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

qBittorrent is a free, open-source BitTorrent client that combines a lightweight interface with advanced features like integrated search, RSS feed support, sequential downloading, and IP filtering. Unlike proprietary alternatives, it has no subscription fees or tracking. Common use cases include downloading Linux ISOs, subscribing to private tracker RSS feeds that automatically add torrents, and running qBittorrent-nox on headless servers for around-the-clock seeding with remote web interface management.

This guide covers installing qBittorrent on Ubuntu using the qBittorrent Team PPA for the latest stable or development builds, the default Ubuntu repository for a simpler setup, or Flatpak for sandboxed desktop installations. You will install either the desktop client for graphical environments or qBittorrent-nox, the headless server version controlled through a web interface. The setup includes systemd configuration, password management, and firewall rules for remote access.

Choose Your qBittorrent Installation Method

Ubuntu users typically choose between stable or unstable PPAs and between the desktop client or the qBittorrent-nox Web UI service. Review the options below so you install the build that matches your needs before adding repositories or services.

Method	Channel	Version	Best For
Ubuntu 26.04 default repository	Ubuntu Universe	5.1.4	Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (no PPA needed, latest version)
Flatpak	Flathub	5.1.4	Sandboxed desktop on any Ubuntu LTS
Desktop client via stable PPA	Stable PPA	4.6.7 (24.04), 4.5.5 (22.04)	Desktop use on 24.04 or 22.04 (PPA does not support 26.04)
Desktop client via unstable PPA	Unstable PPA	Development builds	Testing new features on 24.04 or 22.04
qBittorrent-nox via stable PPA	Stable PPA	4.6.7 (24.04), 4.5.5 (22.04)	Headless servers on 24.04 or 22.04
Ubuntu default repository	Ubuntu Universe	5.1.4 (26.04), 4.6.3 (24.04), 4.4.1 (22.04)	Official packages without third-party PPAs

For most users, the stable PPA is recommended because it provides well-tested releases with predictable behavior. Switch to the unstable PPA only when troubleshooting a specific bug or evaluating a new feature before general release.

This guide covers Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, 24.04 LTS, and 22.04 LTS. The qBittorrent Team PPA packages are available for 22.04 and 24.04 only; attempting to add the PPA on 26.04 will fail. Ubuntu 26.04 users should skip the PPA sections and install directly from the default repository, which ships version 5.1.4. Commands shown work identically on all supported LTS releases.

Add the qBittorrent PPA

Update Your System

Refresh your Ubuntu package lists to ensure all packages are current and avoid conflicts during installation:

sudo apt update

Upgrade any outdated packages:

sudo apt upgrade

If you need a refresher on every way to refresh or upgrade packages, review the Ubuntu package update guide before proceeding.

Install PPA Prerequisites

The add-apt-repository command requires the software-properties-common package. Most Ubuntu desktop installations include this by default, but minimal server setups may need it:

sudo apt install software-properties-common

Import qBittorrent PPA

Import the qBittorrent Team PPA containing the latest software version. Choose between the stable PPA with well-tested versions or the unstable PPA with the latest features that may not be thoroughly tested.

Unstable builds can introduce bugs or breaking changes since they skip the extended testing cycle of stable releases.

Run the following command to import the PPA of your choice:

Option 1: Import qBittorrent stable PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-stable -y

Option 2: Import qBittorrent unstable PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-unstable -y

The -y flag automatically confirms the PPA addition and refreshes the package index, so you can proceed directly to installation.

Install qBittorrent Desktop Client

Install the qBittorrent desktop client and prepare to launch it for the first time. If you plan to run only the Web Interface version on a server, see the qBittorrent-nox section instead.

Install the Desktop Client

With the PPA added, install the qBittorrent desktop client:

sudo apt install qbittorrent

Verify the installation by checking the version number:

qbittorrent --version

Output varies by Ubuntu release and installation source:

• Ubuntu 26.04 (default repository): qBittorrent v5.1.4
• Ubuntu 24.04 (PPA): qBittorrent v4.6.7
• Ubuntu 22.04 (PPA): qBittorrent v4.5.5

Launch qBittorrent

Launch the qBittorrent desktop client from the terminal:

qbittorrent

You can also launch qBittorrent from the applications menu:

Activities > Show Applications > qBittorrent

Upon first launch, qBittorrent displays a legal notice requiring your acknowledgment. Accept this notice to continue to the main interface.

