@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ Install OpenShell with a single command:
 curl -LsSf https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NVIDIA/OpenShell/main/install.sh | sh
 ```
 
-The script detects your operating system and installs the OpenShell CLI and gateway with your native package manager. It then starts the local gateway server so you can begin creating sandboxes.
+The script detects your operating system and installs the OpenShell CLI and gateway. On Linux, the Snap path is preferred when `snapd` is available; otherwise the script uses the native DEB or RPM package. The gateway then starts automatically so you can begin creating sandboxes.
 
 You can also download release artifacts directly from the [OpenShell GitHub Releases](https://github.com/NVIDIA/OpenShell/releases) page.
 
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ brew services restart openshell
 
 ## Linux
 
+On distributions that ship with `snapd`, the install script uses the Snap path described below. On hosts without `snapd` (or with `OPENSHELL_INSTALL_METHOD=classic` set), the script falls back to the classic package manager.
+
 On Fedora and RHEL, the install script uses RPM packages. The RPM installs the `openshell` CLI, the `openshell-gateway` daemon, and a systemd user service.
 
 On Debian and Ubuntu, the install script uses a Debian package. The Debian package installs the `openshell` CLI, the `openshell-gateway` daemon, VM sandbox support, and a systemd user service.
@@ -75,6 +77,61 @@ To keep the user service running after logout, enable linger:
 sudo loginctl enable-linger $USER
 ```
 
+## Snap
+
+On Linux distributions that ship with `snapd`, the install script installs OpenShell from the Snap Store. The OpenShell snap bundles the CLI, the terminal UI, and a managed gateway daemon. snapd handles upgrades and rollback; the gateway runs as a system service inside the snap.
+
+You can also install the snap directly:
+
+```shell
+sudo snap install openshell
+```
+
+The snap requires the Docker snap. `default-provider: docker` on the OpenShell snap installs the Docker snap automatically on first use, but you can install it up front with:
+
+```shell
+sudo snap install docker
+```
+
+### Connect the required interfaces
+
+Strict confinement requires explicit `snap connect` for several interfaces. The installer runs these for you on Snap installs; run them by hand if you install the snap manually:
+
+```shell
+sudo snap connect openshell:docker docker:docker-daemon
+sudo snap connect openshell:log-observe
+sudo snap connect openshell:ssh-keys
+sudo snap connect openshell:system-observe
+```
+
+The Docker slot is the Docker snap's `docker-daemon` slot; OpenShell does not work with a host-installed Docker Engine. The installer is best-effort: if a connect fails (for example because the Docker snap is not yet running), the snap still installs and the installer prints a warning.
+
+### Verify the gateway
+
+The snap-managed gateway service is `openshell.gateway`. Inspect it with:
+
+```shell
+snap services openshell
+snap logs -n 100 openshell.gateway
+```
+
+Register the gateway with the CLI:
+
+```shell
+openshell gateway add https://127.0.0.1:17670 --local --name openshell
+openshell status
+```
+
+The gateway listens on `https://127.0.0.1:17670` and stores its state under `/var/snap/openshell/common/`. Override gateway settings by creating `/var/snap/openshell/common/gateway.toml`.
+
+### When to choose Snap
+
+Use Snap when `snapd` is available and you want atomic upgrades and rollback, a single self-contained install that bundles the Docker provider, or a desktop launcher that surfaces the OpenShell terminal UI in the application menu.
+
+Use DEB or RPM when `snapd` is unavailable or inappropriate (immutable distros, headless servers, locked-down images), when you need direct `systemd --user` integration for the gateway, or when you already run Docker Engine from a non-snap source.
+
+Set `OPENSHELL_INSTALL_METHOD=classic` to force the classic package on hosts that also have `snapd` available.
+
 ## Kubernetes
 
 Kubernetes deployments use the OpenShell Helm chart. For step-by-step installation, refer to [Kubernetes Setup](/kubernetes/setup). For chart values and packaging details, refer to the [Helm chart README](https://github.com/NVIDIA/OpenShell/blob/main/deploy/helm/openshell/README.md).