How To Install Inkscape On Linux
Are you a vector graphics illustrator or designer looking for a quick, free, open replacement to expensive vector tools like Adobe Illustrator on Linux? Consider checking out Inkscape! It’s a full-featured vector graphics editing and illustration tool. It’s completely free, open source and usable on most operating systems. To install Inkscape on Linux, you need to be running Ubuntu, Debian, Arch Linux, Fedora or Open SUSE. Alternatively, you need to be able to use Flatpaks or Snap packages. To install Inkspace open up a terminal and follow the instructions below!
Ubuntu
Ubuntu carries Inkscape in their main software sources. To install it, open up Gnome software, search for “Inkscape” and click the “Install” button to get it. Alternatively, open up a terminal window and enter the command below to install it.
sudo apt install inkscape
The version of Inkscape that Ubuntu carries is relatively modern but the Inkscape developers have an official PPA that any user can enable to get the absolute latest version. Once enabled, the version of Inkscape on Ubuntu will be more up to date. To allow the official Inkscape PPA, enter the following command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:inkscape.dev/stable
Using add-apt-repository to add the Inkscape PPA adds a new software source to the system. Unfortunately, it’s not yet possible to use it, as Ubuntu doesn’t know it’s there. To make Ubuntu aware of the new changes, you’ll need to use the update command.
sudo apt update
Using update pulls in the latest updates. Given the fact that Ubuntu is now using the new Inkscape PPA, some updates to Inkscape should be ready to install. To upgrade Ubuntu to the latest version of Inkscape, use the upgrade command.
sudo apt upgrade -y
If you’ve decided you no longer need Inkscape, use the remove command to get rid of Inkscape.
sudo apt remove inkscape
Debian
Inkscape is an open source program, so it’s easy to install on all versions of Debian. Debian isn’t known for “current” software, so getting the newest version of Inkscape is a bit tricky.
To install the latest “stable” version of the Inkscape tool, do the following:
sudo apt-get install inkscape
If you’re looking to update to the newest, most current version of the software, you’ll need first to uninstall Inkscape from the traditional software repositories.
sudo apt-get remove inkscape
Next, you’ll need to enable Debian Backports. Follow our guide here to learn how to do it. Once you’ve done it, install a newer version of Inkscape via Debian Backports.
Note: please change release-backports with the name of your Debian release. For example, to install the latest version of Debian Stable, you’d use stretch-backports, etc.
sudo apt-get -t release-backports inkscape
Uninstall Inkscape from Debian with apt-get remove.
sudo apt-get remove inkscape --purge
Arch Linux
Arch Linux is always up to date, given that it’s a “bleeding-edge” Linux distribution. As a result, users should have absolutely no trouble installing the most current version of Inkscape. To install Inkspace on Arch, use the Pacman package tool to sync down the latest updates and patches.
sudo pacman -Syyuu
After upgrading everything, it’s safe to install Inkscape.
sudo pacman -S inkscape
Need to uninstall Inkscape from Arch? Try this:
sudo pacman -R inkscape
Fedora
Fedora Linux is a relatively up to date Linux distribution, so getting the newest version of Inkscape isn’t very difficult. To install Inkspace, open up a terminal window and use the DNF packaging tool to get it working.
sudo dnf install inkscape
Need to uninstall Inkscape from Fedora? Use dnf remove to get rid of it.
sudo dnf remove inkscape
OpenSUSE
The version of Inkscape is highly dependent on what version of SUSE you’re using. Tumbleweed is a bleeding edge Linux distribution and will have the absolute latest. Conversely, Leap is “stable” and doesn’t receive software updates as quickly.
If you’re looking to get the newest version of Inkscape on Suse, we recommend converting your Leap installation to Tumbleweed. Follow our guide here to learn how to do it.
To install Inkscape on OpenSUSE, open up a terminal and use the Zypper package tool to install it.
sudo zypper in inkscape
Remove Inkscape from SUSE using zypper rm.
sudo zypper rm inkscape
Snap Package
An excellent alternative for those who can’t install Inkscape in the traditional method is to use Snap packages. To install Inkscape with a Snap, you’ll first need to follow our tutorial and learn how to enable the technology on your operating system. Once it’s working, use snap install to get the latest version of Inkscape on your PC.
sudo snap install inkscape
Remove Inkscape from your system at any time by doing snap remove.
sudo snap remove inkscape
Flatpak
Those looking to get the Inkscape graphical tool on Linux but don’t have a binary package available, and can’t use Snap packages have another way: Flatpaks. It’s a universal package format that works on virtually every Linux distribution out there.
Start the Inkscape installation by enabling Flatpak on your Linux distribution. After that, use the flatpak command to allow Flathub as a software source.
sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
Finally, after everything is set up, install Inkscape via Flatpak.
sudo flatpak install flathub org.inkscape.Inkscape
To uninstall Inkscape, look for “Inkscape” in Gnome Software, and click “uninstall.” Alternatively, use:
sudo flatpak uninstall org.inkscape.Inkscape
