flatpak-mask

Ignore updates for a specific flatpak

$ flatpak mask [com.example.app]

$ flatpak mask --remove [com.example.app]

$ flatpak mask [--system|--user]

flatpak mask [OPTION...] REF...

--user
    Modify the user installation (default for non-root)

--system
    Modify the system-wide installation

--installation=NAME
    Select installation by name

-h, --help
    Show help and exit

--version
    Show version and exit

The flatpak mask command prevents specified Flatpak applications or runtimes from being installed, updated, or executed. It adds the given references (REFs) to a mask file in the target installation, effectively blacklisting them.

This is useful for system administrators or users who want to disable problematic, unwanted, or conflicting apps/runtimes without uninstalling them. For example, masking a buggy app prevents accidental reinstallation via remote updates, while still allowing manual override if needed.

Masks apply to the specified installation (user or system-wide). Once masked, the ref won't appear in flatpak list outputs for remotes, and attempts to install or run it will fail with an error. To reverse, use flatpak unmask.

Masks are stored in plain text files: ~/.local/share/flatpak/repo/mask for user installs and /var/lib/flatpak/repo/mask for system. Multiple REFs can be masked at once. REFs follow standard format like org.freedesktop.Platform/x86_64/22.08 or com.example.App.

This command promotes sandbox control and hygiene in Flatpak environments.

Masking prevents running already-installed masked apps; uninstall first if needed. Requires write access to installation repo. Does not affect non-Flatpak packages.

flatpak mask com.discordapp.Discord
Mask Discord app in user install.

sudo flatpak mask --system org.freedesktop.Platform//22.08
Mask specific runtime system-wide.

One REF per line in $prefix/share/flatpak/repo/mask. Edit manually for bulk changes, but use commands for safety.

Introduced in Flatpak 0.6.14 (2016) as part of core administration tools. Evolved with Flatpak's growth from 2015 Freedesktop project; now standard in versions 1.0+ for enterprise and desktop management.

flatpak(1), flatpak-unmask(1), flatpak-list(1), flatpak-remote-ls(1)