On Linux Mint it is done differently, typically like how you install programs on app stores. In a nutshell: on Linux Mint you use Software Manager to browse/search for programs you need and it downloads and installs them for you. This is the recommended way to install programs on Linux Mint.
Section 1 - The recommended way goes into more detail about this. Section 2 - Alternate methods of installing software programs and Section 3 - Installing games and other proprietary software. cover how else you can install programs when a program you want is not available through Software Manager. You can come back to those sections when you have a need for them.
SECTION 1 - THE RECOMMENDED WAY
The recommended way is using the Software Manager which comes pre-installed on Linux Mint. Software Manager automatically downloads and installs not only your program, but also the program's dependencies (libraries or other programs needed for the program to run) and recommended programs (like add-ons). Software Manager calls the programs "packages". Installed programs have
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Any programs you install from the Software Manager are downloaded from central software repositories. The default repositories for Linux Mint hold tens of thousands of programs and any security updates or bugfixes to those programs are all handled automatically by the Update Manager. While these programs may not be the latest version available for that program, the programs in Software Manager will work on your Linux Mint install.
Software Manager also completely integrates the selection of flatpaks from Flathub, making it easier for you to access more than one option for obtaining a program. Flatpaks are self-contained versions of programs run in a more secure way. They may offer the latest version of an existing program or offer programs not otherwise available. Though self-contained, the common software parts between flatpaks are installed as "runtimes" that are shared between flatpaks and are not downloaded multiple times. (These runtimes are only used by flatpaks.) When you see mention that flatpaks are larger that is a remark about these runtimes.
Notes for installing the recommended way:
- Searching Software Manager:
- Standard packages show a "Package" label.
- Flatpak programs show a "Flathub" label.
- If multiple versions are available, on Linux Mint 21 and newer, there is a drop-down on the details page of a program to switch between "System Package" and "Flatpak (Flathub)".
- Program updates: All programs installed by these recommended methods will have updates come in Update Manager as long as you have any part of the program, including language packs and flatpak runtimes, installed on your computer.
- Program icons: In Software Manager most programs that have a graphical user interface will have a unique icon on their package so you will likely find it in your menu after installation. The packages with generic icons are generally command line programs or system components (libraries etc.) and will likely not appear in the menu.
- Software Manager alternatives: Software Manager has a user-friendly interface and is easy to use but if/when you have a need there are alternatives to it, which are installed on Linux Mint by default. These programs all use the same database as Software Manager and Update Manager so you can use them interchangeably.
- Synaptic Package Manager is a more low-level tool which gives advanced users more control (such as the ability to fix broken packages). Synaptic doesn't handle flatpaks.
- Programs can also be installed directly using terminal commands. You may run across commands like
sudo apt install program(or "apt-get" on very old websites),apt install program(a shorthand available on Linux Mint only) orflatpak install program(for flatpaks) where you would substitute "program" for the actual package name.
SECTION 2 - ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF INSTALLING SOFTWARE
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Sometimes the Software Manager doesn't have the program or version you need. If this happens your next choice would be to go to the official website of the program and see what options they provide for installing the program. You should prefer to use the options available from the official website as even with Linux there are malicious persons out there. But sometimes the official website doesn't offer compatible or convenient options and you might need to look further for downloads maintained by third parties — do that with caution. Do not use a random file you found somewhere on the internet!
As with any changes you make to your system, it is a good idea to get a Timeshift snapshot of your system before adding the program through an alternative method. That is the easiest way to revert to your start state, especially if you are unsure of your skill to install it.
Often a program will have more than one way to install its software. Linux Mint can directly use .deb, flatpaks, AppImages, and tarballs (files with an extension of .tgz, .tar.gz, .tar.bz2, or similar). Look for a directions on the software website for installing on Linux Mint or Ubuntu (which often mentions installing a .deb file).
Important!
Before using an alternative installation option verify it is for your Linux Mint version, or for its Ubuntu package base version. You can find the Ubuntu package base your Linux Mint uses here in the "Package base" column or in the System Reports app (System information tab) or ask on the forums for help.
- PPAs (Personal Package Archives)
- PPAs are all hosted on Launchpad. You use these at your own risk. Some PPAs are hosted by the developer while others are hosted by a third party. It is up to you to decide whether or not to trust the source.
- You can use Ubuntu PPAs on Linux Mint Main Edition. (Do not use them on LMDE.)
- Read the directions on the PPA webpage for any special notes on how to install the PPA. Also check to see if it is a stable PPA or a development PPA.
- There are two methods to install a PPA.
- Use Software Sources: Click the PPA tab on the left. Click the "Add" button. Type the ppa:owner/name from the PPA page and then click OK.
- Use the terminal: Run the commands, one line at a time, you find on the PPA website.
- Once you install the PPA, it will show up in Software Sources, regardless of which method you used to install it.
- After the PPA has been added to your sources, you can then install software from it.
- Either click Refresh in Synaptic Package Manager or run
apt updatein a terminal to have the PPA programs added to the list. - Select and install the program.
- Note: if you added a PPA to get a newer version of a program you already have installed, you may need to Refresh Update Manager so the newer program becomes available to install.
- Either click Refresh in Synaptic Package Manager or run
- After you install a program from a PPA, updates from the developer will come automatically in Update Manager.
- Additional Repositories
From the official website of a program you may find instructions for adding their .deb repository to your system. This is similar to PPAs but not hosted on Launchpad. You may find instructions specifically for Linux Mint, or otherwise for the Ubuntu package base used by your Linux Mint or it may just be called a "Debian repository" that you can add and that would work on any Linux Mint (and LMDE) release.- Follow the instructions on the website to add their .deb repository to your system and afterwards you can find the program for installation in Software Manager and updates in Update Manager. The additional repository show up in Software Sources.
