How to install software on Linux – Ubuntu and Mint made easy
Learning how to install software on Linux takes about five minutes, and most of the time you won’t touch a command line at all. Ubuntu and Mint give you several ways to add apps, from a friendly app store to a single typed command. Here’s each method, when to use it, and how they fit together.
The easiest way – the Software centre
The simplest way to install software on Linux is the built-in app store: App Center on Ubuntu, Software Manager on Mint. Open it, search for what you want — a browser, a photo editor, a game — and click Install. It works just like an app store on a phone, with categories, ratings and one-click updates. For most people, this covers everything they’ll ever need.
The fast way – apt in the terminal
If you know the name of the package, the terminal is quicker. The apt tool installs from your distribution’s official, security-checked repositories:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install vlcReplace vlc with whatever you need. The update line refreshes the list of available packages first; the install line does the work. This is the method you’ll see in most online guides.
The widest selection – Flatpak and Flathub
Some apps — especially the very latest versions — are distributed as Flatpaks from a store called Flathub. Linux Mint includes Flatpak support out of the box, so these appear right alongside everything else in Software Manager. Flatpaks are self-contained, which means an app gets the exact libraries it expects regardless of your distro — handy for newer or less common software.
Installing a downloaded .deb file
Occasionally a vendor offers a direct download as a .deb package. Double-click the downloaded file and your software centre will offer to install it. Only do this with software from a source you trust, since .deb files install with full system access — the app store and apt are safer because their contents are vetted.
Keeping everything updated
However you install an app, updates arrive through the same update manager, so your whole system and all its software stay current from one place. Run updates regularly — it’s the single best habit for a healthy, secure Linux machine.
Set up and ready to go
Every ArkPC Linux laptop and desktop arrives with the software centre configured and common applications already installed and tested on your chosen distro, so you can start adding what you need from day one. Stuck on a particular program? Our Australian support team is happy to help you get it running.
