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How to Install Package Manager on Linux Mint?

A package manager is a system tool that installs, removes, updates, as well as manages packages/utilities on the operating system. The package is a set of files as well as metadata that contains the instructions and information needed to run a software application.

Linux Mint comes with a default package manager called APT, which can install as well as update software from the official repositories and other sources. But, most Linux users prefer to use a different package manager, including Snap, Flatpak, or AppImage. They provide more compatibility and flexibility with various applications.

This guide will install different alternative package managers on Linux Mint, and how to use them to install software.

Why Need to Install Package Manager on Linux Mint?

One of the advantages of Linux Mint is that it comes with a lot of software pre-installed, such as media players, browsers, office suites, and more. However, there may be times when users are required to install additional software that is not available in the default repositories. To do so, users are required to use a Snap, Flatpak, or AppImage package manager.

How to Install Package Manager on Linux Mint?

Packages are usually stored in online repositories, which are servers that host the packages and their dependencies. A package manager can access these repositories and download the packages that users request. It can also resolve any conflicts or dependencies that may cause installation.

Let’s explore possible alternative Package Manager on Linux Mint.

Solution 1: Using Snap Package Manager

Snap(package manager) permits users to install applications that are packaged as snap files. Snap files are self-contained and isolated from the system (execute/run on any Linux system that Snap supports).

Snap also provides automatic updates and rollback features for the installed applications. To install Snap on Linux Mint, users need to follow these steps:

Step 1: Update System Package List

First, users need to open a terminal and update the system package list (system repository) using the “update” and “upgrade” utilities as below:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade # Update System Package List

Step 2: Install Snap Package Manager

To install Snap on the Linux Mint, users can utilize the “snapd” command with the “sudo” privileges. It installs the snap along with all the dependencies to install any package from the snap repository:

sudo apt install snapd

Important: If users find an error, remove the “nosnap.pref” file that is in /etc/apt/preferences.d” directory. After that, restart the system via the “reboot” command.

sudo rm /etc/apt/preferences.d/nosnap.pref

Step 3: Snap Verification (Package Manager)

To verify that Snap is installed, execute the “version” utility with the “snap” command:

snap version

It confirms that snap, snapd version “2.58” has been installed on Linux Mint. It is all about the installation of Snap on Linux Mint.

Let’s explore the installation of any application on Linux Mint using the snap package manager.

 

Step 4: Install VLC Application

To install a snap application, use the “snap install” command followed by the name of the application such as “vlc” with the “sudo” utility:

sudo snap install vlc

It downloads and installs the VLC along with all dependent packages on Linux Mint.

Step 5: List Snap Application

To list all the installed snap applications, use the “list” utility with the snap package manager as below:

snap list

Step 6: Remove the Snap Application

To remove a snap application on Linux Mint, users need to use “remove” along with specify the application name such as “vlc”:

sudo snap remove vlc

In this way, the VLC application has been removed from the Linux Mint system.

Solution 2: Using Flatpak Package Manager

Flatpak is another alternative package manager allowing users to install applications packaged as flatpak files. These files are also self-contained and isolated from the rest of the system, but they use a common runtime environment that provides the libraries and dependencies for the applications.

To install Flatpak on Linux Mint, users are required to follow these steps:

Step 1: Update System Repository

To update the system packages list, open a terminal and execute the “update” command with the “sudo” privileges:

sudo apt update

Step 2: Install Flatpak

To install Flatpak on Linux Mint, run the “install” utility with the application name “flatpak” as below:

sudo apt install flatpak

It installs Flatpak along with all dependent packages to install any application on Linux Mint.

Note: After installing flatpak, restart the system or log out and log back in.

Step 3: Flatpak Version

To verify the installation of flatpak, run the “version” option with the “flatpak” script as below:

flatpak --version

It confirms that flatpak version “1.12.7” has been installed on Linux Mint.

Step 4: Add Flathub Repository

To install a flatpak application, add the corresponding remote repository “flathub”. It is possible by specifying the URL of repository source as below:

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

That is all from the installation of the Flatpak package manager on Linux Mint.

 

Let’s try to install any application using the Flatpak package manager.

