How to Install FlatPak on Ubuntu

by Joana Maria
17 minutes read

How to Install FlatPak on Ubuntu

A image of a laptop on apex of a wood table.

For several years, folks have spoken around “international installers” for Linux. We have AppImage, Snap methods, and also Flatpaks. A agglomeration like the other contraptions, Flatpak is a modern technology that renders it straightforward to install software schedule zero matter the Linux assignment. Listed below, we underline you how to install the Flatpak supervisor on Ubuntu and also guide you via the protocol of mounting a Flatpak app.

Content
  • Why Utilise Flatpaks to Mount Software
  • Posturing Flatpak on Ubuntu
  • Brushing and also Checklist Packages in Flatpak
  • Posturing Packages earning gain gain service of of of Flatpak
  • Modernizing Flatpak Packages
  • Eradicating Packages in Flatpak
  • 5 Extensive Flatpaks to Assess Out

Why Utilise Flatpaks to Mount Software

One of the greatest advertising points of Flatpak is that it administers a thorough desktop computer-fixated containerized app contraption. This can’t be asserted for Snap, as Canonical frequently tends to focus more on server software schedule. With Flatpak’s focus, it is straightforward to consultation the majority of software schedule from several makers popping upwards in a super brief time.

Aside from that, Flatpak is in a analogous method being upreared by folks that are deeply acquainted via the GNOME desktop computer seating. As a output, you can situate a wide hodgepodge of new-made GNOME-based utilities such as Boxes, Cheese, and also Glade.

A screenshot mirroring a Flatpak iteration of the GNOME Boxes app.

Last but not the super least, Flatpak blows the integrate between modularity and also unruffled of intake. Unalike Snap and also AppImage, it’s straightforward to model and also involve thirdly-celebration repositories for custom Flatpak methods. This renders it straightforward to model your own pipeline for your own apps without relying on a thirdly-celebration cure.

Proposition: situate out how you can equalize your GNOME desktop computer via some of the ideal GNOME pod expansions today.

Posturing Flatpak on Ubuntu

Note: all Flatpak trick installation instructions use to all Linux-based operating contraptions, requiring Ubuntu.

At the minute, Flatpak is accessible on the default Ubuntu repositories for both LTS and also Current branches. As such, mounting the software schedule supervisor is as straightforward as dashing a single apt command:

sudo apt install flatpak gnome-software-plugin-flatpak

Sprinted the obeying command to import the Flathub documents source to your Flatpak install:

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

Restart your tools to use your new-made Flatpak arrangements:

sudo reboot

Attest that the Flatpak supervisor is operating entirely by evaluating its iteration number:

flatpak --version
A terminal mirroring the iteration of the the majority of existent Flatpak supervisor binary.

Brushing and also Checklist Packages in Flatpak

To pursuit for a singular trick, run the search subcommand. This will most clearly exquisiteness at all the accessible secluded repositories in your contraption and also rejoinder all the methods that match your query:

sudo flatpak search spotify
A terminal mirroring the pursuit result for the Spotify Flatpak app.

You can in a analogous method exquisiteness at the veracities of a singular trick via the info subcommand. But, it’s super reasonable to tab that this will most clearly simply work on currently postured apps and also that it requirements you to bargain that app’s “Implementation ID.”

flatpak info -m com.spotify.Client
A terminal mirroring the veracities of the Spotify Flatpak app.

To listing all accessible installable methods from a Flatpak documents source, thieve on the obeying:

flatpak remote-ls flathub --app
A terminal mirroring all the accessible Flatpaks from the Flathub documents source.

Posturing Packages earning gain gain service of of of Flatpak

To install a Flatpak trick on Ubuntu Linux, run the install subcommand obeyed by the name of the documents source and also the app that you pine:

sudo flatpak install flathub spotify
A terminal mirroring the installation incite for Flatpak apps.

Note: you can bargain the Implementation ID instead of its shorthand name once mounting an app. For instance, the command sudo flatpak install com.spotify.Client will most clearly fetch the super same Spotify target to your tools.

The install subcommand in a analogous method takes in several secondary flags which can equalize how you install your app to your contraption. For instance, the -u flag makes it possible for you to model “user-singular” installs of your app:

flatpak install -u flathub com.spotify.Client

The --reinstall flag makes it possible for you to impact a reinstallation of an existent app in your contraption:

sudo flatpak install --reinstall flathub com.spotify.Client
A terminal mirroring the impact reinstallation protocol for a Flatpak trick.

You can in a analogous method tell Flatpak to simply download the trick records for a singular app. This can be convenient if you’re hosting off on an simplify but pine to make certain that the records are already in the tools:

sudo flatpak install --no-deploy flathub com.spotify.Client

Extensive to realised: situate out how to recover violated methods on new-made Linux distros.

