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

Inkscape gives Ubuntu a full SVG and vector graphics editor for logo design, illustration, diagramming, and PDF cleanup work. To install Inkscape on Ubuntu, most users can stay with package-managed options instead of hunting for a separate download, then pick the source that best matches their release, update preferences, and how much isolation they want.

This article covers the desktop Inkscape editor. The package name is inkscape for APT, the stable PPA, and Snap, while Flatpak uses the app ID org.inkscape.Inkscape.

Install Inkscape on Ubuntu

Four practical ways to install Inkscape are available, and the best choice depends on whether you prefer distro integration, newer APT packages, automatic Snap updates, or a sandboxed Flatpak build.

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
APT (Default Repository)	Ubuntu Repos	Distribution default	sudo apt upgrade	Users who want the distro-tested package on all supported LTS releases
Inkscape Stable PPA	Launchpad PPA	Latest stable	sudo apt upgrade	Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04 users who want a newer APT-managed build
Snap	Snapcraft	Latest stable	Automatic	Users who want a current upstream build with minimal setup
Flatpak	Flathub	Latest stable	sudo flatpak update	Users who want a sandboxed app with the same version on every Ubuntu LTS release

Current Inkscape versions vary sharply across Ubuntu releases and package sources:

Method	Ubuntu 26.04 LTS	Ubuntu 24.04 LTS	Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
Default Repository	1.4.x	1.2.x	1.1.x
Inkscape Stable PPA	1.4.2	1.4.x	1.4.x
Snap	1.4.x	1.4.x	1.4.x
Flatpak (Flathub)	1.4.x	1.4.x	1.4.x

Ubuntu’s default repository currently ships Inkscape 1.4.3-0ubuntu1 on 26.04, 1.2.2-2ubuntu12 on 24.04, and 1.1.2-3ubuntu1 on 22.04. The stable PPA moves 24.04 and 22.04 to Inkscape 1.4.3, but its current 26.04 build is 1:1.4.2+202510271547+ebf0e940d0~ubuntu26.04.1, so Ubuntu 26.04 users are better off with the default repository.

• Choose APT if you want the package Ubuntu already maintains for your release.
• Choose the stable PPA on Ubuntu 24.04 or 22.04 if you want a newer APT-managed build without moving to Flatpak.
• Choose Snap if you want a current upstream build with automatic background updates on a standard Ubuntu desktop.
• Choose Flatpak if you want the same sandboxed version on every supported Ubuntu LTS release.

Update Ubuntu Before Installing Inkscape

Refresh package metadata and install any pending upgrades first so APT, Snap, and Flatpak-related packages start from a clean state:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This article uses sudo for commands that need administrative access. If your account is not in the sudoers group yet, see how to add a sudo user on Ubuntu.

Install Inkscape from Ubuntu’s Default Repository

Install Inkscape on Ubuntu from the default repository with sudo apt install inkscape -y. The package name is simply inkscape, and the -y flag accepts APT’s confirmation prompt automatically:

sudo apt install inkscape -y

Confirm the installed build:

inkscape --version

Inkscape 1.4.3 (0d15f75042, 2025-12-25)

The version above is from Ubuntu 26.04. Ubuntu 24.04 currently reports Inkscape 1.2.2, and Ubuntu 22.04 reports Inkscape 1.1.2 from the default repository.

Install Inkscape from the Inkscape Stable PPA

The official Inkscape Ubuntu instructions point to the stable PPA when your release does not yet ship the current stable build. This is the APT-based upgrade path that makes the most sense on Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04.

Use the stable PPA on Ubuntu 24.04 or 22.04. Ubuntu 26.04 already ships Inkscape 1.4.3 in the default repository, while the current stable PPA build there is 1.4.2.

Desktop installs usually already include add-apt-repository. On server or minimal installs, add software-properties-common first, then enable the PPA:

sudo apt install software-properties-common -y
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:inkscape.dev/stable -y

add-apt-repository creates the Launchpad source entry and imports the matching signing key for you. Refresh APT next so you can confirm Ubuntu is fetching packages from the new Launchpad source:

sudo apt update

APT should show the new Inkscape PPA in the fetch output:

Get: https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/inkscape.dev/stable/ubuntu noble InRelease
Get: https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/inkscape.dev/stable/ubuntu noble/main amd64 Packages

Install Inkscape from the stable PPA:

sudo apt install inkscape -y

Confirm the installed build:

inkscape --version

Inkscape 1.4.3 (1:1.4.3+202512261035+0d15f75042)

On Ubuntu 24.04, the stable PPA currently installs revision 1:1.4.3+202512261035+0d15f75042~ubuntu24.04.1. On Ubuntu 22.04, it currently installs 1:1.4.3+202512261034+0d15f75042~ubuntu22.04.1.

Install Inkscape with Snap

Install Inkscape with Snap if you want a current upstream build that updates automatically. Standard Ubuntu desktop installs already include snapd; if the snap command is missing on a server or minimal install, add it first with sudo apt install snapd -y.

Install the Snap package:

sudo snap install inkscape

Confirm the snap launches and reports its version:

snap run inkscape --version

Inkscape 1.4.3 (fcd0343856, 2026-01-01)

Install Inkscape with Flatpak and Flathub

Install Inkscape with Flatpak if you want the same sandboxed build on every supported Ubuntu LTS release. Ubuntu does not install Flatpak by default, so set it up first with how to install Flatpak on Ubuntu if you have not already.

