How to Install HandBrake on Ubuntu (26.04, 24.04, 22.04)

HandBrake converts video files between formats, letting you transcode nearly any input to modern codecs like H.264, H.265, VP9, and AV1. To install HandBrake on Ubuntu, you can use Flatpak for the latest official release or Ubuntu’s default repositories for distribution-packaged builds. This guide covers both installation methods, verification steps, and how to keep HandBrake updated. For users seeking alternative video transcoding tools, Videomass provides a graphical front-end for FFmpeg with preset-based workflows.

This guide supports Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, 24.04 LTS, and 22.04 LTS. The Flatpak method provides the official HandBrake release and works across all Ubuntu versions, while the APT method installs the distribution-packaged version from Ubuntu Universe repositories. Commands work identically on all supported LTS releases.

Choose Your HandBrake Installation Method on Ubuntu

HandBrake offers two installation paths on Ubuntu: the official Flatpak release from Flathub and Ubuntu’s distribution-packaged version. Flatpak is the most direct way to get the latest upstream release. The HandBrake Team’s official documentation notes that third-party distribution builds may be modified or missing features.

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
Flatpak	Flathub	Latest stable (upstream)	Via flatpak update	Most users who want official upstream releases
APT (Universe)	Ubuntu Repos	Distribution default (varies by release)	Via apt upgrade	Users who prefer distribution-vetted packages

For most users, the Flatpak method is recommended because it installs the official HandBrake release and lets you update independently of Ubuntu’s repository version. Use the APT method if you specifically need distribution-packaged software or have organizational policies requiring it.

Method 1: Install HandBrake via Flatpak (Recommended)

The Flatpak method installs the official HandBrake release from Flathub, providing the latest stable version with updates directly from the HandBrake Team.

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 for HandBrake

Add the Flathub repository if it is not already configured. Flathub is the primary distribution platform for Flatpak applications and hosts the official HandBrake release.

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

The --if-not-exists flag prevents errors if Flathub is already configured on your system.

Install HandBrake via Flatpak Command

With Flathub enabled, install HandBrake using the system-wide Flatpak install command:

sudo flatpak install --system flathub fr.handbrake.ghb -y

The --system flag installs HandBrake for all users on the machine, and the -y flag automatically confirms the installation prompt.

Verify HandBrake Flatpak Installation

Confirm that HandBrake installed successfully by checking the installed version and origin:

flatpak info fr.handbrake.ghb

HandBrake - Video Transcoder

          ID: fr.handbrake.ghb
         Ref: app/fr.handbrake.ghb/x86_64/stable
        Arch: x86_64
      Branch: stable
     Version: 1.10.2
      Origin: flathub
Installation: system

The output confirms the version, origin (flathub), and installation scope (system). Your installed version may differ as new releases are published.

Method 2: Install HandBrake via APT Package Manager

Ubuntu’s default repositories provide HandBrake packages in the Universe component. This method installs a distribution-packaged version that may lag behind official releases, and as noted in the comparison section above, third-party distribution builds may be modified or have features removed.

Only use this method if you specifically need distribution-packaged software or have organizational requirements. For the official HandBrake release, use Method 1 (Flatpak).

Update Package Index

Refresh your package index to make sure you install the latest available version from the repositories:

sudo apt update

If your user account does not have sudo privileges, you will need to configure sudo access on Ubuntu before continuing.

Install HandBrake via APT Command

Install the HandBrake GUI package from the Universe component:

sudo apt install handbrake

This installs the HandBrake GUI package. If you also need the command-line interface, install the separate handbrake-cli package.

Optional: Install the HandBrake CLI package (provides the HandBrakeCLI command):

sudo apt install handbrake-cli

Verify HandBrake APT Installation

Confirm the installation by checking the package status and repository origin:

apt-cache policy handbrake

Ubuntu 26.04 LTS example output:

handbrake:
  Installed: 1.9.2+ds1-1build4
  Candidate: 1.9.2+ds1-1build4
  Version table:
 *** 1.9.2+ds1-1build4 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu resolute/universe amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS example output:

handbrake:
  Installed: 1.7.2+ds1-1build2
  Candidate: 1.7.2+ds1-1build2
  Version table:
 *** 1.7.2+ds1-1build2 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble/universe amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS example output:

handbrake:
  Installed: 1.5.1+ds1-1build1
  Candidate: 1.5.1+ds1-1build1
  Version table:
 *** 1.5.1+ds1-1build1 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy/universe amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

The output confirms the installed version and shows it originates from Ubuntu’s Universe repository. Version numbers vary between Ubuntu releases as shown above.

