How to Install PyCharm on Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04 and 22.04

PyCharm on Ubuntu now centers on the unified pycharm package name. JetBrains’ current Linux packaging no longer asks you to choose separate Community or Professional installers for the main product: the same PyCharm install keeps the core Python IDE free, includes a Pro trial, and unlocks paid features when you sign in with a subscription.

For most Ubuntu desktop users, the official JetBrains snap is the cleanest terminal install. If you specifically want an APT-visible package or need a non-snap path, the community JetBrains APT repository is still available, but it is not published by JetBrains and works as a wrapper around JetBrains’ Linux tarball.

Install PyCharm on Ubuntu

These commands apply to Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04, and 22.04 on standard amd64 desktop systems. The main decision is whether you prefer JetBrains’ official snap package or APT integration through the community repository.

Method	Source	Package	Update Behavior	Best For
Official snap	JetBrains on Snapcraft	pycharm	Automatic through snapd	Most users who want the current JetBrains-published package
Community APT repository	JonasGroeger JetBrains repository	pycharm	APT-managed wrapper updates	Users who accept an unofficial APT wrapper that installs PyCharm under /opt/pycharm

If you searched for a PyCharm download for Ubuntu, JetBrains still publishes Linux downloads and documents Toolbox App and tar archive installs in the official PyCharm installation guide. Use those official paths when you want JetBrains’ GUI manager or a manually placed archive. The terminal-managed methods below cover install, launch, update, and removal from Ubuntu package tooling.

Update Ubuntu Before Installing PyCharm

Refresh package metadata and apply pending Ubuntu updates before adding PyCharm or an external repository.

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

These commands use sudo for tasks that need root privileges. If your account is not in the sudoers file yet, follow the guide to add a new user to sudoers on Ubuntu before you continue.

Install PyCharm from the Official Snap

JetBrains publishes the current PyCharm snap directly. Standard Ubuntu desktop installs include snapd, but minimal or customized systems may not, so check first.

snap version

If that command returns snap: command not found, install the missing package and open a new terminal session before continuing.

sudo apt install snapd -y

Install the current stable PyCharm snap with classic confinement.

sudo snap install pycharm --classic

The --classic flag is required because PyCharm needs broad access to project folders, Python interpreters, SDKs, and development tools like a traditional desktop IDE.

Confirm that Snap installed the unified PyCharm package.

snap list pycharm

The installed row should show the pycharm package, the latest/stable tracking channel, JetBrains as the verified publisher, and classic in the notes column.

Older commands such as sudo snap install pycharm-community --classic and sudo snap install pycharm-professional --classic still resolve on Snapcraft, but new installs should use pycharm. The old names now point readers back toward the unified PyCharm product.

Install PyCharm from the Community APT Repository

Use this method only when you want PyCharm visible to APT. The repository is community-maintained, not an official JetBrains Ubuntu repository. Its current pycharm package downloads JetBrains’ Linux tarball during installation, extracts it to /opt/pycharm, and installs a /usr/bin/pycharm launcher plus a desktop entry.

Do not enable both an older jetbrains-ppa.list file and the DEB822 jetbrains-ppa.sources file used here. Duplicate repository entries with different signing-key paths can break apt update with Signed-By conflicts.

Install the packages needed to fetch the key and let the PyCharm wrapper download JetBrains’ archive.

sudo apt install ca-certificates wget gpg -y

Download the repository’s signing key and convert it into a binary keyring for APT.

wget -qO- https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/jetbrains-ppa/0xA6E8698A.pub.asc | sudo gpg --dearmor --yes -o /usr/share/keyrings/jetbrains-ppa-archive-keyring.gpg

Create the repository source file in DEB822 format. The repository publishes an amd64 metadata path for the PyCharm package used here.

printf '%s\n' \
'Types: deb' \
'URIs: http://jetbrains-ppa.s3-website.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com' \
'Suites: any' \
'Components: main' \
'Architectures: amd64' \
'Signed-By: /usr/share/keyrings/jetbrains-ppa-archive-keyring.gpg' \
| sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jetbrains-ppa.sources > /dev/null

This repository URL uses HTTP because AWS S3 static website hosting does not provide HTTPS for that endpoint. APT still verifies repository metadata and packages with the imported signing key.

Refresh APT and confirm that the repository offers the unified PyCharm package before installing it.

sudo apt update
apt-cache policy pycharm

Relevant output includes:

pycharm:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 2026.1.1
  Version table:
     2026.1.1 500
        500 http://jetbrains-ppa.s3-website.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com any/main amd64 Packages

Install PyCharm from the community repository.

sudo apt install pycharm -y

Verify the installed package and launcher path.

dpkg-query -W -f='${db:Status-Abbrev} ${binary:Package} ${Version}\n' pycharm
command -v pycharm

A successful install should show an ii package status for pycharm, and command -v should return /usr/bin/pycharm.

