How to Install Flatpak on Ubuntu 22.04 (Step-by-Step Guide)

In the Linux world, the issue of installing and managing software has always been a bit challenging for novice users. Each distribution has its own method, and these differences sometimes cause users to get confused. One of the tools that has solved this problem to a large extent is Flatpak. Flatpak is actually a software framework for packaging and distributing applications that allows you to install and run programs in different Linux distributions in the simplest way. In this tutorial, I want to share my experience of installing Flatpak on Ubuntu 22.04 with you. This method has been tested on several different systems and the result has always been satisfactory.

What is Flatpak?

Flatpak can be considered a type of independent environment for running software. Any program installed with Flatpak runs in its own environment and does not have a direct dependency on the main system files. This feature provides greater security and stability to the system. Flatpak provides access to the large Flathub repository, which houses hundreds of popular applications. This means you no longer need to download and install each software from a separate source, which is very important for users using Ubuntu VPS or Linux servers.

Prerequisites of install Flatpak on Ubuntu

1- To get started with installing Flatpak on Ubuntu 22.04, you need a few simple prerequisites.

2- Your system must have at least 2GB of RAM and a stable internet connection so that you can download the packages.

3- You also need to have sudo access in the terminal to complete the installation process without errors.

Step One Update the System

The first thing you need to do is make sure that your system repository is up to date. To do this! Open your terminal and execute this command:

sudo apt update

After a few moments, the packages will be updated and your system will be ready to install Flatpak.

Step Two Install Flatpak

Next, type the command to install Flatpak

sudo apt install flatpak

When the system asks to proceed, enter Y and press Enter. After a few minutes, the installation will be finished and Flatpak will be ready to use.

Step Three Enable Flathub Repository

Flatpak requires a repository to install applications. The most popular repository for this is Flathub. To add it, run the following command:

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

After this step, you can install any application available in Flathub on your Ubuntu.

Step Four Install and Run Applications

Now, let’s install a popular application like VLC to make sure that Flatpak works properly.
First search for the application

flatpak search vlc

Then install it using the application ID

flatpak install flathub org.videolan.VLC

During the installation, if you are asked to confirm, enter the letter y and press Enter. After the installation is complete, to run the application, simply enter the following command:

flatpak run org.videolan.VLC

VLC will run in a few seconds and you can make sure that the installation was completed correctly.

Troubleshooting of install flathub

On some systems, an error such as Flathub not being recognized may be displayed. If this happens, simply run the add repository command again or restart the system. Also, if an application does not run after installation, you may need to log out and log in again to update the Flatpak permissions.

Why Flatpak is Worth Using?

The big advantage of Flatpak is its independence from the operating system. If you have Ubuntu 22.04 and someone else uses Fedora or Debian, you can both get the same version of the software via Flatpak without worrying about incompatibilities. Also, because each application runs in its own separate environment, the security of the system is significantly increased. In fact, Flatpak is a bridge between simplicity and security, which is what makes it attractive to both advanced and novice users.

Conclusion

Installing Flatpak on Ubuntu 22.04 is one of the best ways to experience installing Linux software in a simple and hassle-free way. In this tutorial, you were introduced to the installation steps and learned how to install applications like VLC via Flathub. Flatpak is highly flexible and can be used to run almost any application on your system. If you are new to the world of Linux, I recommend starting with this tool because it is both easy to install and uses it to give you a real feel for working with Linux.