How to Install Strawberry Music Player on Linux Mint 22 and 21

Large local music libraries are harder to manage when the player treats everything like a disposable stream instead of a collection you actually maintain. That is what makes it useful to install Strawberry Music Player on Linux Mint, because Strawberry focuses on library management, MusicBrainz lookups, smart playlists, and bit-perfect playback for FLAC, MP3, and other local formats.

Strawberry is an open-source Clementine fork, which explains why that older name still shows up in searches and forum threads. Linux Mint 22 packages Strawberry 1.0.23 in the default repositories, while Linux Mint 21 needs the Strawberry PPA or Flatpak. The official Strawberry site also lists Linux downloads, but the package-managed routes are easier to update and remove cleanly on Linux Mint.

Install Strawberry on Linux Mint

Three installation paths make sense on current Linux Mint releases. The default Linux Mint package is the shortest APT workflow on Mint 22.x, the stable Strawberry PPA keeps APT on a newer branch, and Flatpak gives you the same Flathub-managed Strawberry release on both Mint bases.

Method	Source or Channel	Current Version	Update Behavior	Best For
Linux Mint repositories	Ubuntu noble/universe	Mint 22.x: Strawberry 1.0.23; Mint 21.x: Not packaged	APT-managed updates	The shortest APT workflow on Mint 22.x
Strawberry PPA	Jonas Kvinge Launchpad PPA	Mint 22.x: Strawberry 1.2.19; Mint 21.x: Strawberry 1.1.3	APT-managed updates	Users who want a newer APT build than Mint 22’s default package
Flatpak	Flathub	Mint 22.x and 21.x: Strawberry 1.2.19	Flatpak app and runtime updates	The same current release on both Mint bases

• Use Linux Mint repositories on 22.x when you want the shortest APT install.
• Use the Strawberry PPA when you want an APT-managed build and can accept that Mint 21.x stays on Strawberry 1.1.3.
• Use Flatpak when you want Strawberry 1.2.19 on both Mint 22.x and 21.x or prefer a Flathub-managed app lifecycle.

Linux Mint 22.x includes Strawberry in the default repositories, while Linux Mint 21.x does not ship a default package. The stable PPA works on both Mint bases, but jammy remains on Strawberry 1.1.3, so Flatpak is the only verified 1.2.19 path on Mint 21.x. All three methods install from a terminal, but Strawberry still needs an active graphical session to launch the desktop interface.

Update Linux Mint before installing Strawberry

Open a terminal from the applications menu or with the shortcut configured on your Mint desktop, then refresh APT before you add or install anything else.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

These commands use sudo for root privileges. If your account does not have sudo access yet, follow the guide to create and add users to sudoers on Linux Mint before continuing.

Install Strawberry from Linux Mint repositories

This is the simplest APT path on Linux Mint 22.x. Linux Mint 21.x does not package Strawberry in the default repositories, so use the PPA or Flatpak method if your system is based on Ubuntu 22.04.

Check the package policy first so you can confirm whether your Mint release exposes a default candidate.

apt-cache policy strawberry

strawberry:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 1.0.23-1build3
  Version table:
1.0.23-1build3 500
500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble/universe amd64 Packages

On Linux Mint 21.x, the same command does not return a default Strawberry candidate, which is your cue to use the PPA or Flatpak method instead.

Install Strawberry on Linux Mint 22 with APT when the policy check shows the default repository candidate.

sudo apt install strawberry -y

Verify both the package version and the application version after APT finishes.

dpkg-query -W strawberry && strawberry --version

strawberry       1.0.23-1build3
Strawberry 1.0.23

Install Strawberry from the PPA on Linux Mint

The stable PPA is the APT option when you want Strawberry 1.2.19 on Linux Mint 22.x or need Strawberry at all on Linux Mint 21.x. Standard Mint desktop installs already include add-apt-repository, and trimmed installs can add Mint’s repository helper first if the command is missing.

Install the helper only if your shell returns add-apt-repository: command not found.

command -v add-apt-repository >/dev/null 2>&1 || sudo apt install mintsources

Add the stable Strawberry PPA maintained by Jonas Kvinge.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jonaski/strawberry -y

Refresh APT so the new Launchpad source and package index are in place before you install Strawberry.

sudo apt update

Relevant output includes:

Get:10 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/jonaski/strawberry/ubuntu noble InRelease [17.8 kB]
Get:11 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/jonaski/strawberry/ubuntu noble/main amd64 Packages [788 B]
Reading package lists...

