How to Install Flatpak on Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04 and 22.04

Flatpak gives Ubuntu users a clean way to run desktop apps from Flathub without replacing APT or relying only on Snap. Each app uses its own runtime and sandbox, so the same Flathub build can behave consistently on Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04, and 22.04 while Ubuntu’s package manager still handles the Flatpak tool itself.

This guide shows how to install Flatpak on Ubuntu, add the Flathub repository, choose when the Flatpak Team stable PPA is useful, and manage common tasks such as app installs, updates, permissions, downloaded .flatpakref files, and removal.

Install Flatpak on Ubuntu via Default APT Repository

Open the terminal by searching for “Terminal” in the Activities menu or pressing Ctrl+Alt+T. Before installing Flatpak, update your system to ensure all existing packages are current and dependency resolution works correctly:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

These commands use sudo for tasks that need root privileges. If your user is not in the sudoers file yet, run the commands as root or follow the guide on how to add a new user to sudoers on Ubuntu.

Running apt update refreshes your package index, while apt upgrade applies pending security patches and bug fixes. This step prevents dependency conflicts during Flatpak installation.

Ubuntu ships Flatpak in the universe repository but does not install it by default. Installing from Ubuntu’s repository gives you the cleanest package source, and it is the correct path on Ubuntu 26.04 because the Flatpak Team PPA does not currently publish a 26.04 package.

Install Flatpak using APT:

sudo apt install flatpak

After installation completes, verify the installed version:

flatpak --version

Expected output varies by Ubuntu version:

Flatpak 1.16.6   # Ubuntu 26.04 LTS
Flatpak 1.14.6   # Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
Flatpak 1.12.7   # Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

Add the Flathub Repository

Next, add the Flathub repository to access thousands of applications. Run this command to add Flathub system-wide, making applications available to all users on the machine:

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

Verify the remote was added correctly:

flatpak remotes

flathub	system

The output confirms Flathub is configured at the system level, meaning all users can install and run Flatpak applications.

Flatpak commands default to system-wide scope. The examples in this guide use sudo so apps and runtimes are available to all users on the machine. If you do not have sudo access, use user scope consistently instead.

For a user-only Flathub setup, add the remote with --user and keep later install, update, and remove commands at user scope:

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

Verify that the remote appears as a user remote:

flatpak remotes

flathub	user

Reboot for Full Integration

After initial setup, restart your desktop session so application launchers and portal services load cleanly. A full reboot is the simplest option:

sudo reboot

Logging out and back in is usually enough, but rebooting avoids half-started portal or menu-cache state on a fresh setup.

Optional: Add Flatpak Apps to GNOME Software

Ubuntu’s default graphical software store may not browse Flathub apps by default. If you use GNOME Software and want it to include Flathub apps, install the Flatpak plugin after setting up Flathub:

sudo apt install gnome-software-plugin-flatpak

Restart your session after installing the plugin so GNOME Software reloads its app sources.

Compare Flatpak, PPA, and Snap Choices

Start with Ubuntu’s repository unless you have a specific reason to replace the distro package. The Flatpak Team stable PPA currently targets older supported LTS branches, while Ubuntu 26.04 should use the Flatpak package already included in Ubuntu.

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
Default APT Repository	Ubuntu universe	26.04: 1.16.x, 24.04: 1.14.x, 22.04: 1.12.x	Automatic with APT upgrades	Most users and all Ubuntu 26.04 installs
Flatpak Team Stable PPA	Launchpad PPA	1.16.x on Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04	Automatic with APT upgrades	Ubuntu 24.04 or 22.04 users who need a newer Flatpak package

For most users, the default APT repository is recommended because it follows Ubuntu’s update cycle and avoids adding another package source. Use the stable PPA only on Ubuntu 24.04 or 22.04 when you need a newer Flatpak package than Ubuntu provides.

This guide covers Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04, and 22.04. The default repository method works across all three releases. Within this guide’s supported scope, the Flatpak Team stable PPA currently targets Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04, while the Flatpak Team development PPA is not kept up to date for routine installs.

