How to Install Mixxx on Ubuntu Linux

Mixxx is a free, open-source DJ software that brings professional mixing capabilities to Ubuntu users. Whether you are practicing at home, performing at live events, or streaming DJ sets online, Mixxx provides BPM detection, key detection, pitch and tempo controls, and support for MIDI and HID controllers. Additionally, this guide walks you through installing Mixxx on Ubuntu, covering both the official PPA for the latest releases and alternative installation methods.

Choose Your Mixxx Installation Method

Ubuntu offers multiple installation paths for Mixxx, and the table below compares your options to help you select the best approach for your needs.

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
Mixxx PPA	Launchpad PPA	Latest stable (2.5.x)	Automatic via apt upgrade	Most users who want the newest features
Ubuntu Default	Ubuntu Repos	Distribution stable	Automatic via apt upgrade	Users preferring distro-tested packages
Flatpak	Flathub	Latest stable	Automatic via flatpak update	Users wanting sandboxed installation

For most users, the Mixxx PPA is recommended because it provides the latest stable release with new features and bug fixes. The Ubuntu default repository offers an older version that may lack recent improvements, while Flatpak provides sandboxing benefits at the cost of slightly higher disk usage.

This guide supports Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and 24.04 LTS installations. The Mixxx PPA typically supports the two most recent LTS releases, while Flatpak remains compatible across all versions. Commands shown work identically on both supported LTS releases.

Update Ubuntu Before Mixxx Installation

Before adding external repositories, ensure your system packages are current. This step prevents dependency conflicts and also ensures you have the latest security patches. Open your terminal and run the following command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Install Mixxx via PPA (Recommended)

The Mixxx PPA provides three repository options depending on your stability requirements:

• Stable repository — Production-ready releases for reliability (recommended)
• Beta repository — Upcoming features with testing stability
• Nightly repository — Cutting-edge development builds that may contain bugs

Import the Mixxx PPA

First, add the Mixxx stable repository to your system:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mixxx/mixxx -y

Alternatively, if you want early access to upcoming features, import the beta repository instead:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mixxx/mixxxbetas -y

For developers and testers who want the latest development builds, use the nightly repository:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mixxx/nightlies -y

Nightly builds may contain unstable features or bugs. Only use the nightly repository if you are prepared to troubleshoot issues and provide feedback to the development team.

Install Mixxx from PPA

With the PPA added to your system, install Mixxx by running the following command:

sudo apt install mixxx

Install Mixxx via Ubuntu Default Repository

If you prefer distribution-tested packages without adding external repositories, Ubuntu includes Mixxx in its universe repository. Although this version is typically older than the PPA release, it still receives security updates through Ubuntu’s standard channels.

To proceed with this method, install Mixxx from the default repository:

sudo apt install mixxx

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS includes Mixxx 2.4.x in its default repository, while Ubuntu 22.04 LTS includes version 2.3.x. For the latest features and improvements, use the PPA method instead.

Install Mixxx via Flatpak

Flatpak provides a sandboxed installation that isolates Mixxx from your system. As a result, this method works across all Ubuntu versions and receives updates directly from the Mixxx developers.

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.

Once Flatpak is configured, install Mixxx from Flathub:

flatpak install flathub org.mixxx.Mixxx -y

Verify Mixxx Installation

After installation completes, verify that Mixxx installed successfully by checking the package status. Running the following command displays installed packages matching “mixxx”:

dpkg -l | grep mixxx

As shown below, the output displays the package status, name, version, and description. The ii prefix indicates the package is correctly installed:

ii  mixxx    2.5.3-1~noble    amd64    Digital DJ Application

If you installed via Flatpak, verify using this command instead:

flatpak info org.mixxx.Mixxx

Launch Mixxx

Launch Mixxx from Terminal

To launch Mixxx from the command line, run:

mixxx

However, if you installed via Flatpak, use this command instead:

flatpak run org.mixxx.Mixxx

Launch Mixxx from Applications Menu

Alternatively, launch Mixxx through the graphical interface:

1. Click on the “Activities” button in the top left corner of the screen.
2. Click on the “Show Applications” icon.
3. Search for “Mixxx” in the application menu.
4. Click on the Mixxx icon to launch the software.

Update Mixxx

Keeping Mixxx updated ensures you have the latest features and security fixes. Consequently, the update method depends on how you installed Mixxx.

Update APT Installation

If you used the PPA or default repository, update Mixxx along with your other system packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Alternatively, to update only Mixxx without upgrading other packages:

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

Update Flatpak Installation

On the other hand, Flatpak users can update all Flatpak applications with:

flatpak update

Remove Mixxx

If you need to remove Mixxx from your Ubuntu system, follow the instructions matching your installation method.

Remove APT Installation

First, uninstall the Mixxx package:

sudo apt remove mixxx

Next, remove orphaned dependencies that were installed with Mixxx but are no longer needed:

sudo apt autoremove

If you added the Mixxx PPA and want to remove it from your system, run the command corresponding to the repository you added. For the stable repository:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:mixxx/mixxx -y

If you used the beta repository instead:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:mixxx/mixxxbetas -y

Similarly, for the nightly repository:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:mixxx/nightlies -y

After removing the PPA, refresh the package cache and verify the repository is no longer active:

sudo apt update
apt-cache policy mixxx

As expected, the output should show only the Ubuntu default repository version, confirming the PPA was successfully removed:

mixxx:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 2.4.0+dfsg-2build4
  Version table:
     2.4.0+dfsg-2build4 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble/universe amd64 Packages

Remove Flatpak Installation

To remove the Flatpak version of Mixxx, run the following command:

flatpak uninstall org.mixxx.Mixxx

Afterward, remove unused Flatpak runtimes to free disk space:

flatpak uninstall --unused

Flatpak stores user data in ~/.var/app/org.mixxx.Mixxx/. If you want to remove all traces including your Mixxx settings and library database, delete this directory after uninstalling.

Conclusion

You now have Mixxx installed on Ubuntu with your preferred installation method. To get started, import your music library through the Mixxx interface and configure your audio output settings for optimal performance. Furthermore, the Mixxx user manual provides detailed guides for beginners, while the Mixxx community forum offers support for advanced features and troubleshooting.

For a complete audio production setup on Ubuntu, consider pairing Mixxx with Audacity for audio editing or OBS Studio for streaming your DJ performances to platforms like Twitch or YouTube.