How to Install Deluge on Ubuntu Linux

Deluge is a lightweight BitTorrent client designed for versatility, offering features suitable for both casual users and advanced network managers. Known for its low resource consumption, Deluge can run as a standalone desktop application or function as a daemon with the deluged package, enabling remote control through the deluge-web web interface or the deluge-console terminal client. Additionally, it supports plugins that expand its functionality, including encryption, speed limits, and IP filtering. Whether you need a simple torrent downloader or a headless server solution, Deluge’s modular design makes it an excellent choice for Ubuntu systems.

This guide walks you through installing Deluge on Ubuntu using four methods: the default APT repository for stability, the Deluge Team PPA for the latest development builds, Flatpak from Flathub for sandboxed installations, and the headless daemon setup for servers with web-based management. By the end, you will have a fully functional BitTorrent client configured on your system, complete with verification steps and removal instructions.

Choose Your Deluge Installation Method

Before proceeding, consider which installation method best suits your needs. The table below compares the available options:

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
APT (Default)	Ubuntu Repos	Stable	Automatic via apt upgrade	Desktop users who prefer tested packages
APT (PPA)	Deluge Team PPA	Development	Automatic via apt upgrade	Users who want the latest features
Flatpak	Flathub	Latest stable	Via flatpak update	Users who prefer sandboxed applications
APT (Headless)	Ubuntu Repos	Stable	Automatic via apt upgrade	Headless servers with web interface access

For most users, the default APT method is recommended because it provides stable, distribution-tested packages with automatic security updates. Only use the PPA if you specifically need the latest development features, and note that these builds may contain bugs.

This guide supports Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and 24.04 LTS installations. The Deluge Team PPA typically supports the two most recent LTS releases, while Flatpak remains compatible across all Ubuntu versions. Commands shown work identically on both supported LTS releases.

Method 1: Install Deluge with APT

Update Your Ubuntu System

Before installing Deluge, first ensure that your Ubuntu system is up-to-date. This helps prevent potential issues due to outdated packages or dependencies.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

The first part of this command refreshes your package index, while the second upgrades all installed packages to their latest versions.

Select Your APT Installation Option

There are two options for installing Deluge via APT: the default Ubuntu repository or the Deluge Team’s Personal Package Archive (PPA). Choose the option that best matches your needs.

Option 1: Install from Ubuntu Repository

For most users, the easiest method is installing Deluge from Ubuntu’s default repository. This approach ensures compatibility and stability with your distribution. To install the Deluge desktop client, run the following command:

sudo apt install deluge

This command installs the Deluge GTK client along with its core dependencies including deluge-common and python3-libtorrent. Once installation completes, verify the installation by checking the installed version:

apt-cache policy deluge

The output confirms the installed version and its source repository. Note that the default repository version differs between Ubuntu releases: Ubuntu 24.04 provides Deluge 2.1.x while Ubuntu 22.04 includes Deluge 2.0.x. Both versions work identically for basic torrenting tasks.

deluge:
  Installed: 2.1.2~dev0+20240121-1
  Candidate: 2.1.2~dev0+20240121-1
  Version table:
 *** 2.1.2~dev0+20240121-1 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble/universe amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

Option 2: Install from Deluge Team PPA

Ubuntu LTS releases sometimes lag behind new software releases due to their focus on system stability. As a result, you might prefer to install a more recent version of Deluge with new features and performance improvements.

Development Builds Warning: The deluge-team/develop PPA contains daily development builds from the git develop branch. These are not production-ready releases and may have bugs or cause data loss. Keeping backups is recommended if you choose this option.

First, install the software-properties-common package, which provides tools for managing PPAs:

sudo apt install software-properties-common -y

Next, import the Deluge Team PPA into your system:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deluge-team/develop -y

Now, update your package list to include the new PPA:

sudo apt update

Finally, install the Deluge BitTorrent client using the imported PPA:

sudo apt install deluge

After installation, confirm the PPA version is installed by checking the package policy:

apt-cache policy deluge

deluge:
  Installed: 2.2.1~dev7883+6158d7b71-202508250248~ubuntu24.04.1
  Candidate: 2.2.1~dev7883+6158d7b71-202508250248~ubuntu24.04.1
  Version table:
 *** 2.2.1~dev7883+6158d7b71-202508250248~ubuntu24.04.1 500
        500 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/deluge-team/develop/ubuntu noble/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     2.1.2~dev0+20240121-1 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble/universe amd64 Packages

The output shows both versions available: the PPA’s development build (installed) takes priority over the default repository version. The three-asterisk marker indicates the currently installed package.

Method 2: Install Deluge via Flatpak and Flathub

Flatpak provides an alternative installation method that offers sandboxed applications with automatic updates. Additionally, this method works across all Ubuntu versions and isolates Deluge from your system packages.

Flatpak is not pre-installed on Ubuntu. If you have not set it up yet, install it with sudo apt install flatpak and restart your session before continuing. For detailed setup including the Flathub repository, follow our Flatpak installation guide for Ubuntu.