Flatpak excels when you need identical application builds across multiple Ubuntu releases or want software that Snap does not offer. Since Flatpak bundles libraries and runtimes with each application, desktop apps such as GIMP, Blender, and LibreOffice behave the same on laptops, desktops, and immutable systems. Additionally, Flatpak provides better desktop theme integration and more granular permission controls through sandbox overrides. If you are switching away from Snap for specific applications like Firefox, our guide on removing Firefox Snap from Ubuntu covers the process.

In contrast, Snap remains the better default for Canonical-maintained packages like core system tools because it hooks into Ubuntu’s automatic updates and benefits from direct integration with Ubuntu’s infrastructure. Use Snap when Canonical provides an optimized build or when you are already managing Snap-only tools such as LXD or MicroK8s.

Use Flatpak when you frequently share applications across different Ubuntu installations, rely on upstream releases from Flathub, or need more precise permission controls.

Optional: Install Flatpak via Stable PPA on Ubuntu 24.04 or 22.04

The Flatpak Team stable PPA provides Flatpak 1.16.x for Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04. Use this method only when you need the newer Flatpak package itself, not merely newer applications from Flathub. On Ubuntu 26.04, use the default APT method because the PPA currently tells 26.04 users to use Ubuntu’s included Flatpak package.

Most Ubuntu desktop systems already include add-apt-repository. On minimal or customized systems that do not recognize the command, install its helper package first:

sudo apt install software-properties-common

Add the stable PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:flatpak/stable -y

Refresh the package index so APT can see the PPA package metadata:

sudo apt update

Confirm that the PPA is now the candidate source before installing or upgrading Flatpak:

apt-cache policy flatpak

On Ubuntu 24.04, relevant output should show the Launchpad PPA candidate above Ubuntu’s default package:

flatpak:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 1.16.6-1~flatpak1~24.04.1
  Version table:
     1.16.6-1~flatpak1~24.04.1 500
        500 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/flatpak/stable/ubuntu noble/main amd64 Packages
     1.14.6-1ubuntu0.1 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-updates/universe amd64 Packages

Install Flatpak from the selected candidate:

sudo apt install flatpak

Add Flathub system-wide if it is not already configured:

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

Verify the installed Flatpak version:

flatpak --version

Flatpak 1.16.x

The former Flatpak development PPA is intentionally not used here. Its Launchpad page says it is not kept up to date and currently copies stable builds for former users, so it is not a useful routine installation method.

If you later need to switch between PPA versions or remove the PPA entirely, refer to our guide on removing a PPA from Ubuntu for proper cleanup procedures.

Remember to reboot after initial installation to enable full desktop integration, as described in the reboot section above.

Managing Applications with Flatpak Commands

After installing Flatpak and adding Flathub, you can manage applications through commands for installation, updates, permissions, and system configuration. The examples below stay at system scope because the main setup added Flathub with sudo. If you used the user-scope remote instead, add --user to install, update, and remove commands and omit sudo.

Search for Applications

Before installing, search Flathub to find the correct application identifier. The search command queries all configured remotes:

flatpak search <search-term>

For example, searching for GIMP returns available packages:

flatpak search gimp

GIMP User Manual                GIMP User Manual                        org.gimp.GIMP.Manual    2.10    2.10    flathub
GNU Image Manipulation Program  High-end image creation and manipulation org.gimp.GIMP           3.2.4   stable  flathub

The Application ID column (org.gimp.GIMP) is what you use for installation and other commands.

Install Applications

Once you identify an application, install it with the following command. System-wide installations require sudo:

sudo flatpak install flathub <application-id> -y

For example, install GIMP:

sudo flatpak install flathub org.gimp.GIMP -y

The -y flag accepts the install prompt and any required runtime downloads. Remove it if you prefer to review Flatpak’s transaction summary before confirming.

