--- title: "AppImage on Ubuntu : For Worry Free Software Management" description: "Forget about installing dependencies! Learn how to install, remove and manage AppImage on Ubuntu in this step-by-step tutorial." canonical: "https://adamtheautomator.com/appimage-ubuntu/" --- # AppImage on Ubuntu : For Worry Free Software Management > Forget about installing dependencies! Learn how to install, remove and manage AppImage on Ubuntu in this step-by-step tutorial. Source: https://adamtheautomator.com/appimage-ubuntu/ --- ATA Learning Tap to hide [ ATA Learning ](/) * [Home](/) * [Tutorials](/tutorials/) * [Instructors](/author/) * [Advertising](/advertising/) * [Recommended Resources](/resources/) * [About Adam](/about-adam/) Search for: * [](https://twitter.com/adbertram) * [](https://github.com/Adam-the-Automator) * [](https://www.linkedin.com/company/adam-the-automator-llc) * [](/feed/) ![AppImage on Ubuntu : For Worry Free Software Management](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Getting-Started-Managing-Software-with-AppImage-on-Ubuntu.jpg) # AppImage on Ubuntu : For Worry Free Software Management [![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4147968aa2332aa682bcebf295e4e9d0eb2672dee3d9ae0523a00ac51e7d6017?s=192&d=mm&r=g)Bill Kindle](https://adamtheautomator.com/author/bill/)3 November 20215 min. read Categories: [IT Ops](/category/it-ops/) Tags:[Software Packing](/tag/software-packing/)[Ubuntu Linux](/tag/ubuntu-linux/) Table of Contents * [Prerequisites](#prerequisites) * [What is AppImage?](#what-is-appimage) * [Using AppImage Ubuntu](#using-appimage-ubuntu) * [Downloading an AppImage Package](#downloading-an-appimage-package) * [Making the AppImage File Executable and Running the Software (GUI)](#making-the-appimage-file-executable-and-running-the-software-gui) * [Managing AppImage on Ubuntu](#managing-appimage-on-ubuntu) * [Relocating the AppImage](#relocating-the-appimage) * [Removing the AppImage](#removing-the-appimage) * [Conclusion](#conclusion) Have you encountered [dependency hell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependency_hell) while installing software on Linux? Installing dependencies often requires root permissions, which not everyone has. If only there’s a way to install software without worrying about missing or broken dependencies. Yes, there is! It’s called [AppImage](https://appimage.org/) on Ubuntu. You’re in luck because you will learn about AppImage on Ubuntu in this tutorial and how this application format enables you to run Linux apps from anywhere. You will learn how to find, install, run and remove AppImage packages on Ubuntu, which also applies to other Linux distros. ## Prerequisites To follow along with the demos in this guide, be sure to have a computer running on a Linux operating system. The examples in this tutorial will be using an [Ubuntu 20.04 LTS](https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop/thank-you?version=20.04.3&architecture=amd64) computer, but feel free to use other distros, like [Fedora](https://fedoraproject.org/), [Debian](https://www.debian.org/), or [openSUSE](https://www.opensuse.org/). If you want to know how to [install](https://adamtheautomator.com/install-ubuntu/) Ubuntu step by step, here’s how. Related:[How to Install Ubuntu 20.04 \[Step-by-Step\]](https://adamtheautomator.com/install-ubuntu/) ## What is AppImage? AppImage is an open-source, universal software package format that developers use to package and ship software that already includes the requirements for the software to run. By packaging with the AppImage on Ubuntu format, authors and developers can provide Linux users with the software with only one file. Think of an AppImage package as the Linux counterpart of a [portable app](https://portableapps.com/) in Windows. You can run AppImages across most Linux distributions (if not all) without installing other dependencies. All you need is the base operating system, and AppImage on Ubuntu brings with it the rest. > _While using AppImage on Ubuntu is convenient, downloading and running malicious AppImage apps can be a real security risk. A malicious actor might change the package, repackage it, and a root user may then inadvertently run it and unknowingly cause damage._ ## Using AppImage Ubuntu With only a few steps, you can get started using AppImage on Ubuntu. You’ll only need to: * Download your needed AppImage Ubuntu file. * Make the file executable. * Run the AppImage on Ubuntu software. How does that sound? Nothing you can’t handle. ### Downloading an AppImage Package Where to find AppImage apps? Primarily, you can find them at the [AppImageHub](https://www.appimagehub.com/) site. And according to that site, there is 1,026 software available in AppImage format to date. > _Other online app stores, like [Pling](https://www.pling.com/), hosts AppImage on Ubuntu files, too._ To demonstrate, follow the steps below to download [Atom](https://github.blog/2022-06-08-sunsetting-atom/) – a popular, free, cross-platform text editor. 1\. Open your favorite web browser and navigate to the AppImageHub catalog at https://www.appimagehub.com/browse. 2\. On the search box at the top of the page, type in _Atom_ and press **Enter**. Once the search returns the results, click the item similar to the image you see below. ![Finding the AppImage package](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/image-53.png) Finding the AppImage Ubuntu package 3\. On the download page, click the **Download** button and click the AppImage file to download. ![Downloading the AppImage file](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/image-54.png) Downloading the AppImage on Ubuntu file 4\. Click **Save File** to confirm downloading and wait for the download to complete on the download prompt. ![Confirming to save the AppImage file](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/image-55.png) Confirming to save the AppImage file ### Making the AppImage File Executable and Running the Software (GUI) The AppImage file you downloaded is not automatically an executable. As a requirement, before you run AppImages, you need to make the file executable first. Don’t worry; you don’t need root permissions to make a file executable and run it. To make the file executable, follow the steps below. 