Run a policy check before installing so you can see which Strawberry build your Mint base will select.

apt-cache policy strawberry

strawberry:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 1.2.19-noble
  Version table:
1.2.19-noble 500
500 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/jonaski/strawberry/ubuntu noble/main amd64 Packages
1.0.23-1build3 500
500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble/universe amd64 Packages

On Linux Mint 21.x, the same command shows Candidate: 1.1.3-jammy from the PPA and no default-repository fallback underneath it.

Install Strawberry once the policy output shows the PPA candidate you want.

sudo apt install strawberry -y

Verify both the package version and the application version string after installation.

dpkg-query -W strawberry && strawberry --version

strawberry      1.2.19-noble
Strawberry 1.2.19

On Linux Mint 21.x, the stable PPA currently installs strawberry 1.1.3-jammy and prints Strawberry 1.1.3.

Install Strawberry from Flatpak on Linux Mint

Flatpak is the easiest way to keep the same Strawberry release on Linux Mint 22.x and 21.x. Standard Linux Mint desktop installs already include Flatpak with Flathub at system scope, so start by confirming that the remote is present.

flatpak remotes --columns=name,options | grep -E '^flathub[[:space:]]'

flathub system

If that command prints nothing because Flathub was removed from a customized install, restore it at the same system scope before you install Strawberry.

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

Flathub currently labels Strawberry as potentially unsafe. Its metadata grants access to xdg-music, /media, /mnt, and /run/media, along with broad device access for desktop audio and removable-media workflows. Treat the Flatpak method as a packaging and update choice, not as a strong isolation boundary.

Install Strawberry from Flathub using the system scope that Linux Mint already uses.

sudo flatpak install flathub org.strawberrymusicplayer.strawberry -y

Confirm the installed app ID, version, and scope after the install finishes.

flatpak info org.strawberrymusicplayer.strawberry

Relevant output includes:

ID: org.strawberrymusicplayer.strawberry
Ref: app/org.strawberrymusicplayer.strawberry/x86_64/stable
Arch: x86_64
Branch: stable
Version: 1.2.19
Origin: flathub
Installation: system
Runtime: org.kde.Platform/x86_64/6.10

The Flathub build currently matches the Mint 22 PPA at Strawberry 1.2.19, and it is newer than the 1.1.3 jammy PPA on Linux Mint 21.x.

Launch Strawberry on Linux Mint

Strawberry is a desktop application, so it still needs an active graphical session even if you installed it from a remote shell. Once you are back at the Linux Mint desktop, use the command or menu entry that matches your install method.

Launch Strawberry from the applications menu on Linux Mint

For daily use, the simplest approach is launching from your desktop environment’s application menu. The exact path depends on your Mint edition:

• Cinnamon: Click the Menu button, then type “Strawberry” in the search box, or navigate to Sound & Video > Strawberry
• MATE: Applications > Sound & Video > Strawberry
• Xfce: Applications Menu > Multimedia > Strawberry

Launch Strawberry from the terminal on Linux Mint

APT and PPA installs use the regular launcher name, while Flatpak uses the application ID through flatpak run.

For APT or PPA installations:

strawberry

For Flatpak installations:

flatpak run org.strawberrymusicplayer.strawberry

After the first launch, point Strawberry at your music folders and let it build the library before you start testing playlists, tags, or streaming integrations.

Update or Remove Strawberry on Linux Mint

The update and removal path depends on whether Strawberry came from APT or Flatpak. Keep package removal separate from optional source or data cleanup so you can see what changed.

Update an APT-installed Strawberry package on Linux Mint

Use APT to refresh package metadata, then upgrade only Strawberry without pulling unrelated package updates.

