Reviewing diffs, resolving merge conflicts, and opening pull requests is usually faster in a GUI than in a terminal full of Git flags. GitHub does not publish an official Linux build, but the community-maintained shiftkey/desktop fork makes it practical to install GitHub Desktop on Linux Mint without giving up regular package updates or a straightforward direct download.
These steps apply to Linux Mint 22.x and 21.x. The comparison table below shows which installation path fits your system best and how each one handles updates.
Compare GitHub Desktop Installation Methods on Linux Mint
Each installation path trades off update automation, architecture coverage, and system integration a little differently.
| Method | Channel | Version | Updates | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual .deb | GitHub Releases | Latest release | Manual download | arm64 or armhf installs, direct downloads, and version pinning |
| APT Repository | Mwt community mirror | Stable release, may lag the latest GitHub release | Automatic via apt upgrade | Most amd64 Linux Mint desktops |
| Flatpak | Flathub | Latest stable | Automatic via flatpak update | Sandboxed installs with distro-agnostic packaging |
Use the Mwt APT mirror if you want GitHub Desktop to update with the rest of Linux Mint. Use the direct .deb download when you need the newest release before the mirror catches up, or when your system is on arm64 or armhf. Flatpak is the cleanest fit if you prefer sandboxing.
Install GitHub Desktop on Linux Mint
Open a terminal from the applications menu, refresh your package lists, and then use the installation method that matches how you want to maintain the app.
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgradeIf your user account does not have sudo privileges, follow the guide to add a user to sudoers on Linux Mint before continuing.
Install GitHub Desktop on Linux Mint from a .deb Package
The manual .deb path works well when you want the newest release immediately, need an offline installer, or are running Linux Mint on arm64 or armhf. The project keeps its release assets on GitHub Releases.
VERSION=$(curl -fsSL https://api.github.com/repos/shiftkey/desktop/releases/latest | awk -F'"' '/tag_name/ {sub(/^release-/,"",$4); print $4; exit}')
ARCH=$(dpkg --print-architecture)
curl -fL -o GitHubDesktop-linux-${ARCH}-${VERSION}.deb https://github.com/shiftkey/desktop/releases/download/release-${VERSION}/GitHubDesktop-linux-${ARCH}-${VERSION}.debThe first line asks GitHub’s API for the latest release tag and removes the
release-prefix so the download command stays current. The second line stores your architecture, andcurl -fLfollows GitHub’s redirect chain while failing cleanly on HTTP errors. If GitHub rate-limits the API request, open the releases page and setVERSIONmanually to the current tag.
Install the downloaded package with APT so Linux Mint resolves any missing dependencies automatically.
sudo apt install ./GitHubDesktop-linux-${ARCH}-${VERSION}.debIf APT reports dependency problems, repair them with:
sudo apt install -fVerify the GitHub Desktop .deb Installation
Check the package database to confirm the install completed successfully.
dpkg -l github-desktop | grep -E '^ii'ii github-desktop 3.4.13-linux1 amd64 Simple collaboration from your desktop
Your version and architecture will reflect whatever release you downloaded, but the package should show the ii state when the install is complete.
Install GitHub Desktop on Linux Mint from the Mwt APT Repository
The Mwt mirror integrates GitHub Desktop into Linux Mint’s normal APT workflow, so updates arrive with the rest of your system packages.
The official Shiftkey host at
https://apt.packages.shiftkey.devstill presents a certificate for*.azureedge.netinstead ofapt.packages.shiftkey.devon the tested Linux Mint 22.2 and 21.3 systems, so HTTPS validation fails. Use the Mwt mirror below until that TLS issue is fixed upstream.
The APT repository publishes amd64 packages only. If your Linux Mint system is arm64 or armhf, use the direct .deb method above instead.
Import the repository signing key and convert it to the binary format APT expects.
curl -fsSL https://mirror.mwt.me/shiftkey-desktop/gpgkey | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/mwt-desktop.gpgThe gpg --dearmor step converts the ASCII-armored key into the binary format that APT reads from /usr/share/keyrings/.
Add the repository in DEB822 format.
cat <<'EOF' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mwt-desktop.sources
Types: deb
URIs: https://mirror.mwt.me/shiftkey-desktop/deb/
Suites: any
Components: main
Architectures: amd64
Signed-By: /usr/share/keyrings/mwt-desktop.gpg
EOFThe tee command writes the file with root privileges because a plain > redirection would still run as your regular user. The any suite is the repository’s universal branch, so the same source file works on Linux Mint 22.x and 21.x.
