Ubuntu 26.04 already ships a current KTorrent build, which makes it a straightforward pick when you want a KDE torrent client for Linux ISOs, magnet links, queued downloads, and per-transfer bandwidth limits. You can install KTorrent on Ubuntu from Universe on 26.04, or switch to the Flathub build when you want newer releases on Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04.
KDE publishes KTorrent through its official KTorrent page, but on Ubuntu the practical choices are the Universe package and Flathub. Both methods work on Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04, and 22.04. You can install the app from a terminal on desktop or minimal systems, but KTorrent still needs an active graphical session when you launch it.
Install KTorrent on Ubuntu
Ubuntu 26.04 already ships a current KTorrent build, while Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04 lag behind Flathub. That version gap is what matters most when you choose between APT and Flatpak.
| Method | Ubuntu 26.04 | Ubuntu 24.04 | Ubuntu 22.04 | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APT from Ubuntu Universe | 25.12.3-0ubuntu1 | 23.08.5-0ubuntu3 | 21.12.3-0ubuntu1 | System integration and the clean default on Ubuntu 26.04 |
| Flatpak from Flathub | 25.12.3 | 25.12.3 | 25.12.3 | The newest release on Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04, with Flatpak sandboxing |
APT is the clean default on Ubuntu 26.04 because its Universe package already matches Flathub at 25.12.3. On Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04, Flathub moves you forward to the same 25.12.3 release while the Ubuntu package stays on older KDE builds.
Install KTorrent from Ubuntu Universe
Start by refreshing Ubuntu’s package metadata so APT sees the current Universe package state.
sudo apt updateThese commands use
sudofor package-management tasks that need root privileges. If your account is not configured for sudo yet, follow the steps to add a user to sudoers on Ubuntu before you continue.
KTorrent comes from Ubuntu’s
universecomponent. Most desktop installs already have Universe enabled, but some minimal systems do not. If APT cannot findktorrent, follow the steps to enable Universe on Ubuntu; only Universe is required for this package.
Install the package with APT. The -y flag accepts the prompt so the install can finish in one pass.
sudo apt install ktorrent -yOn GNOME-based Ubuntu systems, the first APT install can pull a large set of KDE libraries and multimedia packages. That is normal, especially on a minimal desktop or server-derived image.
Verify the package state with apt-cache policy after the install finishes.
apt-cache policy ktorrentRelevant output includes:
ktorrent:
Installed: 25.12.3-0ubuntu1
Candidate: 25.12.3-0ubuntu1
Version table:
*** 25.12.3-0ubuntu1 500
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
Ubuntu 24.04 shows 23.08.5-0ubuntu3 here, and Ubuntu 22.04 shows 21.12.3-0ubuntu1. The package installs cleanly on all three supported Ubuntu LTS releases.
Install KTorrent from Flathub
Flatpak is the better fit when you want the same current KTorrent release on every supported Ubuntu LTS version. Ubuntu does not ship Flatpak by default, so install it first if your system does not already have it.
sudo apt install flatpak -yIf you want the broader Ubuntu Flatpak setup, including extra desktop integration notes, follow the guide to install Flatpak on Ubuntu. The CLI package is enough for KTorrent itself, although signing out and back in helps desktop menu integration later.
Add Flathub as a system remote. The --if-not-exists flag keeps the command rerunnable without duplicating the remote.
sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepoCheck that Flathub is registered at system scope before you install KTorrent.
flatpak remotes --columns=name,optionsRelevant output includes:
flathub system
Install KTorrent from Flathub with a system-scope Flatpak install.
sudo flatpak install flathub org.kde.ktorrent -yThe first Flatpak install usually downloads KDE runtime dependencies as well as the app itself, so expect a larger initial download than later updates.
Verify the installed Flatpak build with flatpak info.
flatpak info org.kde.ktorrentRelevant output includes:
KTorrent - BitTorrent Client
ID: org.kde.ktorrent
Ref: app/org.kde.ktorrent/x86_64/stable
Arch: x86_64
Branch: stable
Version: 25.12.3
License: GPL-2.0+
Origin: flathub
Installation: system
Flathub shows 25.12.3 on Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04, and 22.04, so this path gives you the same current KTorrent build across all three supported releases.