List Installed Applications

View all applications installed through Flatpak:

flatpak list

For detailed information including versions and installation scope:

flatpak list --columns=application,name,version,branch,origin

Update Applications

Keep all installed Flatpak applications current with a single command:

sudo flatpak update -y

To update a specific application only:

sudo flatpak update org.gimp.GIMP -y

The flatpak update command refreshes installed Flatpak apps and runtimes from configured remotes. It does not upgrade the Ubuntu flatpak package itself; use normal APT upgrades for that package.

Run Applications

While most Flatpak applications appear in your desktop menu after installation, you can also launch them directly from the terminal:

flatpak run <application-id>

Launch GIMP:

flatpak run org.gimp.GIMP

Terminal launching is useful for debugging application issues or passing command-line arguments.

Uninstall Applications

Remove applications you no longer need:

sudo flatpak remove <application-id> -y

Remove GIMP:

sudo flatpak remove org.gimp.GIMP -y

To also remove unused runtimes that are no longer needed by any application:

sudo flatpak uninstall --unused -y

View Application Details

Get detailed information about an installed application, including its version, runtime, and installation path:

flatpak info <application-id>

View GIMP details:

flatpak info org.gimp.GIMP

Manage Remote Repositories

Flatpak uses remote repositories to distribute applications. List all configured remotes:

flatpak remotes

Add a new remote repository:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists <name> <URL>

Remove a remote repository:

sudo flatpak remote-delete <remote-name>

The --if-not-exists flag prevents errors when re-running setup scripts on systems that already have the remote configured.

Check and Modify Application Permissions

Flatpak’s sandboxing restricts application access by default. Check what permissions an application has:

flatpak info --show-permissions <application-id>

When applications need access to specific directories or system resources, modify their permissions using a user-scoped override. This is intentional even when the app itself was installed system-wide, because Flatpak stores per-user overrides separately:

flatpak override --user --filesystem=<directory> <application-id>

For example, grant GIMP access to a custom photos directory:

flatpak override --user --filesystem=$HOME/MyPhotos org.gimp.GIMP

Reset all permission overrides to defaults:

flatpak override --user --reset <application-id>

View and Manage Runtimes

Flatpak applications depend on shared runtimes that provide common libraries. List all installed runtimes:

flatpak list --runtime

Browse available runtimes on Flathub:

flatpak remote-ls flathub --runtime

Runtimes are installed automatically when needed and can be cleaned up with flatpak uninstall --unused.

Update Repository Metadata

AppStream provides application metadata including descriptions, screenshots, and categories that software centers use to display available applications. Update AppStream data when search results seem outdated or newly published applications do not appear:

sudo flatpak update --appstream

To refresh metadata for a specific remote only:

sudo flatpak update --appstream flathub

Run Applications with Enhanced Isolation

For testing or security purposes, enforce stricter sandboxing when running applications:

flatpak run --sandbox <application-id>

Run GIMP with enhanced isolation:

flatpak run --sandbox org.gimp.GIMP

The --sandbox flag temporarily removes network access, filesystem permissions, and other privileges for that session only. This creates a more restricted environment than the application’s default sandbox configuration, useful when evaluating untrusted applications or debugging permission-related issues.

Install Flatpak Bundles and Refs

Occasionally you may download a Flatpak descriptor or bundle directly from a vendor’s website rather than searching Flathub from the terminal. Flatpak supports two file-based installation formats:

.flatpakref files are small descriptor files that tell Flatpak where to download the application:

sudo flatpak install --from <path-to-file.flatpakref> -y

.flatpak bundles are self-contained packages that include the entire application and can be installed offline:

sudo flatpak install --bundle <path-to-file.flatpak> -y

Use bundles when you need to install applications on systems without internet access or when distributing internally built applications.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

This section addresses issues users commonly encounter with Flatpak on Ubuntu.

Flatpak Command Not Found

If the terminal returns flatpak: command not found, the Flatpak package is not installed in the current Ubuntu environment. Install it from Ubuntu’s repository:

sudo apt install flatpak

If APT reports that the package cannot be located, enable the universe component first, then rerun the install command above.