Flathub is added at system scope here, so the install, update, and removal commands also use sudo. The --if-not-exists flag skips an error if the remote is already configured:

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

Check that Flathub is registered at system scope:

flatpak remotes

flathub system

Install the Flatpak build from Flathub:

sudo flatpak install flathub org.inkscape.Inkscape -y

Confirm the Flatpak build is available:

flatpak run org.inkscape.Inkscape --version

Inkscape 1.4.3 (0d15f75042, 2025-12-25)

Launch Inkscape on Ubuntu

Once Inkscape is installed, you can open it from the terminal or from Ubuntu’s application launcher. The desktop launcher name is simply Inkscape for every method.

Launch Inkscape from the Terminal

APT and stable PPA installs use the same launcher command:

inkscape

Snap installs launch through the Snap runtime:

snap run inkscape

Flatpak installs launch through the Flatpak app ID:

flatpak run org.inkscape.Inkscape

Launch Inkscape from the Applications Menu

Desktop users can launch Inkscape from the GNOME Activities menu:

1. Click Activities in the top-left corner of the desktop.
2. Type Inkscape in the search box.
3. Open the Inkscape icon to start the editor.

Update and Remove Inkscape on Ubuntu

Update Inkscape on Ubuntu

The update command depends on the package format you chose, but each method can be refreshed without reinstalling the application from scratch.

Update Inkscape with APT

Use this for the default repository or the stable PPA:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade inkscape -y

Update Inkscape with Snap

Refresh the installed snap directly:

sudo snap refresh inkscape

Update Inkscape with Flatpak

Update the system-scoped Flatpak app directly:

sudo flatpak update org.inkscape.Inkscape -y

Remove Inkscape from Ubuntu

Removal steps differ by package format, and only some methods leave user settings behind. Pick the subsection that matches the way you installed Inkscape.

Remove Inkscape Installed with APT

Remove the main package first:

sudo apt remove inkscape -y

sudo apt autoremove can remove dozens of image-processing, math, and Python libraries that were installed only to satisfy Inkscape dependencies. Review the removal list before you confirm it if you still use packages such as ImageMagick or NumPy for other work.

If you want to clear libraries APT no longer needs, run:

sudo apt autoremove -y

If you added the stable PPA, remove it too and refresh package metadata. For broader cleanup options, see how to remove a PPA from Ubuntu.

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:inkscape.dev/stable -y
sudo apt update

Confirm the package is gone and APT has fallen back to Ubuntu’s repository:

apt-cache policy inkscape

inkscape:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 1.2.2-2ubuntu12
  Version table:
     1.2.2-2ubuntu12 500
        500 http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble/universe amd64 Packages

Installed: (none) confirms Inkscape is removed. On Ubuntu 26.04 and 22.04 the candidate line will show their repository versions instead.

If you launched the APT or PPA build, personal settings remain in ~/.config/inkscape/. Delete that directory only if you want to remove your preferences, extensions settings, and recent-file history.

rm -rf ~/.config/inkscape

Remove Inkscape Installed with Snap

Remove the snap package:

sudo snap remove inkscape

Snap reports that it saves a restorable snapshot during removal. Confirm the package itself is gone:

snap list inkscape

error: no matching snaps installed

Remove Inkscape Installed with Flatpak

Remove the Flatpak app first, then clear any runtimes that are no longer needed:

sudo flatpak uninstall org.inkscape.Inkscape -y
sudo flatpak uninstall --unused -y

Confirm the Flatpak app is no longer installed:

flatpak info org.inkscape.Inkscape

error: org.inkscape.Inkscape/*unspecified*/*unspecified* not installed

The verified uninstall path still leaves ~/.var/app/org.inkscape.Inkscape/ behind. Delete it only if you want to remove saved Flatpak settings and cached user data.

rm -rf ~/.var/app/org.inkscape.Inkscape

Troubleshoot Inkscape Installation Issues on Ubuntu

The two issues most likely to trip you up are an old stable PPA still taking priority and a Flathub remote that was already configured earlier.

Switch Back to Ubuntu’s Default Inkscape Package

If Ubuntu 26.04 is still preferring the stable PPA, remove the PPA and refresh APT so the default repository becomes the candidate again:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:inkscape.dev/stable -y
sudo apt update

Check which source APT will use:

apt-cache policy inkscape

inkscape:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 1.4.3-0ubuntu1
  Version table:
     1.4.3-0ubuntu1 500
        500 http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu resolute/universe amd64 Packages

Fix “Remote flathub already exists” When Installing Inkscape

If Flathub was already configured, Flatpak returns this message when you try to add it again:

error: Remote "flathub" already exists

Check the configured remotes before changing anything:

flatpak remotes

flathub system

If the remote is missing or you want to recreate it at system scope, add it again with:

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

Inkscape on Ubuntu FAQ

Conclusion

Inkscape on Ubuntu is ready for SVG editing, illustration, diagramming, and PDF cleanup with the package source that best matches your release and update preferences. For companion creative tools, install GIMP on Ubuntu, install Krita on Ubuntu, or install Blender on Ubuntu for raster editing, painting, and 3D work.