How to Install Akregator on Ubuntu Linux

Akregator is a desktop RSS and Atom feed reader. It keeps news, blogs, podcasts, and YouTube channels in one offline-capable application. Instead of relying on browser-based readers or cloud services, Akregator stores feeds locally and keeps working offline. Moreover, it integrates with the KDE Plasma desktop environment through the Kontact personal information manager suite. Additionally, the application handles OPML (Outline Processor Markup Language) import and export for migrating subscriptions between readers. Furthermore, it supports feed folders for organization and provides keyboard shortcuts for rapid article scanning.

This guide walks through installing Akregator on Ubuntu via the system APT repository for stable, distro-integrated packages, or via Flatpak for the latest upstream KDE releases. By the end, you’ll have a functional RSS feed reader with offline storage, OPML import/export capability, and either seamless system integration (APT) or application sandboxing (Flatpak). Commands work identically on both Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and 24.04 LTS.

Choose Your Akregator Installation Method

Pick the installation option that matches how you manage desktop software on Ubuntu. Notably, the repository build tracks Ubuntu’s release cadence and inherits the distro’s trust model, while the Flatpak release receives upstream KDE updates sooner and sandboxes the application.

Method	Version/Channel	Stability	Best For
APT repository	Ubuntu archive version tied to your release	Highest, integrates with system packages	Most users who prefer system-integrated packages with distro security updates
Flatpak (Flathub)	Latest upstream Akregator from KDE	High, sandboxed but may change faster	Users who need the latest KDE features or run multiple desktop environments

This guide supports Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and 24.04 LTS installations. The Ubuntu repository provides packages for supported Ubuntu LTS releases, while Flatpak remains compatible across all versions. Commands shown work identically on both supported LTS releases.

Install Akregator from Ubuntu Repository

Update System Packages

First, update your package list to avoid conflicts and ensure you receive the latest security patches:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Install Akregator from Ubuntu Repository

The Ubuntu repository provides a stable, tested version of Akregator that matches your release cycle. While this version may lag behind the latest KDE release, it integrates reliably with your system libraries and receives security updates through standard APT channels.

Install Akregator:

sudo apt install akregator

Verify the installation by checking the installed version:

akregator --version

akregator 23.08.5

As shown above, the version number confirms Akregator is installed and accessible from your terminal.

Install Akregator with Flatpak and Flathub

Alternatively, Flatpak provides a distribution-agnostic installation. Specifically, it tracks upstream KDE releases more closely than Ubuntu’s repository. As a result, this method delivers newer features and updates independent of your Ubuntu version.

If Flatpak is not installed on your system, follow the step-by-step guide How to Install Flatpak on Ubuntu to install the Flatpak framework and add the Flathub repository. Ubuntu 24.04 includes Flatpak by default, but Ubuntu 22.04 users will need to install it manually. This typically takes under five minutes.

Enable Flathub Repository

Then add the Flathub repository to access Flatpak applications:

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

Install Akregator via Flatpak

Finally, install Akregator from Flathub:

sudo flatpak install flathub org.kde.akregator -y

Verify the Flatpak installation:

flatpak info org.kde.akregator

Akregator - Feed reader by KDE
ID: org.kde.akregator
Version: 24.08.3
Branch: stable

As shown, the output confirms the Flatpak package is installed and shows the current version.

Launch Akregator Application

Launch APT-Installed Akregator from Terminal

akregator

Launch Flatpak-Installed Akregator from Terminal

flatpak run org.kde.akregator

Launch from Application Menu

Open the application menu from Activities > Show Applications and select Akregator.

Getting Started with RSS Feeds

After launching Akregator, subscribe to RSS or Atom feeds by clicking Feed > Add Feed and pasting the feed URL. Most websites display an RSS icon or link in their footer or header. Common feed URL patterns include:

• News sites: https://example.com/tech/rss or /news/feed
• Blogs: https://blog.example.com/feed or /rss.xml
• YouTube channels: https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=CHANNEL_ID

After you add at least one subscription, confirm Akregator’s data directories exist and contain your feeds:

ls -la ~/.local/share/akregator/
ls -la ~/.config/akregatorrc

Within your home directory, the .local/share/akregator/ subdirectory stores your feed list and cached articles, while .config/akregatorrc holds application settings. If either path does not appear, start Akregator once more and synchronize feeds so it generates the required files.

Back up your subscriptions to an OPML file:

cp ~/.local/share/akregator/feedlistbackup.opml ~/akregator-backup-$(date +%Y%m%d).opml

Here, the $(date +%Y%m%d) substitution automatically generates today’s date in YYYYMMDD format, creating timestamped backups like akregator-backup-20251209.opml. Alternatively, use Akregator’s File > Export Feeds menu to create a timestamped backup. To migrate subscriptions from another reader, export your current feeds as OPML and import through File > Import Feeds. Ultimately, this backup strategy lets you restore subscriptions after reinstalling Ubuntu or move your feed list to another RSS reader.

Manage Akregator

Update Akregator

For APT installations, update Akregator specifically:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install --only-upgrade akregator

For Flatpak installations, update all Flatpak applications:

sudo flatpak update

Remove Akregator

For APT installations:

sudo apt remove akregator

For Flatpak installations:

sudo flatpak uninstall --delete-data org.kde.akregator -y

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Feed Sync Failures

If feeds fail to sync with connection errors, first verify your internet connection and check for SSL certificate issues. Next, run Akregator from the terminal to see detailed error messages:

akregator 2>&1 | grep -i error

Common SSL errors resolve by updating your CA certificates:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install --only-upgrade ca-certificates

Slow Startup with Large Feed Lists

When managing hundreds of feeds, Akregator may start slowly due to automatic synchronization. To reduce startup time, disable automatic refresh on launch through Settings > Configure Akregator > General and uncheck Fetch all feeds on startup. Instead, schedule manual refreshes or use timed intervals during idle periods.

Missing System Tray Icon

On non-KDE desktop environments like GNOME, Akregator’s system tray icon may not appear due to missing indicator support. To fix this, install the TopIcons Plus extension for GNOME or equivalent system tray support for your desktop environment. Alternatively, disable the tray icon requirement through Settings > Configure Akregator > General and uncheck Show tray icon.

Conclusion

You now have Akregator installed with offline feed storage and OPML backup capability. After adding your first feeds, configure automatic refresh intervals through Settings > Configure Akregator, and set up filters to organize high-volume subscriptions. For production use, additionally schedule regular OPML exports to preserve your feed list when migrating systems or recovering from configuration issues.