1\. First, open your file explorer on your computer and locate the AppImage file you downloaded. In Ubuntu, the default download location is the **Downloads** folder under your profile. 2\. Next, right-click on the AppImage on Ubuntu file and click **Properties**. ![Opening the AppImage file properties](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/image-56.png) Opening the AppImage Ubunttu file properties 3\. On the **Properties** window, click the **Permissions** tab, check the **Allow executing file as program** box, and click the exit (**X**) button to close. ![Making the AppImage file executable](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/image-57.png) Making the AppImage file executable 4\. Finally, double-click on the AppImage file to run the app. If you prefer the command line instead of the GUI to make a file executable, open the terminal and run the command below. The [`chmod`](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/chmod.1.html) command is the command to change a file’s mode in Linux. The command below assumes that the AppImage file is in the _~/Downloads_ folder. ```bash chmod a+x ~/Downloads/Atom-0-Build7.2.glibc2.17-x86_64.AppImage ``` Related:[A Windows Guy in A Linux World – User & File Permissions](https://adamtheautomator.com/linux-file-permissions/) > _Since AppImage packages are not like the conventional software installed on Linux, the typical update process may not apply. If there’s a new version of the software, you’ll need to wait for that software’s AppImage package release._ ## Managing AppImage on Ubuntu So you’ve downloaded and successfully ran the AppImage Ubuntu software. But remember that the software you downloaded is in the **Downloads** folder, and this folder can become cluttered quickly. And, what if you don’t need the software anymore? ### Relocating the AppImage Should you want to organize your AppImage files to avoid getting lost in a pile of other files, you can move them to another location. And because you did not install the software, moving the AppImage Ubuntu file does not affect anything else on the system or the software’s usability. For example, move the Atom AppImage file you downloaded from the Downloads folder to a subfolder in your home folder, like `~/.local/bin/`. But you can move the file to any location that you prefer and where you have access. 1\. Open a terminal window if you haven’t yet. 2\. Run the `mv` command below on the terminal. This command-line moves the AppImage file from `~/Downloads` to `~/.local/bin` while retaining the same filename. ```bash # Move the AppImage file from ~/Downloads to ~/.local/bin mv ~/Downloads/Atom-0-Build7.2.glibc2.17-x86_64.AppImage ~/.local/bin # List the contents of ls ~/.local/bin ls ~/.local/bin ``` ![Moving the AppImage file](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/image-58.png) Moving the AppImage file 3\. Finally, create a shortcut to the AppImage file on your Desktop by running the `ln` command below to create a symbolic link. This step is optional and only if you don’t want to keep browsing the AppImage file whenever you want to run it. ```bash # Syntax: ls -s [AppImage File] [Shortcut Name] ln -s ~/.local/bin/Atom-0-Build7.2.glibc2.17-x86_64.AppImage ~/Desktop/Atom ``` ![Creating a shortcut to the AppImage file on the Desktop ](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/image-59.png) Creating a shortcut to the AppImage file on the Desktop > _If you prefer to apply custom icons to your AppImage shortcuts, you can [create a Desktop Launcher](https://www.maketecheasier.com/create-desktop-file-linux/) instead._ ### Removing the AppImage When you no longer need a piece of software, removing that software from your Linux computer typically requires running some uninstall command. But not in the case of AppImage. Removing an AppImage is like deleting any other file. Locate the AppImage software you want to remove, right-click the AppImage file you want to delete, and click **Move to Trash.** ![Deleting an AppImage package](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/image-60.png) Deleting an AppImage package Lastly, if you created a shortcut or a Desktop launcher, delete those too. Related:[Your Guide to Managing Directories and Files in Linux \[Step by Step\]](https://adamtheautomator.com/linux-directory-commands/#Removing_Directories_and_Files_in_Linux) ## Conclusion AppImage allows you to run software without worrying about not having the dependencies already installed on your Linux computer. When you need to change computers, migrating AppImages is not an issue since they are portable. You only need to copy AppImage files to a USB flash drive and transfer them. With the convenience that AppImage on Ubuntu brings to your Linux experience, they do come with risks. Always be mindful of where you get AppImage formatted applications and only use trusted reputable sources. Apart from AppImage, have you tried [Snapd in Ubuntu](https://snapcraft.io/install/snapd/ubuntu) or [flatpak](https://www.flatpak.org/)? If so, which one do you think works best? Also, you should try the [AppImageLauncher](https://github.com/TheAssassin/AppImageLauncher) that enables desktop integration for AppImage on Ubuntu. 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Ensure seamless operations with accurate timekeeping! ![](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/How-to-Install-Apache-on-Ubuntu.jpg) ### [Install Apache on Ubuntu and Master Website Traffic Management](/install-apache-on-ubuntu/) Ready to optimize your website for high traffic? Install Apache on Ubuntu with this step-by-step guide and ensure smooth performance under heavy loads. ## Categories * [IT Ops](/category/it-ops/) * [Cloud](/category/cloud/) * [DevOps](/category/devops/) * [Home Ops](/category/home-ops/) * [Information Security](/category/infosec/) * [Software Development](/category/software-development/) ## Site * [Home](/) * [Tutorials](/tutorials/) * [Instructors](/author/) * [Advertising](/advertising/) * [Recommended Resources](/resources/) * [About Adam](/about-adam/) Copyright 2026© ATA Learning | [Privacy Policy](/privacy/)