Launch HandBrake on Ubuntu

Once you have finished installing HandBrake using either the Flatpak or APT method, you can launch the application from the terminal or your desktop environment’s application menu.

Launching HandBrake from the Terminal

The terminal launch command varies depending on your installation method.

For Flatpak installations:

flatpak run fr.handbrake.ghb

For APT installations:

handbrake

The APT package provides a handbrake command that is a symbolic link to the ghb (GTK HandBrake) binary.

Launching HandBrake from the Desktop Environment

HandBrake appears in your application menu after installation. To launch it:

1. Activities: Click the Activities button at the top left corner of your desktop. This displays all running applications and provides access to the application launcher.
2. Show Applications: Click the “Show Applications” button, symbolized by a grid of dots. This reveals all installed applications on your Ubuntu system.
3. HandBrake: Scroll through your applications or use the search bar to locate HandBrake. Click the HandBrake icon to launch the application.

Manage HandBrake on Ubuntu

Update HandBrake

HandBrake receives regular updates with new features, performance improvements, and bug fixes. The update method depends on your installation type.

Flatpak Update Method for HandBrake Installations

Update HandBrake and all other Flatpak applications with a single command:

sudo flatpak update --system

Alternatively, to update only HandBrake:

sudo flatpak update --system fr.handbrake.ghb

APT Update Method for HandBrake Installations

To update only HandBrake without upgrading other system packages:

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

Alternatively, you can run sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade to update all system packages, which includes HandBrake alongside other updates.

Uninstall HandBrake

If you no longer need HandBrake, you can completely remove it from your system. The removal procedure depends on your installation method.

Flatpak Removal Method for HandBrake Installations

Remove the HandBrake Flatpak application:

sudo flatpak uninstall --system --delete-data fr.handbrake.ghb -y

The --delete-data flag removes application data stored in the system-wide Flatpak data directory. To remove unused Flatpak runtimes and dependencies:

sudo flatpak uninstall --system --unused -y

Verify that HandBrake has been removed:

flatpak list | grep -i handbrake

No output confirms the removal was successful.

Remove user-specific HandBrake data:

HandBrake stores user-specific settings, presets, and queue data in ~/.var/app/fr.handbrake.ghb/. The commands above do not remove this directory. To completely remove all HandBrake data including your custom presets and settings, manually delete it. This action is permanent and cannot be undone.

rm -rf ~/.var/app/fr.handbrake.ghb/

APT Removal Method for HandBrake Installations

Remove the HandBrake package and its configuration files:

sudo apt remove --purge handbrake handbrake-cli

The --purge flag removes configuration files in addition to the package. Remove orphaned dependencies that were installed with HandBrake:

sudo apt autoremove

This removes packages that were automatically installed as dependencies and are no longer needed by any installed application.

Verify that HandBrake has been removed:

dpkg --status handbrake 2>&1 | head -3

dpkg-query: package 'handbrake' is not installed and no information is available

Remove user-specific HandBrake data:

HandBrake stores user-specific settings and presets in ~/.config/ghb/. The commands above do not remove this directory. To completely remove all HandBrake settings and custom presets, manually delete it. This action is permanent and cannot be undone.

rm -rf ~/.config/ghb/

Troubleshoot HandBrake Issues on Ubuntu

HandBrake Does Not Appear in Application Menu After Flatpak Installation

If HandBrake does not appear in your desktop environment’s application menu after a Flatpak installation, log out and log back in or restart your system. Flatpak applications register desktop entries during installation, but some desktop environments require a session restart to refresh the application menu.

APT Cannot Find the HandBrake Package

If you see an error like Unable to locate package handbrake, your system may not have the Ubuntu Universe repository enabled. This is more common on minimal installs. Enable Universe, refresh the package index, and try the install again:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install software-properties-common -y
sudo add-apt-repository universe -y
sudo apt update

Missing Codecs or Features in APT-Installed Version

If you encounter missing codec support, limited format options, or disabled features when using the APT-installed version, this is expected behavior. The HandBrake Team’s official documentation warns that Ubuntu Universe packages may have features removed for licensing or other reasons. To access the full upstream release, uninstall the APT version and switch to the Flatpak installation method.

FAQ: Install HandBrake on Ubuntu

Conclusion

You now have HandBrake installed on Ubuntu, ready for video transcoding tasks. The Flatpak method provides the official release with updates directly from the HandBrake Team, while the APT method offers distribution-packaged builds integrated with Ubuntu’s package management. Choose the method that best fits your workflow, verify the installation with the provided commands, and keep HandBrake updated using the appropriate update process. For playback of your transcoded videos, consider installing VLC Media Player on Ubuntu to test output compatibility across formats.