The repository still exposes older names such as pycharm-community, pycharm-professional, and pycharm-education. Treat those as legacy compatibility names; use pycharm for a current Ubuntu install.

Launch PyCharm on Ubuntu

You can run the IDE from a terminal attached to your desktop session, or open it from Ubuntu’s application menu.

Launch PyCharm from the Terminal

Both current methods provide the pycharm command. The APT method installs it under /usr/bin, while the snap method exposes it through Snap’s application path.

pycharm

If a newly installed snap returns pycharm: command not found in an older terminal session, either open a new session so /snap/bin is on your path or launch it through Snap directly.

snap run pycharm

Open PyCharm from the Applications Menu

Ubuntu also adds PyCharm to the desktop applications menu after installation. Search for PyCharm, then open the IDE and complete the first-run setup.

Configure PyCharm on Ubuntu

PyCharm becomes much more useful once the first project points at the interpreter and environment you actually want to use. If a project needs a newer interpreter than your Ubuntu release ships, install Python 3.13 on Ubuntu. For cleaner project isolation, create a Python virtual environment on Ubuntu. If a project still needs a separate system pip workflow, install Python and pip on Ubuntu first.

Update PyCharm on Ubuntu

The update command depends on the installation method you chose.

Update the PyCharm Snap

Snap refreshes packages automatically, but you can request an immediate refresh when needed.

sudo snap refresh pycharm

Update the Community APT Package

If you installed PyCharm from the community repository, refresh package metadata and upgrade the PyCharm package. When the repository publishes a newer wrapper, the package scripts refresh the extracted IDE under /opt/pycharm.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install --only-upgrade pycharm -y

Remove PyCharm from Ubuntu

Use the removal path that matches your installation method. Package removal does not automatically delete your projects, personal IDE settings, plugins, or caches.

Remove the PyCharm Snap

Remove the snap with --purge so snapd does not keep an automatic snapshot behind.

sudo snap remove --purge pycharm

Check that the snap is no longer installed.

snap list pycharm

Relevant output includes:

error: no matching snaps installed

Remove the Community APT Package

Remove the unified APT package. The package removal script also deletes the extracted IDE directory under /opt/pycharm.

sudo apt remove pycharm -y

Verify that the package is no longer installed.

dpkg-query -W -f='${db:Status-Abbrev} ${binary:Package}\n' pycharm 2>/dev/null | grep '^ii' || echo "pycharm package removed"

Review orphaned dependencies before approving broader cleanup.

sudo apt autoremove --dry-run

Run the real cleanup only if the preview lists packages you are comfortable removing.

sudo apt autoremove

If you no longer want packages from the community JetBrains repository, remove the source file and keyring, then refresh APT.

sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jetbrains-ppa.sources
sudo rm -f /usr/share/keyrings/jetbrains-ppa-archive-keyring.gpg
sudo apt update

Confirm that the removed repository no longer provides a PyCharm candidate.

apt-cache policy pycharm

Relevant output includes:

pycharm:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: (none)
  Version table:

Clean Up Remaining PyCharm User Data

PyCharm can keep per-user settings, plugins, caches, and snap-specific state under your home directory. Check first, then delete only the paths you no longer need.

The next cleanup is optional. Back up settings or plugin state you want to keep before deleting any directory from your home folder.

find "$HOME" -maxdepth 3 \( \
  -path "$HOME/snap/pycharm" -o \
  -path "$HOME/.config/JetBrains" -o \
  -path "$HOME/.local/share/JetBrains" -o \
  -path "$HOME/.cache/JetBrains" \
\) -print

No output means there is nothing else to remove for that account. If the command prints one or more directories, delete each exact path with rm -rf "/path/from-output" only after you confirm you do not need the settings or caches inside it.

Troubleshoot PyCharm on Ubuntu

Fix apt install pycharm Not Finding a Package

Ubuntu’s default repositories do not provide PyCharm as a normal distro package. If sudo apt install pycharm returns Unable to locate package, either install the official snap or add the community APT repository shown above before trying the APT package name.

Choose Between pycharm and Old Edition Package Names

Use pycharm for new installs. Older Snapcraft and APT package names such as pycharm-community and pycharm-professional can still appear in old tutorials, package metadata, or previous installs, but current PyCharm Linux packaging has moved to the unified product.

Handle Snap-Specific PyCharm Issues

JetBrains notes that the snap package can run into workflow-specific issues such as JavaScript debugging, some imports, performance, or file-operation delays. If those affect your project, use the official PyCharm installation guide to install through JetBrains Toolbox or a standalone tar archive instead of trying to fix the snap with unsupported confinement changes.

Conclusion

PyCharm is ready on Ubuntu once the package source matches your update preference: the official pycharm snap for the current JetBrains-published path, or the community APT wrapper when you want package-manager visibility under /opt/pycharm. After the IDE opens, connect it to the Python interpreter, virtual environment, or pip workflow your project actually uses.