Once you accept the legal notice, the main qBittorrent window appears and is ready for use.

Install qBittorrent via Flatpak (Alternative)

Flatpak provides qBittorrent in a sandboxed environment with the latest upstream version (5.1.4). This method works identically on Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04, and 22.04, making it a reliable cross-version option when the PPA is unavailable or you prefer application sandboxing.

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.

Install qBittorrent from Flathub:

flatpak install flathub org.qbittorrent.qBittorrent -y

Verify the installation:

flatpak run org.qbittorrent.qBittorrent --version

Expected output:

qBittorrent v5.1.4

Launch qBittorrent from the applications menu or run flatpak run org.qbittorrent.qBittorrent from the terminal. The Flatpak version receives updates through flatpak update independently of APT.

Install qBittorrent-nox for Headless Servers

For server environments, qBittorrent-nox provides a headless alternative that runs on Ubuntu servers without a graphical desktop. The web interface lets you manage torrents remotely through any browser.

Install qBittorrent-nox

Install qBittorrent-nox with the standard APT command:

sudo apt install qbittorrent-nox

Verify the version:

qbittorrent-nox --version

Output varies by Ubuntu release and installation source:

• Ubuntu 26.04 (default repository): qBittorrent v5.1.4
• Ubuntu 24.04 (default repository): qBittorrent v4.6.3
• Ubuntu 24.04 (PPA): qBittorrent v4.6.7
• Ubuntu 22.04 (PPA): qBittorrent v4.5.5

The install does not start the daemon automatically. Systemd service availability depends on your package source and Ubuntu version:

• Ubuntu 26.04 default repository (version 5.1.4): The templated systemd unit (qbittorrent-nox@.service) is included.
• Ubuntu 24.04 default repository (version 4.6.3): The templated systemd unit is included.
• PPA installations (24.04 or 22.04): The templated systemd unit is included.
• Ubuntu 22.04 default repository (version 4.4.1): No systemd unit is included. You must create one manually (see below).

The following sections cover account selection and service enablement before exposing the Web UI at http://localhost:8080. The interface uses admin as the default username and generates a temporary password on each launch until you save your own credentials.

Choose the Account that Runs qBittorrent-nox

The PPA and Ubuntu 24.04/26.04 default repository packages ship a templated systemd unit (qbittorrent-nox@.service) under /usr/lib/systemd/system/ that runs under whatever username you supply after the @ symbol. Decide whether to run the daemon as your regular login or a dedicated service account so downloaded files stay isolated.

If you prefer a dedicated account, create one with a system user that owns its own home directory:

sudo adduser --system --group --home /var/lib/qbittorrent qbittorrent

The --system flag creates a locked-down user that cannot log in interactively, which keeps the torrent service separate from your daily desktop profile. The explicit --home /var/lib/qbittorrent argument is important: without it, adduser defaults to /nonexistent for system accounts, and the qbittorrent-nox service will fail because it has nowhere to store its configuration. Skip this step entirely if you plan to run the service as your regular username.

Enable the Packaged Systemd Service

Enable and start the built-in systemd service with your chosen username. Replace USERNAME with your actual username (run whoami to check), or use the shell substitution shown:

sudo systemctl enable --now qbittorrent-nox@$(whoami)

The $(whoami) substitution automatically inserts your current username. If you created the dedicated qbittorrent service user earlier, replace $(whoami) with qbittorrent instead.

