VSCodium is a free, open-source distribution of Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code that removes all telemetry and tracking. If you’re familiar with VS Code (Microsoft’s popular code editor), VSCodium delivers identical features and functionality without data collection. The platform supports extensive plugins, integrated version control workflows, and runs across Linux, Windows, and macOS while maintaining full compatibility with VS Code extensions. For readers comparing options, Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code remains available alongside VSCodium if you prefer the official release.
This guide covers installing VSCodium on Ubuntu through three methods: the official APT (Advanced Package Tool, Ubuntu’s package manager comparable to Windows Update plus the Microsoft Store) repository, Snap (pre-installed universal package format), and Flatpak (sandboxed application distribution). You’ll learn repository setup, GPG key verification, complete installation steps for each approach, and how to verify the installation works.
Choose Your VSCodium Installation Method
VSCodium offers multiple installation paths on Ubuntu, each with different trade-offs in update speed, isolation, and system integration.
| Method | Version/Channel | Stability | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| APT Repository | Official upstream | Stable, tested releases | Most users, native system integration |
| Snap | Snap Store | Stable, sandboxed | Users wanting automatic updates and isolation |
| Flatpak | Flathub | Stable, sandboxed | Users preferring Flatpak ecosystem consistency |
The APT repository method is recommended for most users as it provides native system integration, follows Ubuntu’s standard package management, and receives updates through your normal system update workflow. In contrast, Snap and Flatpak offer sandboxed environments with automatic background updates but use more disk space and may have slightly slower startup times.
Method 1: Install VSCodium via APT Repository
Update System Package Lists
First, press Ctrl+Alt+T to open a terminal window, then update your package listings to ensure you have the latest repository information:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgradeInstall Required Dependencies
Next, install the packages needed for repository management and GPG key verification (Ubuntu’s equivalent to Windows digital signatures that verify software authenticity). The wget command downloads files from web servers:
sudo apt install wget gpg apt-transport-https -yImport VSCodium GPG Key
After installing the dependencies, download and install the GPG key to verify VSCodium packages are authentic. This security measure ensures downloaded packages have not been tampered with:
wget -qO - https://gitlab.com/paulcarroty/vscodium-deb-rpm-repo/raw/master/pub.gpg \
| gpg --dearmor \
| sudo dd of=/usr/share/keyrings/vscodium-archive-keyring.gpgAdd VSCodium Repository
Once the GPG key is in place, add the VSCodium repository (a software source, similar to Windows Update combined with the Microsoft Store) to your system. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Long Term Support) and all newer versions use the modern DEB822 .sources format:
echo -e 'Types: deb\nURIs: https://download.vscodium.com/debs\nSuites: vscodium\nComponents: main\nArchitectures: amd64 arm64\nSigned-by: /usr/share/keyrings/vscodium-archive-keyring.gpg' \
| sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscodium.sourcesUbuntu 22.04 LTS and all newer versions fully support the modern DEB822
.sourcesformat shown above. These releases receive standard security updates without additional subscriptions.
Refresh APT Package Index
Next, update your package listings to include the newly added VSCodium repository:
sudo apt updateInstall the VSCodium Package
Then, install the stable release of VSCodium (mirrors VS Code’s stable build):
sudo apt install codium -yThe upstream repository retired the codium-insiders package, so the stable build is the only option via APT. If you rely on preview-only features, install Microsoft’s official VS Code Insiders alongside VSCodium.
Method 2: Install VSCodium via Snap
Snap is a universal package format that works across Linux distributions and comes pre-installed on Ubuntu, making this a straightforward installation method.
Install VSCodium with Snap Command
Install VSCodium directly from the Snap Store:
sudo snap install codium --classicThe --classic flag grants VSCodium full system access needed for development tools, terminal integration, and extension functionality.
Method 3: Install VSCodium via Flatpak
As an alternative, Flatpak offers sandboxed application installation with system-wide availability. This method requires the Flatpak package manager and Flathub repository setup.
Enable Flathub Repository for VSCodium
First, add the Flathub repository to access VSCodium and thousands of other Flatpak applications:
sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepoInstall VSCodium with Flatpak Command
Once the repository is enabled, install VSCodium system-wide so all users can access it and updates apply automatically:
sudo flatpak install flathub com.vscodium.codium -yLaunch VSCodium
Launch VSCodium from Terminal
After completing the installation, you can launch VSCodium from the terminal using the command that matches your installation method.
