# Installing Apps

There are many ways of installing apps on Linux, and this flexibility can make it confusing to figure out how to download things the "right" way! This guide will walk you through common ways apps are installed on Linux, and how to install a few common applications.

## App Basics

At the most basic level, all apps are a collection of program files. These files contain code that powers the app. The easiest way to install app files and keep them updated is using a **package manager**. You can consider package managers as "app stores" for Linux. One app may be available in multiple package managers, which can make finding the right one tricky!

Linux Mint makes this process easier using the **Software Manager** app. Most everything you need should be available here. Here's how to install an app using Software Manager.

## Installing an app using Software Manager

1. Click the white "LM" icon on the bottom-left of the taskbar.
2. Click the Software Manager app shown in this screenshot.<br>

   <figure><img src="/files/I3GUwhrIMHkb37oIiLkf" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
3. The first time you open Software Manager, it will likely take a few minutes to load. This is normal, as downloading the full list of available apps can take a while, depending on your Internet speed.
4. Once Software Manager has loaded, you can browse apps to install. You can also use the search bar in the upper left of the window to search for apps.<br>

   <figure><img src="/files/mDYLPthHnUTG6m911D45" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
5. Once you have found an app you want to install, click on its name. A new view should open showing you more information about the app, such as its ratings, last updated date, and total installation size.
6. Before installing an app, take a look at the **package source** shown in the screenshot below. This text will either say "System Package" with a Linux Mint icon, or it will say "Flatpak (Flathub)" with a cube icon.\
   \
   Apps that show "System Package" have been reviewed by the Linux Mint team, and you can trust that these apps are safe and official. Some apps will only show "Flatpak", which is another way that developers can publish their apps. Flatpak apps are almost always safe as well, but as anyone can publish a Flatpak app without review, it is possible these apps may not work as expected.<br>

   <figure><img src="/files/xI88ZRZ5oXg3ikrYpSvY" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
7. If you want to confirm the legitimacy of a Flatpak app, you can visit the website [flathub.org](https://flathub.org) to verify. Search for a particular app and check if the app has a blue verified checkmark under its name. In this example, the Firefox app has been confirmed to be owned by Mozilla and can be considered safe, but the Chrome app has not been verified to be owned by Google and may not be trustworthy.<br>

   <figure><img src="/files/ZFDLYHrTQbaed2GsLuhS" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## What if an app isn't in Software Manager?

Sometimes, certain apps aren't available to download in Software Manager. This depends on how an app's developer chooses to publish their apps. The best way to find installation instructions for a particular app is by searching the web for **"install APP NAME on Linux"**, replacing "APP NAME" with the app you are searching for.

I'll show an example of finding the Linux installation instructions for Spotify. (Spotify is available in the Software Manager app, but for this example, I'll show how to install it anyway.)

1. Start by searching for ["install Spotify on Linux"](https://duckduckgo.com/q=install+spotify+on+linux).
2. The top result shows a link to Spotify's website. Make sure you find the app's official website for installation instructions!<br>

   <figure><img src="/files/LtAWGOgUlHXJRakiI9eT" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
3. On the website, look for instructions that mention either "Debian", "Ubuntu", or "Linux Mint". Even though we are using Linux Mint, the installation instructions for Debian and Ubuntu will also work, since Linux Mint has its source code built from Ubuntu and Debian.
4. Here we have found the Debian and Ubuntu download instructions. This will still work on Linux Mint as well.<br>

   <figure><img src="/files/lwoZi0NB2ADLM49eEip8" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
5. The next steps will involve using the **Terminal** app. You should see this app on the bottom left of screen in the task bar. The app will show as a black square with white "$\_" text. Click this icon to open the terminal.<br>

   <figure><img src="/files/XINSoHsHWqnakS5NE3Pz" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
6. In Spotify's instructions, we see some text shown in a gray box. These are **commands** that need to be entered into the terminal. Each line of text is a separate command.<br>

   <figure><img src="/files/au62miH9yR4595xnvRc7" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
7. Select the first command. The easiest way to do this is to quickly click three times on the first word of the command. After doing this, you should see the whole line become selected. If nothing happens or only the first word becomes selected, you likely need to click again faster.
8. Once the whole line has been selected, right click and select "Copy".
9. Open the Terminal. Right click the flashing cursor and select "Paste". You should now see the command entered in the terminal. Press Enter on your keyboard to run the command. You will then need to enter your password, then press Enter again.<br>

   <figure><img src="/files/06N2X6ibczLLSqvlplCA" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
10. Once the first command has been run, select the next command and repeat the Copy-Paste process. The next command starts with "echo".
11. One more command is left, starting with "sudo apt-get". apt is the technical name for the system Debian, Ubuntu, and Linux Mint uses to install apps. Any command using `apt` or `apt-get` should work on Linux Mint.
12. Once all three commands have been run, Spotify should be installed! You can now close the terminal and search for Spotify in the Apps menu.


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