Cannot access Software Sources from Discover or Muon

[quarkslot]

It finally dawned on me that a number of my applications have not been receiving updates. So I fired up Muon and selected Configure Software Sources and instead of prompting for my password and then showing the software sources window the Muon windows greys out at which point the only option is to close the window.

Similarly it seems that software sources is inaccessible from Discover.

if I run software-properties-qt from an elevated terminal I can run software properties but then throws a load of errors when it attempts to refresh the repositories.

Any ideas?

[Qqmike]

In Discover, click on Settings (lower left panel)?

Or try Synpatic (which you can install from Discover). Then, Settings tab (on the upper panel) > Repositories

[oshunluvr]

Muon was abandoned years ago.

No way to offer suggestions without actual error messages.

[Snowhog]

This is an ongoing issue; me thinks. I opened this bug report against Packagekit. The issue remains, and it's been almost a year since I filed the bug report. Pretty sad, when the main software center app in KDE hasn't been fixed to work with the new deb822 source format.

Added:
What is interesting/confusing is that in 24.04, which uses KDE Plasma 5.27.12, also uses the new deb822 sources format, but there, Discover Software Center does see/use the /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntu.sources file. But not so in 24.10. Why?

[jlittle]

if I run software-properties-qt from an elevated terminal

(BTW, not the safest, slightly better to run sudo software-properties-qt from a user shell.)

...but then throws a load of errors when it attempts to refresh the repositories

Please run sudo apt update to likely get the same errors and post them here between code tags. Conceivably, the errors might come from flatpak update if you use flatpaks, or sudo snap refresh if they're in snaps.

[Qqmike]

(Clearly, I misunderstood the issue! ref.: Post # 2)

[skyfishgoo]

the maintainers seem intent on hiding sources from the user, probably for the same reason they tend to hide fstab from users... when users start mucking round in those files they can easily break their system.

i think even in 24.10 you can still use sudo software-properties-qt to access the sources list, but even there it's hidden behind a check box.

but at least there is a way to add new sources if you format the repository string exactly right.

but keeping snap and flatpak installs up to date is now done by discover when you have the backend package installed and the boxes checked in settings.

you should also install synaptic from discover if you want a nice GUI tool for apt

[quarkslot]

Thank you to everyone who replied to my original post. Apologies for not responding sooner.

Having done some more research it's evident I'm behind the times, as I was unaware that /etc/apt/sources.list is no longer used and has been superseded by /etc/apt/sources.list.d/

I'll get myself up to speed on the changes and, given that Muon is really really dead, I'll switch to Synaptic (Discover has its place but it's not my preference).

[quarkslot]

...try Synpatic (which you can install from Discover). Then, Settings tab (on the upper panel) > Repositories

This was very helpful, first it reminded me of the existence of Synaptic and once installed I noticed the repositories were missing from it as well, and then I realised something was afoot!

[quarkslot]

Muon was abandoned years ago.

No way to offer suggestions without actual error messages.

Quite true about Muon, but it continued to work reliably for many years so I kept using it.

[quarkslot]

This is an ongoing issue; me thinks. I opened this bug report against Packagekit. The issue remains, and it's been almost a year since I filed the bug report. Pretty sad, when the main software center app in KDE hasn't been fixed to work with the new deb822 source format.

Added:
What is interesting/confusing is that in 24.04, which uses KDE Plasma 5.27.12, also uses the new deb822 sources format, but there, Discover Software Center does see/use the /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntu.sources file. But not so in 24.10. Why?

It does seem strange doesn't it? Discover simply doesn't access the new sources and nor is there any indication, or error message, to say why.

[quarkslot]

(BTW, not the safest, slightly better to run sudo software-properties-qt from a user shell.)

Please run sudo apt update to likely get the same errors and post them here between code tags. Conceivably, the errors might come from flatpak update if you use flatpaks, or sudo snap refresh if they're in snaps.

I realise elevated terminals aren't the best and was just exploring all the options in the hopes I might find something. I'll see how I get on with /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ .

[quarkslot]

you should also install synaptic from discover if you want a nice GUI tool for apt

Thanks, done!

[claydoh]

Added:
What is interesting/confusing is that in 24.04, which uses KDE Plasma 5.27.12, also uses the new deb822 sources format, but there, Discover Software Center does see/use the /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntu.sources file. But not so in 24.10. Why?

It sure doesn't for me.

[Snowhog]

It sure doesn't for me.

Well damn! I just checked on my 24.04 installation, and (now) Discover Software Center doesn't have access to Software Sources. I swear I saw it when I made the post.