Then check the version again:

flatpak --version

On Ubuntu 26.04, expected output resembles:

Flatpak 1.16.6

Remote Flathub Not Found

Errors such as remote flathub not found or No remote refs found for 'flathub' usually mean Flathub has not been added at the scope you are using. Check your remotes first:

flatpak remotes

If flathub is missing, add it system-wide again:

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

System Operation Not Allowed for User

If Flatpak reports that a system operation is not allowed for the current user, you are probably mixing a system-scoped remote with a user-scoped command. Use sudo with the system Flathub remote shown in this guide:

sudo flatpak install flathub org.gimp.GIMP -y

If you intentionally added Flathub with --user, keep the install at user scope instead:

flatpak install --user flathub org.gimp.GIMP -y

Applications Not Appearing in Menu

If installed Flatpak applications do not show up in your application menu, reboot your system to ensure XDG desktop integration services have started. If the problem persists after a reboot, update the desktop database manually:

update-desktop-database ~/.local/share/applications

File Dialogs Not Working Correctly

If file dialogs appear blank or non-functional, the XDG portal services may not be running. Install the portal backend for your desktop environment:

sudo apt install xdg-desktop-portal-gtk

For KDE Plasma desktops, install the KDE-specific portal instead:

sudo apt install xdg-desktop-portal-kde

Restart your session after installing portals.

Theme Integration Issues

Flatpak applications may not match your system theme because the sandbox isolates them from system configuration. Install the GTK theme pack from Flathub:

sudo flatpak install flathub org.gtk.Gtk3theme.Adwaita-dark -y

Replace Adwaita-dark with your preferred theme name. Search available themes with:

flatpak search gtk3theme

Permission Denied Errors

If an application cannot access files you expect it to reach, first inspect its current permissions. Many apps already expose common locations, and adding a broad override when it is not needed weakens the sandbox:

flatpak info --show-permissions <application-id>

If the app really needs broader home-directory access, apply a user-scoped override:

flatpak override --user --filesystem=home <application-id>

Common filesystem paths you might need to grant:

home: Full home directory access
host: Full filesystem access (use sparingly)
/path/to/directory: Specific directory access

Remove Flatpak from Ubuntu

If you no longer need Flatpak, you can remove it along with all installed applications and repositories.

Uninstall All Flatpak Applications

First, remove all installed system-scope Flatpak applications and runtimes:

sudo flatpak remove --all -y

If you used user scope instead, remove user-scope apps separately:

flatpak remove --user --all -y

Remove the Flathub Repository

Remove the Flathub remote:

sudo flatpak remote-delete flathub

For a user-scope Flathub remote, use:

flatpak remote-delete --user flathub

Uninstall the Flatpak Package

Remove the Flatpak package itself:

sudo apt remove flatpak

If APT reports orphaned dependencies afterward, review the dry run before removing them. On reused systems, autoremove can include packages unrelated to Flatpak.

sudo apt autoremove --dry-run

Only run the real cleanup if the preview lists packages you are comfortable removing:

sudo apt autoremove

Remove Flatpak PPA (If Used)

If you installed Flatpak from the Flatpak Team stable PPA, remove the repository source and refresh APT:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:flatpak/stable -y
sudo apt update

If you previously added the older development PPA, remove that source too:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:flatpak/development -y
sudo apt update

Clean Up Remaining Data

The following commands permanently delete Flatpak application data. If you have documents or settings stored within Flatpak applications that you want to keep, back them up first.

Remove system-wide Flatpak data:

sudo rm -rf /var/lib/flatpak

Remove user-level Flatpak data:

rm -rf ~/.local/share/flatpak ~/.var/app

Conclusion

You now have Flatpak installed on Ubuntu, Flathub configured, and a working command set for installing, updating, removing, and troubleshooting sandboxed apps. Ubuntu’s default package is the right choice for most systems, especially Ubuntu 26.04, while the stable PPA remains an optional upgrade path for Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04 when you need a newer Flatpak package. For deeper command details, permission behavior, and sandbox concepts, consult the official Flatpak documentation.