Verify the service started successfully:

systemctl status qbittorrent-nox@$(whoami)

Expected output for a running service:

● qbittorrent-nox@username.service - qBittorrent-nox service for user username
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/qbittorrent-nox@.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Sun 2026-01-19 12:00:00 UTC; 5s ago
   Main PID: 1234 (qbittorrent-nox)
      Tasks: 10 (limit: 4915)
     Memory: 45.2M
        CPU: 234ms
     CGroup: /system.slice/system-qbittorrent\x2dnox.slice/qbittorrent-nox@username.service
             └─1234 /usr/bin/qbittorrent-nox

The templated unit is maintained by the qBittorrent package itself, so you only need a custom override file if you plan to change advanced options such as ExecStart flags or custom environment variables.

Create a Systemd Service (Ubuntu 22.04 Only)

Ubuntu 22.04’s default repository ships qBittorrent-nox version 4.4.1, which does not include a systemd service file. The templated unit was added in version 4.5.2-3. If you installed from the default repository on Ubuntu 22.04 without the PPA, create the service file manually.

Create the systemd service file:

sudo tee /etc/systemd/system/qbittorrent-nox@.service <<'EOF'
[Unit]
Description=qBittorrent-nox service for user %i
Documentation=man:qbittorrent-nox(1)
After=network-online.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=%i
ExecStart=/usr/bin/qbittorrent-nox
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=5

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
EOF

Reload the systemd daemon to recognize the new service:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload

Enable and start the service using the same commands as the PPA installation:

sudo systemctl enable --now qbittorrent-nox@$(whoami)

Ubuntu 22.04’s version 4.4.1 predates the temporary password feature introduced in 4.6.1, so the default credentials are admin / adminadmin. Change these immediately after first login through the Web UI settings.

Access qBittorrent Web UI

With the service running, access qBittorrent through your browser’s Web UI. Type the server’s internal IP address followed by the port number (8080), for example, 192.168.55.156:8080. If hosted locally, use the localhost address 127.0.0.1:8080.

For remote access, ensure your firewall allows traffic on port 8080. Ubuntu users running UFW can open the port:

sudo ufw allow 8080/tcp

The Web UI username defaults to admin. Password behavior depends on your qBittorrent version:

• Version 4.6.1 and newer (Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04 default repository, or PPA): A temporary password is generated on each launch.
• Version 4.4.1 (Ubuntu 22.04 default repository): Default credentials are admin / adminadmin.

Upstream developers removed the legacy admin/adminadmin WebUI credentials starting with qBittorrent 4.6.1. The daemon now generates a random temporary password each time it starts without saved credentials and prints it to stdout once. See the upstream issue #19984, which also documents why you must read this message from the systemd journal in headless deployments.

Check the service logs to retrieve the temporary password. The $(whoami) substitution automatically inserts your current username:

sudo journalctl -u qbittorrent-nox@$(whoami) -n 50 | grep -i "temporary password"

If you created a dedicated qbittorrent service user, replace $(whoami) with qbittorrent in all systemd and journalctl commands.

If the password line does not appear, restart the service and follow the log stream in real time:

sudo systemctl restart qbittorrent-nox@$(whoami) && sudo journalctl -fu qbittorrent-nox@$(whoami)

Expect output similar to the following:

******** Information ********
The WebUI administrator username is: admin
The WebUI administrator password was not set. A temporary password is provided for this session: VBGK9pUeT
You should set your own password in program preferences.

Sign in with username admin and the temporary password that appears in your log. Each restart generates a new temporary password until you store permanent credentials.

Immediately set your own username and password from the Web UI by opening the gear icon (Options) and navigating to Web UI > Authentication.

After saving your credentials, restart the daemon to apply the change:

sudo systemctl restart qbittorrent-nox@$(whoami)

Reopen the Web UI and confirm your new credentials work. The temporary password message will no longer appear after you save permanent credentials.

Managing qBittorrent: Updates and Removal

Update qBittorrent or qBittorrent-nox

APT provides updates through the PPA or default repository. Refresh the package lists and upgrade all packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

To upgrade only qBittorrent without touching other packages, use the --only-upgrade flag:

sudo apt install --only-upgrade qbittorrent

For qBittorrent-nox installations, substitute qbittorrent-nox in the command above. After updating qBittorrent-nox, restart the service to apply changes:

sudo systemctl restart qbittorrent-nox@$(whoami)

Remove qBittorrent or qBittorrent-nox

To uninstall qBittorrent completely, first remove the PPA you imported earlier. If you need a refresher on purging repositories, the remove a PPA on Ubuntu guide walks through every cleanup method.

