This article explains how you can install OpenShot Video Editor on Ubuntu. OpenShot is a simple, very easy to use free software to edit videos that is suitable for general purpose users including teachers at school. This works with the OS version 22.04 and later as well as 20.04 and before.

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For Ubuntu 22.04 and Later

We confirmed ourselves that OpenShot version at OS 22.04 “Jammy Jellyfish” does not work (others did too). On the other hand, version 2.6.1 from Daily PPA works.

1. Run Terminal.

2. Add OpenShot Daily PPA into your system:

$ sudo apt-add-repository ppa:openshot.developers/libopenshot-daily

3. Update repository index:

$ sudo apt-get update

4. Install OpenShot from the PPA:

$ sudo apt-get install openshot-qt 

5. Run OpenShot:

$ openshot-qt

The software will look like picture below. 

For 20.04 and Earlier

We confirmed that at least OpenShot works with the version on the OS 20.04 “Focal Fossa”. You do not need to add any PPA.

1. Run Terminal. 

2. Do install OpenShot:

$ sudo apt-get install openshot

$ sudo apt-get install openshot

3. Run OpenShot. 

Alternative Installation Methods

If any of above methods does not work for you, then you can pick one alternative method below. You may use either AppImage or Flatpak method to have OpenShot running on your Ubuntu box. 

AppImages method:

This is suitable for you who have prior experience with MS Windows or MacOS software installations. 

1. Visit https://www.openshot.org/download.

2. Download the AppImage version available.

3. You get an OpenShot program file with .AppImage extension.

4. Give the file Executable permission.

5. Double-click the file. 

6. OpenShot runs.

We confirmed this works with software version 2.6.1 on OS 22.04. If you find the timeline does not show, please run the program file via terminal with additional option –no-sandbox. 

Flatpak method:

This is suitable for you who have large free disk space like 1TB or more.

1. Install Flatpak manager:

$ sudo apt-get install flatpak

2. Add Flathub repository to Flatpak:

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

3. Install OpenShot:

$ flatpak install openshot

4. Run Flatpak:

$ flatpak run

5. Flatpak runs. 

We also confirmed the software version 2.6.1 from Flathub works on OS 22.04.  We would love to let you know that installing a Flatpak, OpenShot in this example, requires more disk space than AppImage.

That’s all.

This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.