Launch KTorrent on Ubuntu
KTorrent launches as a normal desktop application. These launcher commands are useful from a terminal inside an active graphical session, not from a headless SSH login.
Open KTorrent from the Ubuntu Applications Menu
Open your applications menu, search for KTorrent, and start it like any other desktop app. Ubuntu creates the launcher entry automatically after either install method.
Launch KTorrent from a Terminal on Ubuntu
The Ubuntu package installs the ktorrent launcher directly, while the Flatpak build uses its application ID through flatpak run.
Use this command if you installed the Ubuntu package:
ktorrentUse this command if you installed the Flathub build:
flatpak run org.kde.ktorrentUpdate or Remove KTorrent on Ubuntu
APT and Flatpak manage KTorrent differently, so use the command that matches the way you installed it. The same split applies when you remove the app.
Update KTorrent on Ubuntu
Use the narrower per-method update commands when all you want to refresh is KTorrent.
Update the KTorrent APT Package
Refresh package metadata, then ask APT to upgrade only the KTorrent package.
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade ktorrent -yUpdate the KTorrent Flatpak Build
Update the system-scope Flatpak build with the same sudo scope you used during installation.
sudo flatpak update org.kde.ktorrent -yIf the app is already current, Flatpak reports Nothing to do.
Remove KTorrent from Ubuntu
Pick the removal path that matches the package format you installed.
Remove the Ubuntu Package of KTorrent
Remove the Ubuntu package and any orphaned dependencies it brought in.
sudo apt remove --autoremove ktorrent -yVerify that the package is gone after the removal finishes.
apt-cache policy ktorrentRelevant output includes:
ktorrent:
Installed: (none)
Candidate: 25.12.3-0ubuntu1
Version table:
25.12.3-0ubuntu1 500
Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04 show the same structure here with their own candidate versions from Universe. Package removal proves the app is gone; use the per-user cleanup check below if you also want to look for leftover personal settings.
Remove the KTorrent Flatpak Build
Remove the system-scope Flatpak build with the same scope you used to install it.
sudo flatpak remove org.kde.ktorrent -yConfirm that Flatpak no longer lists the application after removal.
flatpak list --app --columns=application | grep -Fx org.kde.ktorrent || echo "NOT_INSTALLED"Relevant output includes:
NOT_INSTALLED
If you also want to trim runtimes that no other Flatpak app still needs, review the list from this command before you confirm it.
sudo flatpak uninstall --unused -yIf you launched KTorrent and want to check for leftover user data before deleting anything, search the common config and cache locations first.
find "$HOME/.config" "$HOME/.local/share" "$HOME/.cache" "$HOME/.var/app" -maxdepth 2 -iname '*ktorrent*' 2>/dev/nullReview any paths that command prints before you delete them. KTorrent can leave per-user settings or cache files behind after you launch it, and you do not want to remove a download directory by mistake.
KTorrent on Ubuntu FAQ
Ubuntu 24.04 keeps the KDE release series that shipped with Noble, while Flathub follows newer upstream KTorrent releases independently of Ubuntu’s package freeze. That is why Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04 lag behind the Flathub build.
Use the Ubuntu package on 26.04 if you want the cleanest system integration, because it already matches Flathub at 25.12.3. On Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04, Flathub is newer and makes more sense if you want the current KTorrent release.
Yes. KTorrent handles both standard .torrent files and magnet links on Ubuntu, so you can open links from a browser or paste them directly into the application.
KDE publishes KTorrent through its official app page and Flathub, while Ubuntu also packages it in universe. For most Ubuntu systems, the managed APT or Flatpak path is easier to update than chasing a standalone download.
Conclusion
KTorrent is installed on Ubuntu and ready for queued downloads, magnet links, and the usual KDE-style transfer controls. On Ubuntu 26.04 the Universe package is already current, while Flathub is the better fit on 24.04 and 22.04 if you want newer builds. If you want a different interface, install qBittorrent on Ubuntu or install Deluge on Ubuntu.
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