How to Install FrostWire on Ubuntu (24.04, 22.04)

This guide covers how to install FrostWire on Ubuntu 24.04 or 22.04 using the xtradeb PPA. FrostWire combines BitTorrent downloading with integrated media playback, letting you search torrent sources, manage downloads, and play files without switching between applications. Use it to organize large media libraries, search multiple torrent sites simultaneously, or preview content before completing downloads.

This guide supports Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and 22.04 LTS. The xtradeb PPA does not currently provide FrostWire packages for Ubuntu 26.04, and older releases such as 20.04 are also unsupported. Commands work identically on both supported LTS versions.

FrostWire PPA Versions by Ubuntu Release

The xtradeb PPA provides different FrostWire versions depending on your Ubuntu release:

Ubuntu Version	FrostWire Version
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS	7.0.x
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS	6.12.x

Install Initial Packages for FrostWire on Ubuntu

Before adding the PPA, ensure your system has the tools needed to manage third-party repositories:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install software-properties-common -y

If your user account does not have sudo privileges, see how to add a new user to sudoers on Ubuntu before continuing.

This installs software-properties-common, which provides the add-apt-repository command for managing PPAs.

Import the Xtradeb PPA for FrostWire on Ubuntu

FrostWire is available through the xtradeb team PPA, which packages the latest FrostWire release for supported Ubuntu versions. Import the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xtradeb/apps -y

The -y flag confirms the PPA addition without prompting. This command adds the PPA to your software sources and automatically refreshes the package index, making FrostWire available for installation.

Install FrostWire on Ubuntu via the PPA

Install FrostWire from the newly added PPA:

sudo apt install frostwire -y

Verify the installation by checking the installed version:

frostwire --version

Expected output on Ubuntu 24.04:

FrostWire 7.0.2

On Ubuntu 22.04, the output shows FrostWire 6.12.0 instead. Both versions are fully functional.

Launch FrostWire on Ubuntu

After installation, launch FrostWire from either the terminal or your desktop environment’s application menu.

Launch FrostWire from Terminal

Launch FrostWire directly from the terminal:

frostwire

Launch FrostWire from Application Menu

Launch FrostWire from your application menu by searching for “FrostWire” in your desktop environment’s application launcher. The exact steps vary by desktop environment (GNOME, KDE, XFCE), but all provide a search function for installed applications.

Manage FrostWire on Ubuntu

Update FrostWire

FrostWire updates automatically through the PPA when you run system updates. To update only FrostWire without upgrading other system packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade frostwire

This checks for FrostWire updates and installs them without modifying other packages on your system.

Remove FrostWire

The FrostWire package has no system configuration files, so apt remove and apt purge produce identical results. User data in ~/.frostwire/ and your download folder are never touched by package removal. Delete ~/.frostwire/ manually if you want a clean slate.

Remove FrostWire from your system:

sudo apt remove frostwire
sudo apt autoremove

After removing FrostWire, remove the xtradeb PPA if you have no other applications installed from this source. For a detailed walkthrough of PPA management, see how to remove a PPA from Ubuntu.

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:xtradeb/apps -y

Keep the PPA active if you use other xtradeb applications such as Calibre, Audacity, or FileZilla to continue receiving updates for those packages.

Troubleshooting FrostWire on Ubuntu

Unable to Locate Package FrostWire

If apt install frostwire returns “unable to locate package,” the PPA was not added or its package index was not refreshed. Verify the PPA is present and resync:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xtradeb/apps -y
sudo apt update

After the update completes, retry sudo apt install frostwire -y. If the package still does not appear, confirm your Ubuntu version is supported:

lsb_release -cs

The PPA currently provides FrostWire builds for noble (24.04) and jammy (22.04). If your codename does not match either, the PPA has no packages for your release.

PPA Key Import Failures

If the PPA addition fails with GPG key errors, the keyserver may be temporarily unavailable. Wait a few minutes and retry the add-apt-repository command. If the issue persists, verify your internet connection and DNS resolution:

ping -c 4 launchpad.net

Successful replies confirm network access to Launchpad. If you see Destination Host Unreachable or 100% packet loss, resolve your network connection before retrying.

FrostWire Won’t Launch

If FrostWire fails to start from the terminal or application menu, check for conflicting Java versions or missing dependencies:

frostwire 2>&1 | head -20

This displays any error messages that explain why the application cannot start. Common issues include missing Java runtime or insufficient permissions on the configuration directory. FrostWire is a Java application, so a working JDK is required. If Java errors appear, see our guide on installing OpenJDK 21 on Ubuntu to set up a compatible runtime. Reinstall FrostWire if dependency errors appear:

sudo apt install --reinstall frostwire

Conclusion

With FrostWire installed on Ubuntu through the xtradeb PPA, you have integrated BitTorrent downloading and media playback ready to use. The PPA delivers updates alongside your system packages, and both terminal and desktop launch options are available. For further customization, configure your default download directory in FrostWire settings, adjust bandwidth limits for uploads and downloads, or explore the built-in torrent search to find content across multiple trackers. If you prefer alternative torrent clients, check our guide on installing qBittorrent on Ubuntu for a lightweight option, installing Deluge on Ubuntu for a modular client, or installing KTorrent on Ubuntu for KDE desktop integration.