APT installation:
codiumSnap installation:
snap run codiumFlatpak installation:
flatpak run com.vscodium.codiumLaunch VSCodium from Desktop
From application menu:
Launch VSCodium through Ubuntu’s application menu:
- Click Activities in the top-left corner
- Then click Show Applications (grid icon at the bottom of the dock)
- Find and click VSCodium
Verify the Installation
After installing VSCodium, verify that the installation worked correctly by checking the version:
codium --versionThe output displays the installed VSCodium version and confirms the application is accessible from the terminal. If you installed via Snap or Flatpak, you can verify those installations similarly:
snap info codiumOr for Flatpak:
flatpak list | grep vscodiumInstall VS Code Extensions
VSCodium supports the complete VS Code extension ecosystem. Open the Extensions pane inside VSCodium by pressing Ctrl+Shift+X, then search for any extension you need. Installation is identical to VS Code, and popular extensions for development include language-specific tools, remote development support, Git integration, and debugging utilities. VSCodium downloads and installs extensions seamlessly, and updates happen automatically with your regular system updates or within the editor itself.
Compatibility with Linux Mint and Ubuntu Derivatives
These installation instructions work on any Ubuntu-based distribution, including Linux Mint, Elementary OS, Pop!_OS, and other Ubuntu derivatives. All three installation methods (APT, Snap, Flatpak) function identically across these distributions since they share Ubuntu’s package management and software repositories. The commands and steps remain the same regardless of which Ubuntu-based system you run.
Manage VSCodium
How to Update VSCodium
To keep VSCodium current, update it using the same package manager you used for installation. Each method handles updates differently:
APT installations:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgradeSnap installations:
sudo snap refresh codiumFlatpak installations:
sudo flatpak updateHow to Remove VSCodium
To uninstall VSCodium, remove it using the package manager that handled the installation.
APT removal:
sudo apt remove codiumAfter removing VSCodium via APT, clean up the repository configuration and GPG key:
sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscodium.sources /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscodium.list
sudo rm -f /usr/share/keyrings/vscodium-archive-keyring.gpgSnap removal:
sudo snap remove codiumFlatpak removal:
sudo flatpak uninstall com.vscodium.codiumConclusion
VSCodium delivers a privacy-focused development environment with full VS Code compatibility, no telemetry, and native support for all VS Code extensions. The installation process covers APT repository setup with GPG verification, Snap for universal packaging, and Flatpak for sandboxed deployment. Your Ubuntu system now runs a powerful, open-source code editor ready for web development, scripting, data analysis, and any coding project while respecting your privacy.
Explore VSCodium Further
- VSCodium Official Website: Visit the official VSCodium website for information about the open-source version of Visual Studio Code, its features, and download options.
- VSCodium GitHub Repository: Access the VSCodium GitHub repository to view the source code, report issues, and contribute to the development.
- VSCodium Wiki: Explore the VSCodium wiki for detailed documentation, tutorials, and community-contributed content.
Vscodium running on my Ubuntu system says it’s version 1.105.17075. According to vscodium’s github page, the current snap release is 1.106.27818. But when I do ‘sudo snap refresh codium’, it says ‘snap “codium” has no updates available.” Why?
Thanks for reporting this, Mike. The version mismatch happens because VSCodium 1.106.27818 was released just yesterday (November 22) and hasn’t been published to the Snap Store yet. Your current version 1.105.17075 was released October 22, and the Snap Store still shows it as the latest stable release.
Snap releases typically lag behind the upstream GitHub releases by a few days while the VSCodium team builds and publishes the snap packages. Your system is correctly showing the current snap version.
Check back in a few days and run the refresh command again, or monitor the VSCodium GitHub releases page to see when the snap artifacts are published. Once the 1.106.27818 snap appears in the Snap Store, the update will show up automatically.
If you want faster access to new releases, consider switching from Snap to the native APT repository method covered in the article. The APT packages typically appear within hours of upstream releases, while snaps can take several days. You would remove the snap with
sudo snap remove codiumand then follow the repository installation steps in the guide.Thanks!
I first tried to install codium using apt (my preferred method, seems more transparent), but ran into this:
`
No apt package “codium”, but there is a snap with that name.
Try “snap install codium”
`
This was on xubuntu 24.04. But it looks like your website (unlike the one I was using then) explains how to add the repository–I’ll try that now.
Update: I tried the apt method as described on this page, and it worked like…a snap! Thank you for explaining how to do it. (Opinion: I’m not sure why it has to be so hard in Linux–why I have to go through those steps to import the key and add the repository, in order to let Ubuntu know where to find the install package.)
Thanks for the update, Mike. That message appears because VSCodium isn’t in Ubuntu’s default repositories. Once you add the repository and GPG key following the guide’s instructions, you can verify the setup is working correctly.
After adding the repository, confirm it’s recognized with:
This shows available versions and which repository provides them. Then install with
sudo apt install codiumand you should pull version 1.106.27818 immediately, since the .deb packages are already published on the GitHub releases page.