with:

    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get upgrade

and check again. If it isn't working, please restart. Finally, if you're fully up to date (check again after the restart) please post back here, and we will look into it. Your Ubuntu distro would be helpful info too.

There're no official updates for this software. The fix hasn't been released.

Hi, this has been fixed upstream. If you still have issues, please fully update with:

    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get upgrade

brad@Brad-Ubuntu-16:~$ sudo apt-get update
[sudo] password for brad:
Hit:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial InRelease
Get:2 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates InRelease [92.2 kB]
Hit:3 http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu xenial InRelease
Hit:4 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-backports InRelease
Get:5 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security InRelease [92.2 kB]
Fetched 184 kB in 1s (140 kB/s)
Reading package lists... Done
brad@Brad-Ubuntu-16:~$ sudo apt-get upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Calculating upgrade... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
brad@Brad-Ubuntu-16:~$

There is no fix in Ubuntu 16.04?

Im affected too

I'm with Ubuntu 16.04, still not working. I've updated my system a few minutes ago, only an update for Numix theme and G'Mic for Gimp. Maybe the fix is not available?

Regards!! :)

I know there are workarounds to install deb packages but I am totally disappointed with the new package installer. Shouldn't this be properly tested before release? especially, before pushing a LTS release?

All affected, apologies for the confusion but a fixed has landed upstream and has not yet landed yet in Ubuntu. The new upstream version will need to be packaged first before distributed to the main release pocket. If you need to install a package, please refer to comment #6 for the mean time.

I've installed 16.04 on a 32 bit laptop (yesterday) but am unable to install .deb files with the software installer... infact the software installer is just a blank screen now

Can someone please change the status to fixed

It's not fixed as of 2016-05-24 08:50 edt. Installs sometimes happen but no indicator that the package is installed, just the same "Install" button shows. Further, "Important OS updates" does nothing for hours. I wind up using Synaptic to mark and upgrade the system. Synaptic is installed as Software doesn't display all available packages.

I appreciate the efforts for all involved in the Ubuntu project.

This effecting me to from adding programs from the Ubuntu software. Firewall says it's installed but when I try to configure it, it will not open up.I have uninstalled and reinstalled it and still nothing.

Also when I try to install Ubuntu Tweak the same thing happens.

This after a clean install of 16.04:

Hardware:
AMD FX 8350
18gb ram
new motherboard - Asus Sabertooth 990FC R2.0

I am new to ubuntu and facing this kind of error in the beginning isn't welcoming..

Being new to Ubuntu and already facing things like wont be able to install such things as Google Chrome and other 3rd party soft, and can't manage why is difficult. Hope this changes.

Also affects me -- this is particular troublesome bug for new people (ubuntus target demographic) since Chrome, a popular browser with syncing abilities, can only be installed via a work around.

Please fix this bug!!! This has not been fixed despite what has been claimed. I have done a clean install of both 16.04 and 16.04.1 and the bug persists. Come on guys, this is a LTS release, and this should be addressed. Work-arounds is not a solution for faulty software.

It looks to me that when you try to install some package from the Software Centre, it starts the install then hangs. I believe this is because a dialog box should appear asking for admin credentials to install the software, but since that dialog box does not appear it just sits there waiting.

My set up is a Dell Precision M4500 (but this isn't a hardware issue - it is most definitely a software problem). My installation is a fully encrypted hard drive with encrypted home directory if that makes a difference.

Please mark this bug as not fixed.

man, what a shame! A nice feature for the user broken soo long! Elevate the IMPORTANCE!

@Peter please file a new bug about your issue since this particular bug is fixed, especially with a fresh install of Ubuntu 16.04. Please include specifics since there isn't enough information in your comment here for developers to know what exactly isn't working.

You may find it helpful to read "How to report bugs effectively" http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/bugs.html. We'd be grateful if you would then provide a more complete description of the problem.

We have instructions on debugging some types of problems at http://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingProcedures.

At a minimum, we need:
1. The specific steps or actions you took that caused you to encounter the problem.
2. The behavior you expected.
3. The behavior you actually encountered (in as much detail as possible).
Thanks!

Seems to instal with GDebi as also via terminal but at the end does not work

This bug affects me too. I know that apparently it's fixed on the "Proposed" repos, but I don't want to enable it because I don't want to became a beta-tester with my System.

When be this fix available as normal update?

My system info:
cat /proc/version
Linux version 4.4.0-31-generic (buildd@lgw01-16) (gcc version 5.3.1 20160413 (Ubuntu 5.3.1-14ubuntu2.1) ) #50-Ubuntu SMP Wed Jul 13 00:07:12 UTC 2016

I forgot to say that I've fresh installed from 16.04.1 ISO

Fernando, it is a normal update now. It was only a proposed update for a few days so it could be tested first to make sure it fixed bugs and didn't make things worse. The fix is also included in Ubuntu 16.04.1.

If it's still not working, please run ubuntu-bug gnome-software to report a new bug.

You may find it helpful to read "How to report bugs effectively" http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/bugs.html. We'd be grateful if you could provide a complete description of the problem.

We have instructions on debugging some types of problems at http://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingProcedures.

At a minimum, we need:
1. The specific steps or actions you took that caused you to encounter the problem.
2. The behavior you expected.
3. The behavior you actually encountered (in as much detail as possible).
Thanks!

Hi Jeremy:

In the meanwhile I've installed the previous Ubuntu Software Center that works ok and have a more clear design.

Very thanks for answering! If I use this Software Center again, I'll report any problem following the steps you described.

Best Ragards.-

This affects me as well.

Is there any updates on a fix as over 4 months have passed and this problem still exists?

I am also having this problem.

When are they going to fix this bug?

Also having the problem.

This also affects me

Happy to report that this affects me as well, it seems that this is a persistent bug as it has been 9 months since first reporting now...

It affects me too..

I found that SOME repositories don't have the package files for Gnome updates, but some others do. So for me the same symptoms occurred with Gnome updates.

Changing my local repository to another one fixed the problem for me. In my case adding deb http://fr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates main solved the problem.

Here's a list of mirrors I think work at least with gnome updates:

http://packages.ubuntu.com/xenial-updates/all/gnome-software-common/download

I downloaded the ubuntu-16.04.2-desktop-amd64.iso from Ubuntu's main website around a month ago and it has this bug. I tried to install Chrome using the GUI and it failed, but using dpkg was fine.

Happening to me too, please fix asap! Thanks

installed ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS yesterday , I encountered this problem, couldnt install deb via Ubuntu Software installer

Garth or med,

Please open a new bug for that issue.

Yes, I have just installed a clean 16.04 downloaded from the Ubuntu site last night and it has the same issue.

Same issue with 17.04

Same with ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS

Same with ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS

this affects me too.

Just installed Ubuntu Studio 16.04.3, also affects me.

This issue affects me.
Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS
4.10.0-38-generic

Just installed Ubuntu Studio 16.04.3, also affects me.

The issue still exists in Ubuntu 17.10, I can't install MySQL workbench or other software, I click install then I provide my password nothing is begin installed!.

Not sure if its the same, I am trying to install megasync dpkg -i megasync.deb, after install there is a icon but it just doesn't start, syslog shows nothing for it, it seems that its not installed, is it the same bug?

I don't see a delete/edit option, but ignore my previous post ^ it was a permissions issue

I have made an Update (sudo apt-get install update) and than I´ve made (sudo apt-get install gdebi).
Now I can run the Software Center on Debian as a virtual Machine.

Ubuntu Studio 16.04 is EOL as of April 2019.