Modernizing Flatpak Packages

Merely like via timeless trick managers, Flatpak can simplify existent apps in your contraption. To thieve on that for every Flatpak trick on your tools, run the update subcommand:

sudo flatpak update
A terminal mirroring the result of the simplify subcommand for a completely perfected contraption.

This subcommand in a analogous method embraces secondary flags which can equalize its default deeds. For example, the -u flag will most clearly simply simplify “user-singular” Flatpak methods:

flatpak update -u com.spotify.Client

Eradicating Packages in Flatpak

To solicit rid of a Flatpak trick, run the uninstall subcommand obeyed by the name of your send out:

sudo flatpak uninstall spotify
A terminal mirroring the result of the uninstallation incite for a Flatpak trick.

The subcommand can in a analogous method solicit rid of any kind of currently existent information for your send out. To thieve on that, run the uninstall subcommand obeyed by the --delete-data flag after that your Flatpak trick:

sudo flatpak uninstall --delete-data spotify

Last but not the super least, it’s in a analogous method potential to uncluttered any kind of unsolicited dependences from your Flatpak methods. This is convenient if you’re glimpsing to filter after the enclosure that Flatpak is snagging on your computer:

sudo flatpak uninstall --unused

5 Extensive Flatpaks to Assess Out

1. GIMP

GIMP is a strong graphics editing and also intensifying tool that’s accessible for Linux, Mac, and also Apartment windows. While you can install this marvelous educational program as a standalone app, its Flatpack all natural administers you via the the majority of existent services from the makers themselves.

A screenshot mirroring the Flatpak iteration of GIMP dashing on Ubuntu.

To install GIMP earning gain gain service of of of Flatpak, run the obeying command:

sudo flatpak install flathub org.gimp.GIMP

Attest that GIMP is dashing entirely on your contraption by opening it on your desktop computer:

flatpak run org.gimp.GIMP

2. Pitivi

There are several video-editing and also intensifying apps on Linux. Once filtering system via trick repositories, users will most clearly likely come upwards via at the super least 3 or more selections. Pitivi is zero opposite. It’s an advanced video editor via the majority of nice services and also an straightforward-to-intake user interface. And like the majority of software schedule on this listing, it merits from speedy boosts – something simply a Flatpak can bargain.

A screenshot mirroring the Flatpak iteration of Pitivi dashing on Ubuntu.

You can install and also run Pitivi on your Linux tools by dashing the obeying commands:

sudo flatpak install flathub org.pitivi.Pitivi flatpak run org.pitivi.Pitivi

3. Telegram

Telegram is a nice message app and also one of the few mainstream solutions to snag Linux dramatically as a contraption. Downloading and also install Telegram and also receiving it dashing on Linux is moderately straightforward but something not the majority of folks pine to thieve on as it requirements removing methods.

A screenshot of the Flatpak iteration of Telegram dashing on Ubuntu.

The wonderful news is, there’s now an official Flatpak trick for that. This means it’ll always have upwards-to-date binaries, and also mounting Telegram on new-made tools can be simply a few commands away:

sudo flatpak install flathub org.telegram.desktop flatpak run org.telegram.desktop

4. LibreOffice

LibreOffice, like GIMP, avails perfected via new-made services quite occasionally. A agglomeration of the time, the majority of Linux distro maintainers are sluggish-moving to press out these readjusts. That’s why The File Keystone took it upon themselves to disseminate their software schedule using Flatpak.

A screenshot mirroring the Flatpak iteration of LibreOffice dashing on Ubuntu.

This philosophy makes certain that you can render intake the the majority of existent iteration of the LibreOffice suite as speedily as potential without aggravation. To install and also run Libreoffice as a Flatpak, run the obeying commands:

sudo flatpak install flathub org.libreoffice.LibreOffice flatpak run org.libreoffice.LibreOffice

5. Warehouse

Handling Flatpak methods can be a handful debacle if you’re not offered to keying commands on the Linux terminal. Warehouse is a lightweight and also straightforward to intake Flatpak security utility for Linux. It can listing all the accessible Flatpak-based regimes, filter after secluded repositories, and also even solicit rid of unsolicited information from senior methods.

A screenshot of the Warehouse Flatpak Surveillance educational program dashing on Ubuntu.

To install and also intake Warehouse on your tools, run the obeying commands on a new-made terminal session:

sudo flatpak install flathub io.github.flattool.Warehouse flatpak run io.github.flattool.Warehouse

Placement out how to install, intake, and also run Flatpak apps are simply some of the things that you can thieve on on Ubuntu Linux. Dissect this deep and also multifaceted earth of Unshackle and also Open Source software schedule by glimpsing at some of the ideal regimes for your Linux contraption today.

Image credit history: Kari Shea using Unsplash and also Wikimedia Commons. Unanimously adjustments and also screenshots by Ramces Red.

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