Mastering the Art of Installing DEB Files: A Comprehensive Guide for Linux Users

What Is a DEB File?

Installed Linux recently and received a file with the ".deb" extension while downloading your favorite app? Wondering what to do next? This article will guide you through two convenient methods for effortlessly installing apps using DEB files on Linux.

A Debian Software Package file, commonly known as a ".deb" file, is used for installing applications on Linux. These files are specifically designed for Debian-based distributions like Ubuntu, Pop!_OS, Linux Mint, and others. It is important to note that DEB files cannot be installed on distributions based on Arch or Fedora.

If you have recently transitioned from using Windows to Linux, it is natural to draw comparisons between DEB files and EXE files. However, it is essential to understand that they are not the same. While EXE files are executable files used for installing and running Windows programs, DEB files require an application to compile their contents and install them on Linux. They do not come with pre-compiled source code.

Think of pre-compiled code like instant cup noodles - just add hot water (double-click the file), mix well (follow the instructions in the installer wizard), and start using the application. On the other hand, DEB files are like recipe ingredients. You'll need to combine and cook them to get the final dish. Luckily, there are free apps available that handle this process for you.

Popular package installers such as GDebi and Eddy are commonly used to install DEB files. However, in distributions like Ubuntu, DEB packages can be opened in the software center by default. Simply click "install" and the app will be installed for you. Installing GDebi is also an option for installing DEB packages.

How to Install DEB Files

You can install DEB files using both the graphical desktop (GUI) and the Terminal. We'll go through both methods so that you can choose the one that looks easy.

How to Install DEB Files Graphically

Download the DEB package of the app you want to install. Let's install Slack for this tutorial.

After downloading, double-clicking on the file will load the contents of the package in Ubuntu Software, or whatever software manager your distribution uses.

Once it loads up, all you need to do is click on the "Install" button.

If for some reason the software manager doesn't open, you can install a package using GDebi or the dpkg command.

If you don't have it already, open the terminal to begin installing GDebi.

Type the following command and hit enter.

sudo apt install gdebi

Once installation is complete, head over to the location of the DEB package that you downloaded.

If you are using Ubuntu, right-click on the application package and select "Open With Other Application." Otherwise, search for another option under the "Open With" category, or simply double-click on the file.

Locate and select the GDebi Package Installer, and lastly, click on the "Select" button.

The GDebi package installer will now open and retrieve the details of the package you want to install.

Finally, click on the "Install Package" button and give it some time to install.

You should now see the application in the applications list.

Install DEB Files in the Terminal

To install DEB files using the terminal, simply follow these steps:

1. Open the terminal.

2. Change the directory to the location where the downloaded DEB file is stored. In this example, the file is in the \Downloads directory.

cd \Downloads

Type the dpkg command followed by the package name and hit Enter. Here's an example.

sudo dpkg -i "package_name.deb"

Replace the "package_name.deb" with the name of your package, then press Enter, and the installation process will commence. You will likely be prompted to input the administrator password.

You can also access the file location using the default file manager, and then install it by entering "sudo dpkg -i" in the terminal and dragging and dropping the file. Press Enter to proceed with the installation.

Regardless of the method you choose with dpkg, we advise verifying the presence of any required dependencies before launching the application. dpkg does not perform a check to ensure that your system has all the necessary components for running the program, but you can use apt to handle this task.

Run the following command in your terminal: sudo apt install -f. This will allow apt to install any additional dependencies required by programs installed on your PC. Once the installation is finished, you can proceed to run your program. To verify that the installation was successful, you can list the installed packages on Linux.