# Switching from AppImage to Snap on Debian Linux

**URL:** <https://forum.delta.chat/t/switching-from-appimage-to-snap-on-debian-linux/3237>\
**Category:** Mutual Help\
**Created:** [September 1, 2024, 1:33pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/switching-from-appimage-to-snap-on-debian-linux/3237 "2024-09-01T13:33:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Pasty](https://forum.delta.chat/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/4bbf92/32.png) [@Pasty](https://forum.delta.chat/u/Pasty)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 1:33pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/switching-from-appimage-to-snap-on-debian-linux/3237/1 "2024-09-01T13:33:57Z")

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**Delta Chat version**

| Delta Chat Desktop | 1.46.5 (git: v1.33.0-971-gc67dbac4) |
| --- | --- |
| Delta Chat Core | v1.142.7 |
| SQLite | 3.45.3 |
| electron | 30.3.1 |
| node | 20.15.1 |

I have been using Delta Chat as an AppImage, but it does not update itself, so I thought it better to use Snap. I installed the same version as Snap, but when I run it, it does not recognise the existing profile. I tried doing a symlink:

ln -s /home/me/.config/DeltaChat/ /home/me/snap/deltachat-desktop/current/.config/

But it tells me only one instance is allowed.

How do I migrate my profile from AppImage to Snap?

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**Author:** ![Simon](https://forum.delta.chat/user_avatar/forum.delta.chat/simon/32/287_2.png) [@Simon](https://forum.delta.chat/u/Simon)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 3:03pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/switching-from-appimage-to-snap-on-debian-linux/3237/2 "2024-09-01T15:03:43Z")

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export backup from appimage, then import backup from snap.

or copy.move over the `accounts` folder and `config.json` file (or the whole DeltaChat folder if you want to migrate everything including local storage of webxdc apps and chat background image.

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**Author:** ![Pasty](https://forum.delta.chat/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/4bbf92/32.png) [@Pasty](https://forum.delta.chat/u/Pasty)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 9:38pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/switching-from-appimage-to-snap-on-debian-linux/3237/3 "2024-09-01T21:38:20Z")

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Note that this is on Debian Linux

These are already the same:

diff -r .config/DeltaChat/ snap/deltachat-desktop/current/.config/DeltaChat

I still get:

Only one instance allowed. Quitting.

I can’t find any export option except ‘export secret keys’, is that it?

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**Author:** ![Simon](https://forum.delta.chat/user_avatar/forum.delta.chat/simon/32/287_2.png) [@Simon](https://forum.delta.chat/u/Simon)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2024, 3:14pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/switching-from-appimage-to-snap-on-debian-linux/3237/4 "2024-09-02T15:14:06Z")

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that means you try to start two instances at the same time. Or the lock file still exists somewhere, maybe restart the computer.

> [@Pasty](#):
>
> I can’t find any export option except ‘export secret keys’, is that it?

No it’s inside of chats and media. Or if you find a way to have both installations open at the same time: then you can also try to use setup second device and copy the qr code to clipboard.

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**Author:** ![Pasty](https://forum.delta.chat/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/4bbf92/32.png) [@Pasty](https://forum.delta.chat/u/Pasty)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2024, 7:53pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/switching-from-appimage-to-snap-on-debian-linux/3237/5 "2024-09-02T19:53:52Z")

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I got it working with export/import thanks. (I did it twice, two exports, as I had two profiles).

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**Author:** ![r10s](https://forum.delta.chat/user_avatar/forum.delta.chat/r10s/32/1513_2.png) [@r10s](https://forum.delta.chat/u/r10s)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2026, 3:14pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/switching-from-appimage-to-snap-on-debian-linux/3237/6 "2026-10-06T15:14:27Z")

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