- VS Code Snap package error on Linux keeps deleted files and clogs hard drives
- Snap creates separate local Trash folders by version, compounding storage issues
- There is no solution yet; Users are recommended to install VS Code via .deb/.rpm or Flatpak instead of Snap
Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code, installed as a Snap package on a Linux device, has a strange bug that keeps all files deleted by users, clogging hard drives as a result, causing a host of other problems for users.
The bug was first spotted by a couple of software developers, who found gigabytes of files that were supposed to be deleted. Some of them discovered the bug after completely running out of space on their computers.
The Registry notes that the flaw was first detected over a year ago and a bug report was published in early November 2024. In the report, it was said that the cause of the problem lies in Snap creating a local Trash folder for each version of VS Code, instead of simply using the system one.
Unaddressed code change
What’s more, Snap (a Linux format and packaging system) also preserves older versions of VS Code after updates, further multiplying the number of local Trash folders and files that should have been deleted, but still persist.
On GitHub, a user discovered that the bug is due to an unfixed code change introduced in early October 2024 that “creates a fake Trash that is not the system one.” According to the user, the folder is unmanageable, “transferred from one update to another” and “gradually bloated.”
Low disk space can slow down your system, editors, and compilers, and cause crashes or failed writes.
The Registry It says that neither VS Code nor Snap have a way to manage these folders, but it claims it’s possible via the command line.
At this time, there is no indication that a fix has been released or is even in the works. For now, many Linux users avoid the error by installing VS Code from the official .deb/.rpm packages or using alternatives like Flatpak instead of the Snap version.
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