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

Slack organizes team chat, voice calls, video meetings, and file sharing into channels and threads that keep project context intact. This guide covers four ways to install Slack on Ubuntu, from automated APT repository management with extrepo to sandboxed Flatpak and Snap deployments, each with setup, updates, and complete removal steps.

Choose Your Slack Installation Method for Ubuntu

Slack offers four installation paths on Ubuntu, each with different configuration complexity and isolation levels. Before proceeding, review the comparison table to choose the method that best fits your workflow and system preferences.

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
extrepo (Recommended)	Packagecloud via extrepo	Latest stable	Automatic via APT	Most users; quick setup with minimal configuration
Manual APT Repository	Packagecloud direct	Latest stable	Automatic via APT	Scripted deployments or learning APT internals
Flatpak	Flathub	Latest stable	Automatic via Flatpak	Sandboxed isolation, cross-distro compatibility
Snap	Snapcraft	Stable (may lag behind APT)	Automatic via Snap	Pre-installed package manager, simple commands

For most users, the extrepo method is recommended because it handles GPG key management automatically and requires fewer commands. The manual APT method provides more control for scripted deployments. Flatpak offers sandboxed isolation at the cost of higher disk usage, while Snap provides the simplest installation since Ubuntu includes it by default.

Use only one APT-based method. Do not configure both extrepo and the manual APT repository on the same system. Both methods add the same Packagecloud source with different GPG key paths, and APT rejects duplicate sources with conflicting Signed-By values. If you switch methods later, follow the matching removal section first.

Slack publishes desktop builds for 64-bit (amd64/x86_64) systems only. Raspberry Pi, ARM servers, and 32-bit hardware lack native packages. Use Slack’s web interface on unsupported architectures.

The Slack repository uses a universal package format that works on all current Ubuntu LTS releases. Commands in this guide work identically across Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04, and 22.04.

Method 1: Install Slack via extrepo (Recommended)

The extrepo tool simplifies adding external repositories by handling GPG key downloads and repository configuration automatically. This approach requires fewer commands than manual repository setup and reduces the chance of configuration errors.

Install extrepo on Ubuntu

Update your package lists and install the extrepo package:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install extrepo

This guide uses sudo for commands that need root privileges. If your account is not in the sudoers file, follow the guide on adding sudo users on Ubuntu.

Enable Non-Free Policy for Slack

Slack uses a proprietary license, so the non-free policy in extrepo’s configuration must be enabled before adding the repository:

sudo sed -i 's/# - non-free/- non-free/' /etc/extrepo/config.yaml

This sed command uncomments the non-free policy line, allowing extrepo to enable repositories that host proprietary software. Alternatively, edit /etc/extrepo/config.yaml manually and add - non-free under the enabled_policies section.

Enable Slack Repository with extrepo

Add the Slack repository using a single command:

sudo extrepo enable slack

This command downloads the GPG key to /var/lib/extrepo/keys/ and creates the repository configuration at /etc/apt/sources.list.d/extrepo_slack.sources.

Install Slack on Ubuntu with extrepo

Next, update your package lists and install Slack:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install slack-desktop

Verify the repository source by checking the package policy:

apt-cache policy slack-desktop

Expected output:

slack-desktop:
  Installed: 4.47.x
  Candidate: 4.47.x
  Version table:
 *** 4.47.x 500
        500 https://packagecloud.io/slacktechnologies/slack/debian jessie/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

The jessie suite name is expected even on current Ubuntu releases because Slack uses a universal Packagecloud repository.

Method 2: Install Slack via Manual APT Repository

The manual APT repository method provides native package integration and automatic updates through your standard system upgrade workflow. This approach uses the modern DEB822 format with scoped GPG key verification, giving you direct control over the repository configuration.

Configure Slack APT Repository on Ubuntu

Remove any legacy repository files to avoid duplicate entry warnings, then configure the repository using DEB822 format. The Packagecloud suite name is jessie for Slack, which is normal even on current Ubuntu releases:

sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/slack.list
sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://packagecloud.io/slacktechnologies/slack/gpgkey | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /etc/apt/keyrings/slacktechnologies_slack-archive-keyring.gpg > /dev/null
sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/slack.sources > /dev/null <<'EOF'
Types: deb
URIs: https://packagecloud.io/slacktechnologies/slack/debian/
Suites: jessie
Components: main
Architectures: amd64
Signed-By: /etc/apt/keyrings/slacktechnologies_slack-archive-keyring.gpg
EOF

Verify Repository Configuration

Refresh your package lists and verify APT recognizes the new source:

sudo apt update
apt-cache policy slack-desktop

Expected output confirming the repository is active:

slack-desktop:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 4.47.x
  Version table:
     4.47.x 500
        500 https://packagecloud.io/slacktechnologies/slack/debian jessie/main amd64 Packages

Install Slack from APT Repository on Ubuntu

With the repository confirmed, install Slack:

sudo apt install slack-desktop

The slack.sources file points to Slack’s Packagecloud repository, so updates arrive automatically through your regular apt upgrade workflow. This setup eliminates manual version tracking entirely.

