How to Install MuseScore 3.x via PPA in Ubuntu 18.04, Higher

Last updated: February 28, 2019

Free score writer MuseScore 3 was released a few months ago. Finally the official PPA for MuseScore 3 is available for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, and higher.

MuseScore 3 is a new major release that features automatic placement, brand new Mixer and Piano Roll, dark theme, notation improvements, and many other changes.

MuseScore 3 and MuseScore 2.3 can co-exist on one machine. Installation of the MuseScore 3 will create the association with .mscz/.mscx files, but you can keep using both versions of MuseScore on one machine.

How to Install MuseScore 3 via PPA in Ubuntu:

While MuseScore PPA contains the latest 2.3.x packages, a new official PPA for MuseScore 3 was created. You can do following steps to add the PPA and install the score writer.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mscore-ubuntu/mscore3-stable

Type user password (no asterisk feedback due to security reason) when it asks and hit Enter.

2. Then install MuseScore 3 via command:

sudo apt install musescore3

Linux Mint 19 needs to refresh package cache by running command apt update first.

Once installed, launch the software from application menu and enjoy!

Uninstall:

To remove the software, run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --autoremove musescore3

To remove the PPA, go to Software & Updates -> Other Software tab.

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4 responses to How to Install MuseScore 3.x via PPA in Ubuntu 18.04, Higher

  1. Hi, still me, MIDI works (both AppImage and PPA one), yeaaahh :D

    Simply selecting ALSA and pressing the “Restart… devices” button and restarting the app did it, and… realizing that when trying two different MIDI interfaces I hadn’t plugged the DIN connector all the way in.

    Thank you again for the PPA!

  2. after adding the ppa I get this:
    sudo apt install musescore3
    Reading package lists… Done
    Building dependency tree
    Reading state information… Done
    E: Unable to locate package musescore3

    (LinuxMint19.2 Cinnamon)

    • Though it’s not required in Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, Linux Mint 19.x may need to manually refresh system cache first via command:

      sudo apt update
  3. Thanks for these instructions!