How to Install digiKam on Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04 or 20.04

digiKam is a powerful and versatile open-source photo management application designed for organizing, editing, and sharing digital photos. It offers a comprehensive set of features, including advanced metadata management, support for a wide range of image formats, powerful editing tools, and seamless integration with online photo-sharing services. digiKam also provides features like face recognition, geotagging, and batch processing, making it an excellent choice for photographers looking to manage their photo collections efficiently.

To install digiKam on Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04, or 20.04, you have several methods available: using the Ubuntu default APT repository, installing via Flatpak with Flathub, or using Snap. This guide will walk you through each installation method.

Method 1: Install digiKam on Ubuntu via APT

Update Ubuntu Before digiKam Installation

Ensure your Ubuntu system is up-to-date before starting the installation process. This practice helps avoid conflicts during the installation and keeps your system secure.

To update your system, open the terminal and enter the following command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade 

Install digiKam via APT Command

The first option for installing digiKam is to use the default APT repository in Ubuntu. This method provides a stable and secure version of the software. Although it might not always have the latest features, it is recommended for those who prioritize stability over cutting-edge functionality.

To install digiKam using the Ubuntu repository, enter the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt install digikam

Method 2: Install digiKam via Flatpak and Flathub

An alternative method for installing digiKam is Flatpak, a versatile package management system that provides a sandboxed application environment. To install digiKam via Flatpak, you must add the Flathub repository containing the digiKam package.

Note: If Flatpak isn’t installed on your system, please refer to “How to Install Flatpak on Ubuntu with the Flatpak Team Official LaunchPAD PPA.” This guide offers instructions for obtaining the latest supported version using the Flatpak Team Official LaunchPAD PPA.

Add Flathub Repository For digiKam

Begin by opening the terminal and entering the following command to integrate the Flathub repository:

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

This command ensures that the Flathub repository is added to your system if it isn’t already present.

Install digiKam via Flatpak Command

Now, you can proceed with the digiKam installation using the following Flatpak command:

flatpak install flathub org.kde.digikam -y

This command will download and install digiKam from the Flathub repository using the Flatpak package manager.

Method 3: Install digiKam via Snap

The third method to get digiKam on Ubuntu involves utilizing the Snapcraft package manager. Snapcraft is typically pre-installed on Ubuntu systems unless it has been removed earlier.

Install Snap Core

To prevent conflicts, initiate the installation of the snap core using the command below:

sudo snap install core

Install digiKam on Ubuntu via Snap Command

Proceed to install the digiKam snap package with the following command:

sudo snap install digikam

Launch digiKam via CLI Commands or GUI Path

Now that you have digiKam installed, you can launch the application in several different ways. You can use the Command Line Interface (CLI) or Graphical User Interface (GUI), depending on your preference.

CLI Method to Launch digiKam

If you prefer using the terminal, you can launch digiKam immediately with the following command:

digikam

For Flatpak users, you can run digiKam from the terminal using the following command:

flatpak run org.kde.digikam

Lastly, if you installed digiKam on Ubuntu via Snapcraft, run the following command:

snap run digikam

GUI Method to Launch digiKam

If you’d instead use the GUI to launch digiKam, follow the steps below:

1. Click on “Activities” in the top left corner of your desktop.
2. Select “Show Applications” (represented by a grid icon) to view all installed applications.
3. Search for “digiKam” in the search bar or scroll through the list of applications to find it.
4. Click on the “digiKam” icon to launch the application.

First Time Set-Up digiKam

When you launch digiKam for the first time on Ubuntu, you must go through some initial configuration options. These options include setting default locations, image previews, and other preferences. If you are unsure about any settings, you can keep and adjust the default selections later.

Configure digiKam General Settings

During the first setup, you will be presented with a series of options. Carefully review each option and make changes if necessary.

Download digiKam Binary Files

After completing the initial configuration, you will be prompted to download some binary files. These files are essential for the proper functioning of digiKam. Click “Download” to proceed.

Start Using digiKam

Once the binary files are downloaded and installed, digiKam will be fully set up and ready for use. You can now organize, edit, and share your digital photos.

Additional Commands for digiKam

In this section, we will cover some additional commands for updating and uninstalling digiKam on Ubuntu. It is essential to keep your applications up-to-date to benefit from new features, bug fixes, and security updates.

Update digiKam

Updates for digiKam should appear in notifications for APT installation but not for Flatpak. To check manually, which is recommended, use the appropriate command based on your installation method:

APT Update Method for digiKam

sudo apt update

Flatpak Update Method for digiKam

flatpak update

Snap Update Method for digiKam

snap refresh

Remove digiKam

If you no longer need digiKam, you can uninstall it using one of the following commands based on your original installation method:

APT Remove Method for digiKam

sudo apt remove digikam

Flatpak Remove Method for digiKam

flatpak remove  --delete-data org.kde.digikam -y

Snap Remove Method for digiKam

sudo snap remove digikam

Conclusion

With digiKam successfully installed on your Ubuntu system, you can take full advantage of its powerful photo management and editing features. Whether you choose to install via the Ubuntu default APT repository, Flatpak with Flathub, or Snap, each method ensures you have access to digiKam’s latest features and updates. Regularly check for updates to keep your software current and enjoy the robust capabilities that digiKam offers for managing and editing your digital photo collections.