flatpak-install

TLDR

Install an application from configured remotes

$ flatpak install [application_id]

Install from a specific remote

$ flatpak install [flathub] [org.gnome.gedit]

Install for current user only

$ flatpak install --user [application_id]

Install from a .flatpakref file

$ flatpak install --from [https://example.com/app.flatpakref]

Install from a local bundle file

$ flatpak install --bundle [path/to/app.flatpak]

Install or update if already installed

$ flatpak install --or-update [application_id]

Install without confirmation prompts

$ flatpak install -y [application_id]

SYNOPSIS

flatpak install [OPTIONS] [REMOTE] REF...
flatpak install [OPTIONS] [--from|--bundle] LOCATION

flatpak install installs applications or runtimes from Flatpak repositories. The REF argument specifies what to install using the format (app|runtime)/ID/ARCH/BRANCH. Typically only the application ID is needed; other parts are matched automatically or prompt for selection when ambiguous.
Installation sources include configured remotes (like Flathub), .flatpakref files (application description URLs), .flatpak bundle files, or OCI images. By default, applications install system-wide; use --user for per-user installation.
Dependencies (runtimes, extensions) are automatically resolved and installed. The command prompts for confirmation showing what will be downloaded and installed.

PARAMETERS

-u, --user

Install in per-user installation directory.

--system

Install in default system-wide installation.

--installation=NAME

Install in a specific system-wide installation.

--reinstall

Uninstall first if already installed.

--or-update

Update silently if already installed.

--bundle

Treat location as a single-bundle .flatpak file.

--from

Treat location as a .flatpakref application description.

-y, --assumeyes

Automatically answer yes to all prompts.

--no-deploy

Download but do not deploy.

--no-pull

Deploy from local cache without downloading.

-v, --verbose

Print debug information.

-h, --help

Show help and exit.

CAVEATS

System-wide installation requires root privileges or polkit authentication. Per-user installations are stored in ~/.local/share/flatpak/. Some applications require specific runtimes that will be installed automatically. Repository remotes must be configured before installing from them.

HISTORY

Flatpak was developed by Red Hat's Alexander Larsson, with the first stable release in 2015 (originally called xdg-app). It provides sandboxed application distribution independent of Linux distributions. Flathub, the primary Flatpak repository, launched in 2017 and has become the largest source of Flatpak applications.