- .deb packages
.deb files are like .exe files on Windows. You download them from the Internet, and they install in just a few clicks.- To install the package either double-click it, or right-click on it and select "Open With GDebi Package Installer" (a GUI program which comes installed on Linux Mint).
- Enter your password if prompted.
- A window will open with an "Install Package" button (if all dependencies are satisfied) or alert you of any problems if it can not be installed.
- The package will show up in Software Manager after it is installed.
- Many programs with a .deb download will add an additional repository in Software Sources which means they will receive updates through Update Manager.
- AppImages These are compressed files which include all the libraries and dependencies needed to run the program. While that does make them a bit larger, it also makes them easier to install and get working. It also means the version will not be updated unless you download a newer AppImage. Installed AppImages will not show up in Software Manager.
- Right-click on the downloaded file and select Properties.
- Click Permissions and select the box for "Allow executing file as program".
- Close the dialog box and double-click the downloaded file to run the software program.
- If you want to add an AppImage to your menu, you can either create a launcher for it and choose to Add to Menu when prompted, or you can use the menu editor.
- Tarballs (files with an extension of .tgz, .tar.gz, .tar.bz2, or similar)
A tarball is usually either the compressed source code of your program (which you will need to compile to use) or an archive of already compiled source code (with or without an installer script). It is definitely recommended to take a Timeshift snapshot of your system before installing a tarball.
Important!
Check the software program's website for any instructions for how to install it, or check for a "README" or "INSTALL" file included in the tarball's contents for the same.
Installation of the software from the tarball:- Extract the contents of the tarball archive to a folder in your home folder.
- Some programs have neither an install script nor require you to build anything. Follow the direction's on the program's website.
- Some programs include a script to install the program to system folders and all necessary software dependencies are included. All you will need to do is run the script.
- Other programs will require you to build an executable so you can install it. In those types of situations, a bit more work is needed.
- First check to see if you have the dependencies installed. (They should be listed in the README or installation instructions.) If you are missing any, check the Software Manager to see if they are there and are the correct versions. If so install them; if not you have another .deb or tarball to download.
- If you have all the dependencies, you will now want to continue reading through the file until you find the directions on how to install. The usual way is to browse to the extracted directory and select File > Open in Terminal, and then run the following lines one at a time:
If you install it this way, you can't uninstall the program from the Software Manager.
Code: Select all
./configure make sudo make install - To be able to uninstall tarballs from Software Manager, it is recommended to first install the program checkinstall.
Then instead of the lines in the prior bullet point, run the following lines one at a time:
Code: Select all
sudo apt-get install checkinstallCode: Select all
./configure make sudo checkinstall
- Snaps
Snaps are disabled on Linux Mint. The documentation explaining why as well as how to enable them if you would like to use them is here: Snap Store.
SECTION 3 - INSTALLING GAMES AND OTHER PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE
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Games (usually not open-source) and proprietary software often come in other ways to install. Common ways to obtain the software are:
- Private software repositories such as games stores like Steam. While a number of games can be run natively on Linux Mint, many games are often run on another layer of software you install on Linux Mint. These "layers of software" include the following:
- Steam Play / Proton: Steam Play is a setting in the Steam Client to let you play Windows games on Linux. It uses its own optimized Wine version (see below) called Proton. On the link you can find which Windows games work well with Steam Play on Linux.
- Bottles: Bottles is a Wine manager that comes with instructions for easily installing other Windows games stores like Epic Games Store, EA Launcher and Battle.net. Bottles is available as a flatpak and, if you install it that way, security is improved as Wine will run in a sandbox. It can also be used for other Windows programs.
- Lutris: Lutris is a games manager for Linux. It lets you run Linux and Windows games from many games stores and also games from other hardware platforms with emulators. It is available as a flatpak as well as a .deb from the Lutris GitHub.
- Wine (Wine Is Not an Emulator): Wine is a compatibility layer which attempts to translate Windows programs or games into a form which will work on Linux Mint (and other operating systems). It is not a virtual machine and there is no guarantee your Windows programs will work with it. Wine as a program must be installed before you can install any of your Windows programs. A tutorial on How to install Wine on Mint 21.1 is a sticky at the top of the Beginner Questions forum.
- If you needed a license to run your software on Windows, you still need that license to run it using Wine.
- While questions about running programs or games on Wine may be posted on this forum (either in Software & Applications or Gaming), you should first check the Wine Database and Wine Forum for compatibility reports and solutions.
- A single binary file that you download and run to install it. Usually with a filename extension like .run, .sh or .bin. It is similar to an AppImage.
- Right-click on the downloaded file and select Properties.
- Click Permissions and select the box for "Allow executing file as program"
- Close the dialog box and double-click the downloaded file to run the software program.
- A archive file, like a tarball or a .zip, that you download and extract to your user's home folder. Unlike the tarball discussed in the previous section, this wouldn't contain the source code by the already compiled program.
- You extract the contents of the archive to a folder in your user's home folder.
- See the "README" file in the extracted content for installation instructions. Sometimes programs includes a script to install it to the system folders so all users on your computer can use it.
As always, you are welcome to post a topic on the Software & Applications forum asking for help at any point along the way. If your issue is with a game or installing the platform to run the game, you can post those issues in the Gaming forum.
Please make sure to provide details of your system, what software (including the version) you are trying to install, your issue, and what you have already tried. Adding a link to the software program website also helps.
The admin/moderation team collaborated to provide this updated version of the original How to install software on Linux Mint topic which has now been retired.