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade strawberry -y

Update the Strawberry Flatpak on Linux Mint

Use the same system scope you used during installation when you update the Flatpak build. If you also want a broader Flatpak maintenance routine, see the guide on upgrading Flatpak on Linux Mint.

sudo flatpak update org.strawberrymusicplayer.strawberry -y

Remove an APT-installed Strawberry package on Linux Mint

Remove the package first. This step is the same whether Strawberry came from Linux Mint’s own repositories or from the PPA.

sudo apt remove strawberry

If APT reports dependencies that are no longer required, review the proposed cleanup before accepting it. Shared desktops can have old autoremovable packages that did not come from Strawberry.

sudo apt autoremove

Verify that the package itself is gone before you clean up the optional PPA source.

dpkg-query -W -f='${db:Status-Abbrev} ${binary:Package}\n' strawberry 2>/dev/null | grep '^ii' || echo "strawberry package not installed"

strawberry package not installed

If you used the stable PPA, remove the source afterward and refresh APT so Linux Mint 22 falls back to its own package candidate.

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:jonaski/strawberry -y
sudo apt update

Check the package policy again after the PPA cleanup.

apt-cache policy strawberry

strawberry:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 1.0.23-1build3
  Version table:
1.0.23-1build3 500
500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble/universe amd64 Packages

On Linux Mint 21.x, the same command returns no default Strawberry candidate once the PPA is gone, which is normal because the default repositories still do not ship the package there.

Remove the Strawberry Flatpak on Linux Mint

If you added a user-level Flatpak override for a custom music folder, reset Strawberry’s overrides before removing the app. This resets all user overrides for Strawberry, not only the filesystem path.

flatpak override --user --reset org.strawberrymusicplayer.strawberry

Use Flatpak’s data-removal flag when you want the app and its Flatpak profile removed together.

The data-removal flag can delete Strawberry settings, caches, and Flatpak profile data for the account running the command. Back up playlists or configuration you want to keep before using it.

Remove the Flathub app from the system installation.

sudo flatpak uninstall --delete-data org.strawberrymusicplayer.strawberry

Check the installed-app list afterward instead of relying on flatpak info, which is less helpful after the app has already been removed.

flatpak list --system --app --columns=application | grep -Fx org.strawberrymusicplayer.strawberry || echo "Flatpak app not installed"

Flatpak app not installed

Because Strawberry may not create user-data directories until you actually launch the desktop app, inspect the common config and data roots before deleting anything else.

find "$HOME/.config" "$HOME/.cache" "$HOME/.local/share" "$HOME/.var/app" -maxdepth 3 \( -iname "strawberry" -o -path "$HOME/.var/app/org.strawberrymusicplayer.strawberry" \) -print 2>/dev/null

If that command prints nothing, there is nothing else to remove for that account. If it does print a path, delete only the directories you recognize as Strawberry data.

Troubleshoot Strawberry on Linux Mint

Start with the branch that matches your install method. The checks keep APT source problems, Flatpak remote problems, and Flatpak permission problems separate.

No APT package candidate appears for Strawberry

Check the package policy again when APT cannot find Strawberry.

apt-cache policy strawberry

No output is expected on Linux Mint 21.x before you add the PPA, because the Ubuntu 22.04 package base does not provide Strawberry. Use the PPA method for an APT-managed install, or use Flatpak if you want Strawberry 1.2.19 on Mint 21.x.

Flathub is missing or disabled

If the Flatpak install cannot find the Flathub remote, include disabled remotes in the check.

flatpak remotes --show-disabled --columns=name,options | grep -E '^flathub[[:space:]]'

flathub system

If that command prints nothing, restore Flathub and repeat the Strawberry Flatpak install.

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

The Flatpak cannot see a custom music folder

Check Strawberry’s Flatpak filesystem permissions when your library lives outside the Music folder or common removable-media paths.

flatpak info --show-permissions org.strawberrymusicplayer.strawberry | grep '^filesystems='

filesystems=/media;xdg-music;xdg-config/kdeglobals:ro;/mnt;/run/media;

Grant a per-user override only for the folder that stores your library, then launch Strawberry again. Change $HOME/Audio to the directory that holds your music files.

flatpak override --user --filesystem="$HOME/Audio" org.strawberrymusicplayer.strawberry
flatpak run org.strawberrymusicplayer.strawberry

Conclusion

Strawberry is installed on Linux Mint and ready for local libraries, tag cleanup, and lossless playback. Keep the Mint package when stability matters, or stay on the newer PPA or Flatpak build when you want faster updates. If you want a lighter same-distro alternative, install DeaDBeeF on Linux Mint.