How To Install Flatpak on Linux Mint 21

In this tutorial, we will show you how to install Flatpak on Linux Mint 21. For those of you who didn’t know, Flatpak is a universal package system for software deployments, sandboxing, and distribution, that has been gaining traction in the Linux community. It offers a range of benefits, including enhanced security, isolation from the host system, and compatibility across various Linux distributions.

Benefits of Using Flatpak

• Isolation from the Host System: Flatpak applications run in a sandbox, isolated from the rest of the system, which minimizes the risk of system instability caused by application dependencies.
• Compatibility: Flatpak ensures that applications run on any Linux distribution without the need for specific package versions or libraries.
• Access to Latest Software: Flatpak allows users to install the latest versions of software, often ahead of the distribution’s official repositories.
• Enhanced Security: The sandbox environment provides an additional layer of security by limiting the application’s access to the system.

This article assumes you have at least basic knowledge of Linux, know how to use the shell, and most importantly, you host your site on your own VPS. The installation is quite simple and assumes you are running in the root account, if not you may need to add ‘sudo‘ to the commands to get root privileges. I will show you the step-by-step installation of Flatpak on a Linux Mint 21.2 (Victoria).

Prerequisites

• A server running one of the following operating systems: Linux Mint 21.
• It’s recommended that you use a fresh OS install to prevent any potential issues.
• While we’ll guide you through the process, a basic understanding of the command line will be beneficial. If you’re new to the CLI, you might want to acquaint yourself with some fundamental commands.
• An active internet connection.
• Administrative privileges are essential for installing and configuring software on your system. Ensure that you have superuser or sudo access.

Install Flatpak on Linux Mint 21

Step 1. Before installing Flatpak, ensure your system meets the necessary requirements. Linux Mint 21 should be up-to-date, and any previous versions of Flatpak should be uninstalled. To update Linux Mint 21, open the terminal and enter the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

If you have an older version of Flatpak installed, remove it using the command:

sudo apt remove flatpak

Step 2. Installing Flatpak on Linux Mint 21.

Now add the Flatpak repository to your system. Enter the following command to add the official Flatpak repository:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:alexlarsson/flatpak

Use the following command to install Flatpak:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install flatpak

To ensure Flatpak has been installed correctly, use the command:

flatpak --version

Step 3. Using Flatpak.

Once Flatpak is installed, you can start installing applications. Here are some basic Flatpak commands:

• To install an application, use:

flatpak install flathub <application_id>

• To update an application, use:

flatpak update <application_id>

• To list installed applications, use:

flatpak list

Step 4. Common Issues and Troubleshooting.

While Flatpak is designed to be straightforward and user-friendly, you may encounter some issues during installation or use. Here are solutions to some common problems:

• If you receive an error message during installation, ensure your system is up-to-date and that you have entered the commands correctly.
• If an application fails to install, check that you have the correct application ID and that the application is available on Flathub.
• If you encounter issues while running an application, try updating it or reinstalling it.

For further troubleshooting and help, consult the official Flatpak documentation or the Linux Mint forums.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Flatpak. Thanks for using this tutorial to install the latest version of the Flatpak application distribution on the Linux Mint system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Flatpak website.