Arch Linux is famous for giving you full control over your system — but that also means software installation can feel limited at first. Pacman is the default package manager, but you can unlock even more software by installing additional package managers.

This guide will walk you step-by-step through installing and using the most popular options:

• yay (Yet Another Yogurt) – an AUR helper

• flatpak – sandboxed, cross-distro apps

• snap – Canonical’s universal package format

By the end, you’ll know how to expand your software options and keep your system flexible.

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1. Using Pacman (The Default Manager)

Pacman comes preinstalled with Arch. Update your system and install basic software like this:

sudo pacman -Syu         # update everything
sudo pacman -S firefox   # example: install Firefox

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2. Installing Yay (AUR Helper)

The Arch User Repository (AUR) is a massive community-driven collection of software that isn’t in the official repos. To use it easily, you’ll want yay.

Install yay:

# First, install git and base-devel (needed for building AUR packages)
sudo pacman -S --needed git base-devel

# Clone yay from the AUR
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay
makepkg -si

Use yay:

yay -S google-chrome    # install from AUR
yay -Rns package-name   # remove package
yay -Syu                # update all (official + AUR)

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3. Installing Flatpak

Flatpak lets you install apps in a sandbox, independent of your distro. Great for desktop apps.

Install flatpak:

sudo pacman -S flatpak

Add the Flathub repo (main source of apps):

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Use flatpak:

flatpak install flathub com.spotify.Client   # example: install Spotify
flatpak list                                # list installed apps
flatpak uninstall com.spotify.Client        # remove app
flatpak update                              # update installed apps

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4. Installing Snap

Snap is another universal package system. Some apps are available here before other platforms.

Install snapd:

sudo pacman -S snapd

Enable the snap daemon:

sudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socket

Enable classic snap support:

sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snap

Use snap:

sudo snap install vlc         # install VLC
sudo snap remove vlc          # remove snap
snap list                     # list installed snaps
snap refresh                  # update installed snaps

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Wrapping Up

By adding yay, flatpak, and snap alongside Pacman, you’ve turned your Arch install into a powerhouse that can access software from almost anywhere.

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Resources

• Pacman – Arch Wiki
• Yay (AUR Helper) – GitHub
• Flatpak – Official Site
• Snap – Snapcraft

Experiment with each, but remember: more package managers mean more updates to maintain. Keep your system clean and organized!