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How to Install Vim 8.2 in Ubuntu 18.04, 16.04, 19.10

Last updated: December 16, 2019

Vim text editor 8.2 was released a few days ago. An unofficial PPA has made the packages for all current Ubuntu releases as well as Ubuntu 14.04.

The main new feature of Vim 8.2 is support for “popup windows”, which displays message boxes, function prototypes, code snippets, etc on top of the text. See Vim 8.2 release note for more.

Jonathon F maintains a PPA with Vim packages for all current Ubuntu releases.

The PPA maintainer announced that he will remove most of his PPAs from public access due to continued and persistent abuse by companies using these packages for commercial gain. Go check the PPA webpage before getting started.

1. Open terminal either from application menu or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jonathonf/vim

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. Then refresh package cache and install Vim via commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install vim

For more features (e.g., Python support), you may also install vim-gtk3 and / or vim-nox:

sudo apt install vim-gtk3 vim-nox

Uninstall:

To restore Vim to the stock versions in Ubuntu main repositories, run command to purge the PPA:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:jonathonf/vim

To only remove the PPA while keeping the installed Vim packages, either go to Software & Updates -> Other Software, or run command in terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:jonathonf/vim
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    5 responses to How to Install Vim 8.2 in Ubuntu 18.04, 16.04, 19.10

    1. Tony December 24, 2019 at 5:31 am

      Do I need to uninstall vim 8.0 shipped with Ubuntu 18.04?

      • Fernando J SAntos February 2, 2020 at 5:59 pm

        yep

      • Emrys August 30, 2020 at 10:54 pm

        *I* didn’t have to explicitly remove the 8.0 packages that were part of my 18.04 WSL install… they *are* gone, but the installation scripts must have included a check for older versions, and uninstalling them, b/c they’re gone, now, but, like i said, *i* didn’t do it.

    2. Alec Missine March 13, 2020 at 8:55 pm

      Thank you for your post, Ji m!

    3. sss March 17, 2020 at 10:37 am

      please write me ,, how can i install rtl7823e rivers in ubuntu 19.10 ,,,,,when i open wifi ,, i can there no wifi adapter.