How to Use Flatpak on Fedora

Edited 1 week ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Flatpak is a utility for software deployment and application virtualization. It provides a sandbox environment for running applications on Linux, allowing you to safely install, run, and update applications no matter which distribution you are using. Fedora is one of the distributions that supports Flatpak out-of-the-box. This guide will take you through the steps to use Flatpak on Fedora, providing a comprehensive understanding of its installation, configuration, and usage.

What is Flatpak?

Before getting into the specifics of using Flatpak on Fedora, it's important to understand what Flatpak is. Flatpak enables developers to distribute applications in a distribution-agnostic way. This means that whether you're using Fedora, Ubuntu, or any other Linux distribution, you can install and run the same Flatpak packages. Flatpak uses the concept of runtimes which are shared libraries and services that an application might need. These runtimes ensure that each Flatpak application has exactly what it needs to run, without any dependency issues.

Installing Flatpak on Fedora

Since Fedora comes with Flatpak support by default, you usually don't need to install Flatpak separately. However, if for some reason it's not installed, you can do so using Fedora's package manager, dnf. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Update your system

Before installing any new packages, it is a good practice to make sure your system is up-to-date. Open your terminal and run the following command:

sudo dnf update

This command will update all installed packages on your system. This may take some time depending on the number of packages that require updating.

Step 2: Install Flatpak

Once your system is updated, you can install Flatpak by running the following:

sudo dnf install flatpak

That’s it! Flatpak should now be installed on your Fedora system.

Adding the Flathub Repository

Flathub is a popular app store for Flatpak applications. It hosts a wide variety of applications from different categories that you can easily install using Flatpak. To use Flathub, you need to add it as a repository to Flatpak. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Add the Flathub repository

To add Flathub as a repository, run the following command in your terminal:

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

This command adds Flathub to your list of Flatpak repositories. --if-not-exists option ensures that you don't add it again if it already exists on your system.

Exploring applications

Once Flathub is set up, you can start searching for apps to install. Flatpak provides commands to search through available apps.

Using the Terminal to Search

You can search for applications using the following command:

flatpak search ApplicationName

Replace ApplicationName with the name or part of the name of the application you are looking for. Flatpak will return a list of possible matches. For example, to find a media player like VLC, use:

flatpak search vlc

This command will return a list of entries related to VLC. You can choose one from the list that matches your requirement.

Installing the application

After finding the application you want to install, proceed with the installation using the flatpak install command.

Step by step installation

To install an application, for example, VLC, run the following command:

flatpak install flathub org.videolan.VLC

This command prompts you for confirmation before installing the application. Make sure the application ID (for example, org.videolan.VLC) is specified correctly from the search results you got earlier.

Running applications

To run an installed Flatpak application, simply use flatpak run command followed by the application ID. Here is how you can launch VLC:

flatpak run org.videolan.VLC

This command will start the VLC media player. Alternatively, many Flatpak applications also integrate with your desktop environment, so you can start them by searching for them in your desktop's applications menu.

Updating the application

Keeping your applications updated is important for security and getting new features. Flatpak makes it easy to update applications.

Updating all applications

To update all installed Flatpak applications, you can run the following:

flatpak update

This command checks for updates and prompts you to confirm before applying them. It's a good idea to run this command periodically.

Managing installed applications

Over time, you may want to remove some Flatpak applications to free up space or reduce clutter.

Uninstalling the application

To uninstall an application, use the following command:

flatpak uninstall ApplicationID

For example, to remove VLC you would use:

flatpak uninstall org.videolan.VLC

This command will prompt you for confirmation before deleting the app and its associated data.

Exploring the Flatpak Command

Flatpak provides many additional commands for advanced users. Here are some useful commands:

List of installed applications

To get a list of all currently installed Flatpak applications, use:

flatpak list

Removing unused runtime

Over time, you may have accumulated unused runtimes. To clear these, run:

flatpak uninstall --unused

Detailed application information

If you want to know more about an installed application, such as its permissions, use:

flatpak info ApplicationID

For example:

flatpak info org.videolan.VLC

This command provides detailed information about the VLC flatpack, including its permissions and root location.

Flatpak is a powerful tool for managing applications in Linux distributions, including Fedora. Its ease of use and ability to run apps in a sandboxed environment make it an attractive option for both developers and end users. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should have a solid understanding of how to install and manage Flatpak applications on your Fedora system, including installing, running, updating, and deleting these applications. Additionally, you learned how to manage the runtime and access additional application information. Flatpak is constantly evolving, providing a growing selection of applications and improved functionality, making it a valuable component of the Fedora ecosystem.

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