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.

Twitter

I'm a freelance blogger who started using Ubuntu in 2007 and wishes to share my experiences and some useful tips with Ubuntu beginners and lovers. Please comment to let me know if the tutorial is outdated! And, notify me if you find any typo/grammar/language mistakes. English is not my native language. Contact me via ubuntuhandbook1@gmail.com Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/ubuntuhandbook1

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!