Remove the PPA with the appropriate command:

Remove qBittorrent stable PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-stable -y

Remove qBittorrent unstable PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-unstable -y

Uninstall qBittorrent and clean up orphaned dependencies:

For desktop installations:

sudo apt remove qbittorrent && sudo apt autoremove

For qBittorrent-nox server installations:

sudo systemctl disable --now qbittorrent-nox@$(whoami)
sudo apt remove qbittorrent-nox && sudo apt autoremove

Remove qBittorrent User Data (Optional)

The following commands permanently delete your qBittorrent configuration, download history, and torrent queue. Back up any data you want to keep before proceeding.

To remove all user configuration and data files:

rm -rf ~/.config/qBittorrent
rm -rf ~/.local/share/qBittorrent

Verify the removal completed successfully:

which qbittorrent qbittorrent-nox

If no output appears, qBittorrent has been fully removed from your system.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Service Fails to Start

If the qBittorrent-nox service fails to start, check the logs for specific error messages:

sudo journalctl -xeu qbittorrent-nox@$(whoami) --no-pager | tail -30

A common error message looks like:

qbittorrent-nox: /nonexistent: No such file or directory

This means the user’s home directory doesn’t exist. If you created a system user with the --home flag, verify the directory was created and has correct ownership:

ls -la /var/lib/qbittorrent

PPA Addition Fails on Ubuntu 26.04

If you attempt to add the qBittorrent PPA on Ubuntu 26.04, the command will fail because the PPA does not include packages for this release. The error looks like:

E: The repository 'https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-stable/ubuntu resolute Release' does not have a Release file.

Ubuntu 26.04 ships qBittorrent 5.1.4 in the default repository, which is newer than the PPA versions available for 22.04 and 24.04. Remove any partially added PPA entries and install from the default repository instead:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-stable -y
sudo apt update
sudo apt install qbittorrent

Temporary Password Not Appearing in Logs

If the temporary password line doesn’t appear in the journal output, the service may not have restarted since you last logged in. Restart the service and watch the logs in real time:

sudo systemctl restart qbittorrent-nox@$(whoami) && sudo journalctl -fu qbittorrent-nox@$(whoami)

The temporary password appears only once per restart. After you save permanent credentials through the Web UI, the password message stops appearing.

Web UI Not Accessible

If you cannot reach the Web UI from a remote machine, verify the firewall rule is active and the service is listening:

sudo ufw status | grep 8080
ss -tlnp | grep 8080

Expected output for the firewall check:

8080/tcp                   ALLOW       Anywhere

Expected output showing the service listening:

LISTEN  0  50  *:8080  *:*  users:(("qbittorrent-nox",pid=1234,fd=8))

If the port isn’t listening, ensure the service is running with systemctl status qbittorrent-nox@$(whoami).

Conclusion

You now have qBittorrent installed on Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04, or 22.04 LTS with either the desktop client, the Flatpak version for sandboxed functionality, or qBittorrent-nox for headless server management. Ubuntu 26.04 users get the latest version (5.1.4) directly from the default repository, while 24.04 and 22.04 users can add the qBittorrent Team PPA for updated releases. The systemd service, Web UI password management, and firewall configuration covered in this guide provide a complete setup for local or remote torrent management.

Useful Links

• qBittorrent Official Website: Features, downloads, and project news.
• qBittorrent GitHub Repository: Source code, issue tracker, and development discussions.
• qBittorrent Wiki: Detailed documentation, configuration guides, and Web UI API reference.
• qBittorrent Forum: Community discussions, support, and announcement archive.
• qBittorrent on Flathub: Flatpak package with the latest upstream release.
• qBittorrent Team on Launchpad: Ubuntu PPA management and package archives.