How to Install PhotoQT on Linux Mint

PhotoQt displays images quickly while giving you full control over the interface. Whether you need to browse vacation photos, preview RAW files from your camera, or step through a folder of screenshots, PhotoQt loads images instantly and stays out of your way. Additionally, it supports over 100 image formats, plays video files, handles Google Motion Photos and Apple Live Photos, and can display 360-degree panoramas. For more advanced photo organization with metadata editing and face recognition, consider digiKam as a complementary tool. By the end of this guide, you will have PhotoQt installed and verified on Linux Mint, ready for everyday use.

Linux Mint 22 and 21 users can install PhotoQt through multiple methods. The default APT repository provides a stable version, while the Lukas Spies PPA offers the latest releases with new features. Alternatively, Flatpak via Flathub delivers frequent updates in a sandboxed environment. The comparison table below will help you choose the right method for your needs.

Contents hide

1 Choose Your PhotoQt Installation Method

2 Method 1: Install PhotoQt via APT

3 Method 2: Install PhotoQt via Flatpak

4 Launch PhotoQt

5 Manage PhotoQt

6 Conclusion

Choose Your PhotoQt Installation Method

Each installation method offers different trade-offs between version freshness, update frequency, and system integration. Review the options below before proceeding.

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
APT (Default)	Ubuntu Repos	Stable (older)	With system updates	Users who prioritize stability
Lukas Spies PPA	Launchpad PPA	Latest stable	With system updates	Users who want new features
Flatpak	Flathub	Latest stable	Via Flatpak updates	Users who prefer sandboxed apps

For most users, the APT method is recommended because it integrates with your existing system updates and requires no additional configuration. If you specifically need the latest PhotoQt features (such as PhotoQt 5.0 extension support), choose the PPA or Flatpak method instead.

Method 1: Install PhotoQt via APT

APT (Advanced Package Tool) is the default package manager on Linux Mint. This method installs PhotoQt from Ubuntu’s repositories, which Linux Mint inherits. The version may be older than what Flatpak or the PPA provides, but it receives security updates and integrates cleanly with your system.

Update Your System

Before installing any new software, refresh your package lists and apply pending updates. This prevents dependency conflicts and ensures you have the latest security patches.

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

The first command downloads the latest package information from all configured repositories. Then, the second command upgrades installed packages to their newest available versions.

Option 1: Install PhotoQt from Default Repository

For maximum stability, install PhotoQt from Linux Mint’s default repository. As a result, this version has been tested against Ubuntu’s package ecosystem, reducing the risk of library conflicts.

sudo apt install photoqt

Once installation completes, verify that PhotoQt is accessible by checking its version:

photoqt --version

The expected output varies by Linux Mint version:

# Linux Mint 21 (based on Ubuntu 22.04):
PhotoQt Photo Viewer 2.5

# Linux Mint 22 (based on Ubuntu 24.04):
PhotoQt Photo Viewer 4.4

If you are connected via SSH or working in a headless environment, the --version command will fail because PhotoQt requires a display. In this case, verify the installation using dpkg instead:

dpkg -l photoqt | grep photoqt

ii  photoqt        2.5-4        amd64        Fast and highly configurable image viewer

Option 2: Install PhotoQt from Lukas Spies PPA

For a more recent version of PhotoQt, use the Personal Package Archive (PPA) maintained by Lukas Spies, the PhotoQt developer. This PPA provides the latest stable releases for both Linux Mint 21 (jammy) and Linux Mint 22 (noble).

First, add the PPA to your system:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:lumas/photoqt -y

The -y flag automatically confirms the addition without prompting. As a result, this command imports the PPA’s GPG signing key and creates a new repository source file.

Next, refresh your package lists to include the new PPA:

sudo apt update

Now install PhotoQt. If you previously installed from the default repository, this command will upgrade to the PPA version:

sudo apt install photoqt

Finally, verify the installation by checking the version:

photoqt --version

# Linux Mint 21 (PPA version):
PhotoQt Photo Viewer 4.6

# Linux Mint 22 (PPA version):
PhotoQt Photo Viewer 4.9.x

The PPA version numbers may differ from the examples above as new releases become available. Check the PPA packages page for current versions.

Method 2: Install PhotoQt via Flatpak

Flatpak provides a sandboxed installation that runs independently of your system’s package manager. Linux Mint ships with Flatpak pre-installed and Flathub already configured, so you can install PhotoQt immediately without any additional setup. For more information about managing Flatpak applications, see our guide on how to upgrade Flatpak on Linux Mint.

Verify Flathub Is Configured

Although Linux Mint includes Flathub by default, you can confirm it is available by listing your configured remotes:

flatpak remote-list

You should see flathub in the output. However, if Flathub is missing for any reason, add it manually:

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

Install PhotoQt from Flathub

With Flathub configured, install PhotoQt using the following command:

flatpak install flathub org.photoqt.PhotoQt -y

This command installs PhotoQt system-wide by default on Linux Mint, making it available to all users on the machine. The -y flag automatically confirms the installation, including any required runtime dependencies. Flatpak will download the application and its dependencies, which may take a few minutes on the first install.

After installation, verify that PhotoQt is available:

flatpak list | grep -i photoqt

PhotoQt          org.photoqt.PhotoQt          5.0          system

Launch PhotoQt

Once installed, you can launch PhotoQt either from the terminal or through the graphical application menu.

Launch from Terminal

For APT installations (default repository or PPA), run:

photoqt

In contrast, for Flatpak installations, use the Flatpak run command instead:

flatpak run org.photoqt.PhotoQt

Launch from Applications Menu

Alternatively, the graphical method works regardless of installation type. In Linux Mint’s Cinnamon, XFCE, or MATE desktop:

Click the Menu button in the bottom-left corner
Type PhotoQt in the search field
Click the PhotoQt icon to launch the application

Manage PhotoQt

After installation, you may need to update or remove PhotoQt. The commands differ based on your installation method.

Update PhotoQt

Regularly updating PhotoQt ensures you have the latest bug fixes and features.

APT Update

For APT installations (either default repository or PPA), PhotoQt updates arrive with your normal system updates:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Alternatively, update only PhotoQt without upgrading other packages:

sudo apt install --only-upgrade photoqt

Flatpak Update

Similarly, for Flatpak installations, update all Flatpak applications at once:

flatpak update

This command checks for updates to PhotoQt and all other Flatpak applications, including their shared runtimes. As a result, both the application and its dependencies stay current.

Remove PhotoQt

If you no longer need PhotoQt, follow the removal steps that match your installation method.

APT Removal

First, remove the PhotoQt package:

sudo apt remove photoqt

Next, remove any orphaned dependencies that were installed alongside PhotoQt:

sudo apt autoremove

Additionally, if you added the Lukas Spies PPA and want to remove it as well:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:lumas/photoqt -y

Flatpak Removal

To remove the Flatpak installation along with its application data, run:

flatpak uninstall --delete-data org.photoqt.PhotoQt

The --delete-data flag removes PhotoQt’s configuration and cache stored in ~/.var/app/org.photoqt.PhotoQt/.

PhotoQt stores user configuration in ~/.config/photoqt/ for APT installations. If you want a complete cleanup after APT removal, delete this directory manually: rm -rf ~/.config/photoqt/

Conclusion

You now have PhotoQt installed on Linux Mint with full access to its image viewing, video playback, and photo sphere features. The APT method provides stable system integration, while the PPA and Flatpak options deliver the latest releases. For configuration options and keyboard shortcuts, consult the official PhotoQt documentation.