Method 3: Install Slack via Flatpak and Flathub

Flatpak provides sandboxed isolation and automatic updates through Flathub. This method runs Slack in a contained environment, isolating it from system libraries for better security. Before proceeding, verify Flatpak is available on your system.

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.

Add Flathub Repository on Ubuntu

Add the Flathub repository if it is not already configured:

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

The --if-not-exists flag safely skips this step if Flathub is already present. The --system flag ensures all users on the machine can access the repository.

Install Slack via Flatpak on Ubuntu

Install Slack system-wide from Flathub:

sudo flatpak install --system -y flathub com.slack.Slack

The -y flag skips confirmation prompts. Flatpak runs Slack in a sandboxed environment, isolating it from system libraries for improved security.

Verify the installation by checking the application info:

flatpak info com.slack.Slack

Expected output:

Slack - Business communication

          ID: com.slack.Slack
         Ref: app/com.slack.Slack/x86_64/stable
        Arch: x86_64
      Branch: stable
      Origin: flathub

Method 4: Install Slack via Snap

Snap provides the simplest installation path since Ubuntu includes it by default. This method offers automatic background updates and application sandboxing without additional setup.

Install Slack via Snap Command

Install Slack using the Snap package manager:

sudo snap install slack --classic

The --classic flag grants Slack access to system resources outside the Snap sandbox, which is required for full functionality including file access and system integration.

Verify the installation:

snap list slack

Expected output:

Name   Version   Rev    Tracking       Publisher   Notes
slack  4.46.x    xxx    latest/stable  slack✓      classic

Launch Slack Desktop on Ubuntu

Launch Slack from the terminal using the command that matches your installation method:

# APT installation (extrepo or manual repository)
slack

# Flatpak installation
flatpak run com.slack.Slack

# Snap installation
snap run slack

You can also open the application menu in your desktop environment and search for “Slack” to launch it. Log in to your workspace or create a new account at first launch.

Update Slack on Ubuntu

Keeping Slack up to date delivers the latest features and security patches. The update method depends on how you installed Slack.

For APT installations (both extrepo and manual repository), refresh your package lists and upgrade Slack:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install --only-upgrade slack-desktop

The repository configuration ensures updates arrive through your standard APT workflow.

Flatpak installations update with:

sudo flatpak update --system

This updates all system-wide Flatpak applications, including Slack.

Snap installations update with:

sudo snap refresh slack

Snap also performs automatic background updates, so manual refreshes are typically unnecessary.

Regular updates keep Slack performing well and give you access to new features as they release. If your team also relies on video conferencing, explore our installation guides for Zoom on Ubuntu or Discord on Ubuntu as complementary communication tools.

Remove Slack from Ubuntu

When you no longer need Slack, the removal steps vary by installation type. Follow the section that matches how you installed Slack.

Remove APT Installation (extrepo or Manual)

Remove the Slack package and any orphaned dependencies:

sudo apt remove slack-desktop
sudo apt autoremove

This leaves system configuration files in /etc. For complete removal, including configuration files:

sudo apt purge slack-desktop
sudo apt autoremove

Next, remove the repository configuration based on your installation method.

For extrepo installations:

sudo extrepo disable slack
sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/extrepo_slack.sources
sudo apt update

The extrepo disable command adds Enabled: no to the sources file rather than deleting it. The rm command completes the removal by deleting the file entirely.

For manual APT repository installations:

sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/slack.sources /etc/apt/sources.list.d/slack.list
sudo rm -f /etc/apt/keyrings/slacktechnologies_slack-archive-keyring.gpg
sudo apt update

The command removes both .sources and .list files to clean up any legacy configurations that may exist.

Remove Flatpak Installation

If you used Flatpak, remove the system-wide installation and its sandboxed data:

sudo flatpak uninstall --system --delete-data com.slack.Slack

The --delete-data flag cleans up ~/.var/app/com.slack.Slack so cached data does not linger after removal.

Remove Snap Installation

For Snap installations, remove the application with:

sudo snap remove slack

Snap automatically removes the application data stored in ~/snap/slack during uninstallation.

Remove User Data Directories

For APT installations, Slack stores workspace configurations, cached data, and local files in your home directory. Remove these manually if you want a complete cleanup.

The commands below permanently delete your Slack workspace data, including saved passwords, workspace configurations, downloaded files, and cached messages. Export any workspace data from Slack’s web interface before removing these directories.

rm -rf ~/.config/Slack
rm -rf ~/.cache/Slack

Flatpak and Snap installations handle user data cleanup automatically through their respective uninstall commands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Slack is running on your Ubuntu system with automatic updates configured through your chosen package manager. If you switch between APT, Flatpak, or Snap later, follow the matching removal section first to avoid duplicate configurations. For related communication tools, see our guides for Microsoft Teams on Ubuntu, Signal on Ubuntu, or Telegram on Ubuntu.