Refresh APT, then install GitHub Desktop from the mirror.
sudo apt update
sudo apt install github-desktopGet:1 https://mirror.mwt.me/shiftkey-desktop/deb any InRelease [1,228 B]
Verify the GitHub Desktop APT Installation
Confirm the package came from the mirror and installed correctly.
apt-cache policy github-desktopgithub-desktop:
Installed: 3.4.12-linux1
Candidate: 3.4.12-linux1
Version table:
*** 3.4.12-linux1 500
500 https://mirror.mwt.me/shiftkey-desktop/deb any/main amd64 Packages
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
The mirror can trail GitHub Releases and Flathub for a short time after a new upstream release lands, so seeing an older stable version here is normal.
Install GitHub Desktop on Linux Mint with Flatpak
Flatpak is already available on standard Linux Mint desktop installs with Flathub configured, so this is the quickest sandboxed path. The application ID is io.github.shiftey.Desktop, which is the value you will use for installs, launches, updates, and removal.
Install GitHub Desktop from Flathub:
sudo flatpak install flathub io.github.shiftey.Desktop -yVerify the GitHub Desktop Flatpak Installation
List installed Flatpak apps and confirm the GitHub Desktop app ID appears.
flatpak list --app | grep -F io.github.shiftey.DesktopGitHub Desktop io.github.shiftey.Desktop 3.4.13-linux1 stable system
The spacing can vary a little by terminal width, but the app ID and version should match the installed Flatpak.
Launch GitHub Desktop on Linux Mint
Once the package is installed, launch GitHub Desktop from the terminal or from Linux Mint’s applications menu.
Launch GitHub Desktop from the Terminal
For the APT or direct .deb installation, run:
github-desktopFor the Flatpak install, run:
flatpak run io.github.shiftey.DesktopGitHub Desktop needs an active Linux Mint desktop session. If you try to launch it from a pure SSH shell with no display, you can run into missing
$DISPLAYor X server errors instead of the app window.
Launch GitHub Desktop from the Applications Menu
Open the applications menu, search for GitHub Desktop, or browse to the Development category and click the launcher.
Sign In to GitHub Desktop on Linux Mint
On first launch, GitHub Desktop opens a sign-in flow for GitHub.com or GitHub Enterprise Server. Choose the account type you use, finish the browser-based OAuth prompt, and the app will sync your repositories into the sidebar when authorization completes.
Manage GitHub Desktop on Linux Mint
Update GitHub Desktop on Linux Mint
The update path depends on how you installed GitHub Desktop in the first place.
Update GitHub Desktop through APT
If you used the Mwt mirror, GitHub Desktop updates with your regular package refresh.
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgradeTo update only GitHub Desktop without touching other packages, run:
sudo apt install --only-upgrade github-desktopUpdate GitHub Desktop through Flatpak
Flatpak updates GitHub Desktop alongside your other Flatpak apps. The guide to update Flatpak apps on Linux Mint covers the wider Flatpak workflow if you want it.
sudo flatpak updateUpdate a Manual GitHub Desktop .deb Install
For the direct download path, grab the newest .deb package and install it over the existing one.
VERSION=$(curl -fsSL https://api.github.com/repos/shiftkey/desktop/releases/latest | awk -F'"' '/tag_name/ {sub(/^release-/,"",$4); print $4; exit}')
ARCH=$(dpkg --print-architecture)
curl -fL -o GitHubDesktop-linux-${ARCH}-${VERSION}.deb https://github.com/shiftkey/desktop/releases/download/release-${VERSION}/GitHubDesktop-linux-${ARCH}-${VERSION}.deb
sudo apt install ./GitHubDesktop-linux-${ARCH}-${VERSION}.debRemove GitHub Desktop from Linux Mint
Choose the cleanup path that matches the installation method you used.
Remove the GitHub Desktop APT or .deb Package
Remove the package itself and any automatically installed dependencies you no longer need.
sudo apt purge github-desktop
sudo apt autoremoveVerify the package is gone.
apt-cache policy github-desktopgithub-desktop:
Installed: (none)
Candidate: 3.4.12-linux1
Version table:
3.4.12-linux1 500
500 https://mirror.mwt.me/shiftkey-desktop/deb any/main amd64 Packages
If you installed the direct .deb package and never added an APT source, the candidate section can be empty. If you used either repository path, remove the source files and keyrings next.
sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mwt-desktop.sources /etc/apt/sources.list.d/shiftkey-packages.sources
sudo rm -f /usr/share/keyrings/mwt-desktop.gpg /usr/share/keyrings/shiftkey-packages.gpg
sudo apt updateConfirm the repository files and keys are gone.
ls /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ | grep -E 'shiftkey|mwt'
ls /usr/share/keyrings/ | grep -E 'shiftkey|mwt'No output from either command means the source files and keyrings have been removed successfully.
