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Managing Repositories

Browsing

The left sidebar lists all third-party repositories found in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/. Click any row to open it in the detail pane. The search bar at the top filters by display name or URI.

Editing a repository

Select a repository to see its fields in the detail pane:

  • Name / Description — a human-readable label stored as X-Repolib-Name: in the .sources file. See Annotations.
  • Suite — the Ubuntu codename or fixed suite name (e.g. noble, stable).
  • Components — space-separated list (e.g. main contrib non-free).
  • Enabled — toggle to enable or disable without deleting the file.
  • Signing key — the GPG key used to verify packages: either a path to a keyring file or an inline PGP block embedded directly in the .sources file.

The detail pane also has two utility buttons at the top right:

  • Copy URI — copies the repository's primary URI to the clipboard.
  • Open in browser — opens the repository URI in your default web browser.

Click Save to write the changes. A polkit authentication dialog appears because writing to /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ requires root.

Detail pane edit fields

Legacy .list format

If a .list repository has no description, editing the Name field and saving converts it to DEB822 .sources format automatically. The old .list file is deleted and the new .sources file is written in a single polkit operation.

Adding a repository

Open Repos → Add Repository…

PPA tab

Enter a Launchpad PPA address in ppa:owner/name form (e.g. ppa:libreoffice/ppa). repoman fetches the signing key from Launchpad automatically — no separate key URL is needed. Click Add Repository to install the repository and key in one polkit prompt.

URL tab

Paste a one-liner or a full DEB822 block directly from a project's installation instructions:

deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/example.gpg] https://packages.example.com/ubuntu noble main

Types: deb
URIs: https://packages.example.com/ubuntu
Suites: noble
Components: main
Signed-By: /usr/share/keyrings/example.gpg
X-Repolib-Name: Example Project

If the source provides a GPG key URL, paste it in the GPG key URL field below the text area. repoman will download and install the key alongside the repository file.

Manual tab

Fill in individual fields:

Field Description
Repository URI The base URL of the repository
Suite / Codename The release name or fixed suite
Components Space-separated (defaults to main)
Name / Description Optional human-readable label
GPG key URL URL to the signing key — auto-fills the key path
Signing key path Where the key will be installed (/usr/share/keyrings/…)
Include source packages Adds deb-src type
Enabled Whether the repository is active on save

When a key URL is provided, the signing key path is filled automatically based on the repository hostname. You can override it by clearing the key URL field and typing a path directly.

Click Add Repository. If a key URL was provided, the key is downloaded, verified, and written alongside the .sources file — both in a single polkit prompt.

Add repository dialog

Removing a repository

Single repository

With a repository selected, click Remove repository… at the bottom left of the detail pane. A confirmation dialog shows the filename that will be deleted. Confirm to proceed — a polkit prompt follows, then the row is removed from the sidebar.

Multiple repositories

Open Repos → Remove Multiple… to open a checklist of all repositories. Check any number, then click Remove N selected. One polkit prompt covers all deletions.

Signing keys

Every repository row in the detail pane has a Signing key section showing the current state:

State Display
No key configured "No signing key configured" + Add button
Key file path configured Filename + Edit button
Inline PGP key embedded "Inline key" + Edit button
Key path set but file missing "Key file not found" (warning style) + Add button

Inline PGP keys

Repositories added by apt-add-repository or some PPAs embed the ASCII-armored key block directly inside the .sources file rather than referencing a separate keyring file. repoman displays these as "Inline key" and lets you view or replace the embedded key from the editor.

Adding a key

Click Add to open the key editor. Three ways to provide a key:

  • Fetch — enter a key URL and click Fetch. For PPA repositories, the key is retrieved automatically from Launchpad without a URL.
  • Use existing file — browse to a .gpg, .asc, or .pgp file already on your system.
  • Paste — paste an ASCII-armored key block directly. repoman verifies it before saving.

Editing a key

Click Edit to open the key editor in edit mode.

  • Key content tab — shows the current key in ASCII-armored format. For inline keys, the full PGP block is shown. For file-based keys, the key is read from disk and displayed.
  • Update tab — replace the key from a file, URL, or (for inline keys) by pasting a new key block.

Key editor

Disabling all repositories

Repos → Disable All Third-Party Repos… sets Enabled: no on every repository in one polkit operation. This is useful before an Ubuntu upgrade to prevent APT from attempting to fetch packages from repos that may not be ready.

Re-enable them individually from the detail pane, or use the upgrade wizard after the upgrade completes.

Updating packages

Use Tools → Software Updater (or press Ctrl+R) to open Ubuntu's Software Updater, which handles apt update and package upgrades. If Software Updater is not installed, the menu item and shortcut are inactive.