Install OpenShot Video Editor on Ubuntu

OpenShot is one of the best open-source video editors out there. With all the features that it offers – it is a good, non-linear video editor available for free on Linux.

Now, OpenShot is available in the universe repository of Ubuntu, so you can find it in the software center application and install it from there.

Install OpenShot Video Editor deb version from Ubuntu Software Center — OpenShot in Ubuntu Software Center

If you prefer the command line, you can install it using the following command:

sudo apt install openshot-qt

However, you are likely to NOT get the latest stable version of OpenShot in the distribution’s repository.

The good news is that OpenShot provides an official, well-maintained PPA and you can use it to get the latest stable version.

Installing latest stable OpenShot on Ubuntu

Since you have to use a PPA here, you'll have to use the command line,

Open a terminal on Ubuntu. Use the shortcut Ctrl+Alt+T for quickly opening it.

Use the following commands one by one:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:openshot.developers/ppa
sudo apt update
sudo apt install openshot-qt python3-openshot

Once installed, look for it in the system menu and start it from there.

OpenShot Video Editor Start Screen — OpenShot Video Editor

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Your OpenShot will get updates along with the system update.

Removing OpenShot

First, remove OpenShot, along with its configurations.

sudo apt purge openshot-qt python3-openshot
sudo apt autoremove

Remove the PPA from your system using:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:openshot.developers/ppa
sudo apt update

Alternatively, download OpenShot as AppImage [works on any Linux]

OpenShot officially provides an AppImage, that is up-to-date. You can download it from their official download page as a .AppImage file. The AppImage files can be used on most Linux distributions.

Download OpenShot

Right-click on the AppImage file and select “Properties”.

Click on the AppImage file and select Properties from right-click context menu — Click on Properties from Right-click menu

Under Permissions tab, check on the “Allow executing file as a program”.

Activate “Allow executing file as a program” checkbox to make the AppImage file executable — Make AppImage Executable

Now, you can double-click on the AppImage file to run it.

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Keep all your AppImages in one place and use desktop entries for them, in order to access those apps easily.

Remove OpenShot AppImage

Since AppImages are not installed to your system like normal packages, you can just delete the AppImage file from the location where you saved it. That's it.

Wrapping Up

OpenShot is also available as a Flatpak and Snap. Feel free to use those packages if you prefer that.

OpenShot is a simple and effective solution as a video editor for everyday use. It may not be the best one around – but it does get the job done without having a flashy user interface.

Just want to trim a video? Use Video Trimmer.