Remove the GitHub Desktop Flatpak
Uninstall the Flatpak package and delete its per-user Flatpak data if that directory exists from earlier launches.
sudo flatpak remove -y --delete-data io.github.shiftey.DesktopThen clean up any unused Flatpak runtimes.
sudo flatpak uninstall --unusedIf the Flatpak build created a per-user directory under ~/.var/app/io.github.shiftey.Desktop/ after you launched it, the --delete-data flag removes that directory as part of the uninstall.
Remove GitHub Desktop User Data on Linux Mint
After package removal on the tested Linux Mint systems, the remaining per-user directory was ~/.config/GitHub Desktop. Remove it only if you want to clear saved local preferences.
The command below permanently deletes GitHub Desktop preferences from your home directory. Keep the folder if you want the app to remember your settings the next time you install it.
rm -rf ~/.config/GitHub\ DesktopTroubleshoot GitHub Desktop on Linux Mint
These checks cover the package, Flatpak, and account issues most likely to interrupt a GitHub Desktop install on Linux Mint.
Fix Missing Dependencies After a GitHub Desktop .deb Install on Linux Mint
If APT stops during the .deb install because a library is missing, you can see an error like this:
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of github-desktop: github-desktop depends on libsecret-1-0; however: Package libsecret-1-0 is not installed.
Let APT resolve the missing dependency set automatically.
sudo apt install -fThen confirm the package reached the installed state.
dpkg -l github-desktop | grep -E '^ii'ii github-desktop 3.4.13-linux1 amd64 Simple collaboration from your desktop
Check GitHub Desktop Compatibility on Linux Mint
Current shiftkey release notes list GLIBC 2.28 as the minimum for the newest Linux builds. Linux Mint 22.x and 21.x both exceed that requirement, but this check is useful if you are troubleshooting an older custom image or copied binary.
ldd --version | head -1ldd (Ubuntu GLIBC 2.39-0ubuntu8.7) 2.39
The Linux Mint 21.3 test system reported GLIBC 2.35, so both supported Linux Mint releases clear the current minimum.
Fix GitHub Desktop Authentication Issues on Linux Mint
If sign-in or commit attribution behaves oddly, first make sure you have installed Git on Linux Mint and configured your global identity.
git config --global --list | grep -E 'user.name|user.email'If the command returns no lines or the values are wrong, set them explicitly.
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"Verify the saved identity before you retry the GitHub Desktop sign-in flow.
git config --global --list | grep -E 'user.name|user.email'user.name=Your Name user.email=your.email@example.com
Fix GitHub Desktop Flathub Remote Errors on Linux Mint
If Flatpak says the flathub remote is missing, check the configured remotes first.
flatpak remotesflathub system
If flathub does not appear, add it back and then retry the install. The --if-not-exists flag only creates the remote when it is missing.
sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakreposudo flatpak install flathub io.github.shiftey.Desktop -yFix GitHub Desktop APT Certificate Errors on Linux Mint
If you added the official Shiftkey APT source manually, the current failure is a TLS certificate mismatch rather than a package-name problem.
curl: (60) SSL: no alternative certificate subject name matches target host name 'apt.packages.shiftkey.dev'
Remove the broken source and key, then refresh APT before switching to the Mwt mirror from the install section.
sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/shiftkey-packages.sources
sudo rm -f /usr/share/keyrings/shiftkey-packages.gpg
sudo apt updateFix GitHub Desktop Package Detection Errors on Linux Mint
If APT still says it cannot locate github-desktop, first make sure the source file exists.
ls /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ | grep -E 'shiftkey|mwt'mwt-desktop.sources
If no file appears, re-add the Mwt mirror and run sudo apt update again. Then confirm the package candidate is visible to APT.
apt-cache policy github-desktopgithub-desktop:
Installed: (none)
Candidate: 3.4.12-linux1
Version table:
3.4.12-linux1 500
500 https://mirror.mwt.me/shiftkey-desktop/deb any/main amd64 Packages
Frequently Asked Questions
GitHub has never published a native Linux build of GitHub Desktop. The community-maintained shiftkey/desktop fork carries the Linux packaging work, tracks upstream releases, and publishes the Linux release assets used by the .deb, AppImage, and APT installation paths.
There is no official Snap package. The shiftkey project does publish an AppImage on its releases page, but this guide focuses on the .deb download, the Mwt APT mirror, and Flathub because those options integrate more cleanly with Linux Mint.
Use the Mwt APT mirror on amd64 if you want automatic updates through apt. Use the manual .deb download if you need arm64 or armhf support, or if you want the newest release before the APT mirror catches up. Use Flatpak if you prefer sandboxing.
Conclusion
GitHub Desktop is ready on Linux Mint for visual commits, branch work, and pull request reviews. The Mwt APT mirror gives amd64 systems the cleanest update path, while the direct .deb and Flatpak methods cover newer builds, ARM downloads, and sandboxed installs. Next, consider installing VS Code on Linux Mint or installing VSCodium on Linux Mint alongside it.
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