 

Step 5: Install GIMP Image Editor

Now, install the GIMP from Flathub by specifying the application id “org.gimp.GIMP” in the Linux Mint terminal with the “flatpak” command. It installs the “GIMP” image editor along with dependencies:

flatpak install flathub org.gimp.GIMP

Step 6: Flatpak Applications

To list all the installed flatpak applications, users can utilize the “list” utility with the “flatpak” command:

flatpak list

The output confirms the list of installed all flatpak applications including GIMP.

Step 7: Remove Flatpak Application

To remove the installed flatpak application (GIMP), execute the “uninstall” utility with the “flatpak” command:

flatpak uninstall org.gimp.GIMP

It confirms that the flatpak application has been removed from Linux Mint.

Solution 3: Using AppImage

AppImage is not exactly a package manager, but rather a format for distributing applications as single executable files. AppImage files are also self-contained and isolated from the rest of the system, but they do not require any installation or runtime environment. AppImage files can execute/run on any Linux system that is compatible with FUSE (Filesystem in User space).

To use AppImage on Linux Mint, users are required to follow these steps:

Step 1: Download an AppImage File

Download an AppImage file from the official website of the application or a trusted source. For instance, to download the “Krita drawing” software, go to the Website and click on the “AppImage” link.

It downloads the AppImage file on the “Downloads” directory.

Note: Alternatively, users can download it with the “wget” utility in the Linux Mint.

Step 2: Make the Downloaded File Executable

To make the file executable, right-click on it and select “Properties” > “Permissions” > “Allow executing file as program”:

Step 3: Launch Executable File

After making the file executable, double-press on the downloaded file to run it. It takes some time and launch it as below:

Step 4: Delete AppImage File

To remove an AppImage file from Linux Mint, simply delete it from the system by pressing right-click and choosing the “Delete” option:

To learn more about the AppImage on Linux Mint, follow our detailed guide on Run AppImage on Linux Mint.

How to Uninstall/Remove Package Manager on Linux Mint?

To uninstall Package Manager on Linux Mint using Snap, Flatpak, and AppImage methods, follow the below instructions:

Uninstall/Remove Snap

To uninstall Package Manager using Snap, users are required to type the below script:

sudo apt autoremove snapd

It removes Snap and all its dependencies from Linux Mint.

Uninstall/Remove Flatpak

To uninstall package manager using Flatpak, use the “package-manager” command with the “autoremove” utility as below:

sudo apt autoremove flatpak

It removes flatpak and all its dependencies from the system.

Uninstall/Remove AppImage

To uninstall Package Manager using AppImage, find the AppImage file that users downloaded and delete it:

Note: You can also delete the .config/package-manager folder from your home directory to remove any settings or data associated with Package Manager.

These are the steps to uninstall Package Manager on Linux Mint using Snap, Flatpak and AppImage methods.

Bonus Tip: Install a Package Using Package Manager on CentOS

YUM package manager is preinstalled on CentOS. To install any package using this package manager, here are the steps:

Step 1: Update Package List

First of all, update the system repository by running the “update” command with the “yum” (by default package manager):

sudo yum update

Step 2: Install EPEL

Now, install the EPEL repository by executing the “epel-release” utility with the “install” option:

sudo yum install epel-release

Step 3: Install Package

To install the package (vlc) using the “yum” command on CentOS, use the “vlc” package name with the sudo privileges as below:

sudo yum install vlc

It installs the VLC (package name) on the CentOS Linux Distribution

Optional: Uninstall Package Using YUM (Package Manager)

To uninstall/remove packages named as VLC on this Linux distribution, users are required to utilize the “yum” command along with the “remove” utility as below:.

sudo yum remove vlc # Uninstall VLC

Finally, the VLC has been installed using yum package manager on the CentOS based Linux distribution.

Conclusion

To install a package manager on Linux Mint, use Snap, Flatpak, or AppImage package manager. In this way, users get/install the latest version of the package/application/software in Linux Mint. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages, and they can coexist in your system without interfering with each other.

Among these one, Snap is the most suitable to install the latest package on the system. However, Linux Mint offers APT (default package manager) to install any package on the system. This guide has explained how to install and use Snap, Flatpak, or AppImage package managers on Linux Mint. Along with examples of how to install popular software using each of them.

 

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