[HOWTO] automatic flatpak package update

English Applications
1

Flatpack package manager is installed along Discover installation.

Flatpack is a backend of Discover.

If Discover is installed then two services are installed :

update-system-flatpaks
update-system-flatpaks.timer

update-system-flatpaks.timer triggers daily update-system-flatpaks

Disable any automatic update as Discover.

Enable the timer to make sure that it is activated on boot:

sudo systemctl enable update-system-flatpaks.timer

check it is enabled

sudo systemctl status update-system-flatpaks.timer

you must read something like this

● update-system-flatpaks.timer - Update system Flatpaks daily
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/update-system-flatpaks.timer; enabled; preset: disabled)
Active: active (waiting) since Sat 2025-04-19 09:43:01 CEST; 1h 33min ago
Invocation: 8b39070d5756453eb7ca6d778d2e3e50
Trigger: Sun 2025-04-20 00:00:00 CEST; 12h left
Triggers: ● update-system-flatpaks.service
Docs: man:flatpak-update(1)

check it is well activated in the list of timers

sudo systemctl list-timers

you must read something like this

NEXT LEFT LAST PASSED UNIT ACTIVATES
…
Sun 2025-04-20 00:00:00 CEST 12h - - update-system-flatpaks.timer update-system-flatpaks.service

The timer will trigger the update in 12 h

Enjoy :grinning:

openSUSE doc

https://manpages.opensuse.org/Tumbleweed/os-update/os-update.8.en.html

2

The updating occurs once a day randomly.

And I don’t want any conflict accessing with the automatic updating of the Tumbleweed package

For me a better hour is everyday at 22 h

To do this

sudo systemctl edit update-system-flatpaks.timer

add the following statements

[Timer]
OnCalendar=*-*-* 22:00
3

Beware

If I want to update flatpak packages at 22 h each day then I use the following statement
OnCalendar= *-*-* 22:00

but the update occurs at 23 h !

I must use OnCalendar= *-*-* 21:00 if I want the updating occurs at 22 h !

4

OK I understand the problem.

If you get the problem then
you must add in the file /etc/systemd/systemupdate-system-flatpaks.timer/override.conf in [Timer]
the statement RandomizedDelaySec=0h

5

@promeneur I think you’d be better off posting in a blog for these kind of informal how tos. Do you have Wordpress or Blogger account ? You could ask for the blog to be aggregated at https://planet.opensuse.org/

6

Old forum platform had blog section. Does Discourse support it?

7

I’m not sure. I’m currently seeking administrator advice on it.

8

Reading this post is painful for me. You may consider to improve formatting.