Enable Flathub Repository

First, add the Flathub repository if it is not already configured on your system:

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

Install Deluge from Flathub

Once Flathub is configured, install Deluge using the following command:

sudo flatpak install flathub org.deluge_torrent.deluge -y

Once installation completes, verify the installation by checking the application info:

flatpak info org.deluge_torrent.deluge

Deluge - A fully-featured BitTorrent Client

          ID: org.deluge_torrent.deluge
         Ref: app/org.deluge_torrent.deluge/x86_64/stable
        Arch: x86_64
      Branch: stable
      Origin: flathub
     Version: 2.2.0

Method 3: Install Deluge Daemon for Headless Servers

For server environments without a graphical desktop, Deluge provides the deluged daemon and deluge-web web interface. This setup lets you manage torrents remotely through any web browser, making it ideal for headless Ubuntu servers, NAS appliances, or always-on seedboxes.

Install Deluge Daemon and Web Interface

To begin, install both the Deluge daemon and web interface packages:

sudo apt install deluged deluge-web

This installs the headless daemon (deluged) that handles all torrent operations and the web interface (deluge-web) that provides browser-based management. Both packages include systemd service files for automatic startup.

Enable and Start Deluge Services

The Deluge daemon runs as a dedicated system user (debian-deluged) created during package installation. To enable the services, run the following commands:

sudo systemctl enable --now deluged
sudo systemctl enable --now deluge-web

Next, verify both services are running:

systemctl status deluged deluge-web

● deluged.service - Deluge Bittorrent Client Daemon
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/deluged.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Sun 2024-12-15 06:15:00 UTC; 5s ago
● deluge-web.service - Deluge Bittorrent Client Web Interface
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/deluge-web.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Sun 2024-12-15 06:15:01 UTC; 4s ago

Access Deluge Web UI

The Deluge web interface runs on port 8112 by default. Access it through your browser using the server’s IP address:

http://your-server-ip:8112

If accessing from a remote machine, ensure your firewall allows traffic on port 8112. Ubuntu users with UFW can open the port with:

sudo ufw allow 8112/tcp

The default web interface password is deluge. Change this immediately after first login through Preferences > Interface > Password. The web interface will prompt you to connect to the local daemon on first access.

View Daemon Logs

If you encounter issues, check the daemon logs for troubleshooting:

sudo journalctl -u deluged -n 50 --no-pager

Similarly, for the web interface logs:

sudo journalctl -u deluge-web -n 50 --no-pager

Launch Deluge Desktop Client

After successfully installing Deluge, you can launch the application using either the terminal or the graphical application menu.

Launch Deluge from Terminal

If you prefer using the terminal, launch Deluge with the command that matches your installation method:

APT installation:

deluge

Flatpak installation:

flatpak run org.deluge_torrent.deluge

Launch Deluge from Applications Menu

Alternatively, open the Activities overview by pressing the Super key, type “Deluge” in the search bar, and click the Deluge icon to launch the application. To add Deluge to your favorites for quick access, right-click the icon and select “Add to Favorites.”

Manage Deluge

This section covers essential commands for managing the Deluge BitTorrent client on Ubuntu Linux. Specifically, it includes updating and removing the application.

Update Deluge

Deluge updates are typically included in system updates. However, if notifications fail to appear, you can manually check for updates using the terminal.

APT installation:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Flatpak installation:

sudo flatpak update

Remove Deluge

If you no longer need Deluge, follow the removal instructions that match your installation method.

Remove APT Installation

First, remove the Deluge package:

sudo apt remove deluge

Next, remove any orphaned dependencies that were installed with Deluge:

sudo apt autoremove

Additionally, if you installed from the PPA, remove the Deluge Team repository:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:deluge-team/develop -y

Removing the PPA ensures that your package list no longer includes development builds from the Deluge Team repository.

Remove Headless Server Installation

If you installed the daemon and web interface for headless operation, first stop and disable the services:

sudo systemctl disable --now deluged deluge-web

Then remove the server packages:

sudo apt remove deluged deluge-web
sudo apt autoremove

Remove Flatpak Installation

sudo flatpak uninstall org.deluge_torrent.deluge

After removal, clean up unused Flatpak runtimes:

sudo flatpak uninstall --unused

Remove User Configuration Data

Warning: The following command permanently deletes your Deluge configuration, including torrent data, settings, and plugin configurations. If you want to keep any data, back it up first.

To completely remove Deluge configuration files from your home directory, run the following command:

rm -rf ~/.config/deluge

Similarly, for Flatpak installations, also remove the sandboxed data directory:

rm -rf ~/.var/app/org.deluge_torrent.deluge

Finally, for headless server installations, the daemon configuration is stored in a system directory owned by the debian-deluged user:

sudo rm -rf /var/lib/deluged

Conclusion

You now have Deluge installed on your Ubuntu system using your preferred method. The default APT repository provides stable, tested packages suitable for most desktop users. The Deluge Team PPA offers the latest development features, though with potential stability trade-offs. Flatpak provides a sandboxed installation that stays up-to-date independently of your system packages. For server environments, the headless daemon with web interface enables remote management from any browser. Whichever method you chose, Deluge is ready to handle your torrenting needs with its plugin system, remote access capabilities, and modular architecture.

For alternative BitTorrent clients on Ubuntu, consider exploring qBittorrent or KTorrent, which offer similar functionality with different interfaces.