Hi, I believe you are using a terminal from another computer, and not using a remote X or Wayland client like VNC? (e.g. "I usually access it via ssh")
If so, please use apt to install software. for example, become root $ sudo -i or just su (which is what I use) $ su After logging in as root # apt install <packagename> or to update the currently installed packages # apt update # apt full-upgrade --autoremove -y If you need to reboot to complete the installation # systemctl reboot to run synaptic you would need to do this on the computer itself, not remotely unless you are using a remote X or Wayland client like VNC. Apologies if I have misunderstood your question. George. On Saturday, 05-04-2025 at 03:07 Eben King wrote: > Hi. I have this machine "alexandria" onto which I installed Debian > yesterday: > > eben@alexandria:~$ cat /etc/debian_version > 12.10 > > It has a video card and a keyboard, but to log in there I have to get > down on the floor, so I usually access it via ssh. Right now I'm trying > to use synaptic to install some software, but I get this when I try as me: > > ,-- > | eben@alexandria:~$ synaptic-pkexec > | ==== AUTHENTICATING FOR com.ubuntu.pkexec.synaptic ==== > | Authentication is required to run the Synaptic Package Manager > | Authenticating as: root > | Password: > | polkit-agent-helper-1: error response to PolicyKit daemon: > | GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: No session for > |cookie > | ==== AUTHENTICATION FAILED ==== > | Error executing command as another user: Not authorized > | > | This incident has been reported. > | eben@alexandria:~$ > '-- > > As root it's even shorter: > > ,-- > | root@alexandria:~# synaptic > | Failed to initialize GTK. > | > | Probably you're running Synaptic on Wayland with root permission. > | Please restart your session without Wayland, or run Synaptic without > | root permission > | root@alexandria:~# > '-- > > xev works as not-root, so X clients in general work. So how do I get > around this? Installing not-Wayland is an option, but I probably should > replace it with some WIMP interface so if I need it, it's there. Thanks. > >
