For those want to install the Sublime Text code editor, here’s the step by step how to guide for Ubuntu 22.04 in 3 different ways.
Option 1: Snap package
A group of contributers maintain the text editor in Snap package format. Ubuntu 20.04 + users can simply search for and install it from Ubuntu Software (aka Snap Store):
The snap package runs in sandbox and always up-to-date since it receives updates automatically. The only downside could be that some do NOT like sandboxing apps.
For those prefer Linux commands, the package also can be installed by running the command below in terminal:
sudo snap install sublime-text --classic
Option 2: Official Apt repository
This is the official .deb package works in Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Debian, and even Raspberry Pi OS (arm64).
1. Firstly, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run the command below to make sure ‘https’ source is supported:
sudo apt-get install apt-transport-https
2. Add the repository key
The sublime text website still use the ‘apt-key‘ command in its document, which is deprecated.
For security reason, Debian has updated the policy. And, it’s recommend to use the command below instead to install the key:
wget -qO - https://download.sublimetext.com/sublimehq-pub.gpg | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/sublimehq-pub.gpg
It will download the key from its website, convert it to un-readable encrypted key, and put into “/usr/share/keyring” directory.
3. Add the official repository
Next, run the command below to create a source file and edit it via Gedit text editor:
sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list.d/sublime-text.list
When the file opens, add the following line (it’s a single line) and save it.
deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/sublimehq-pub.gpg] https://download.sublimetext.com/ apt/stable/
This step can be done alternatively by running the single command below:
echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/sublimehq-pub.gpg] https://download.sublimetext.com/ apt/stable/" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/sublime-text.list
4. Finally, update system package cache and install the code editor by running the following 2 commands one by one:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install sublime-text
Option 3: Flatpak package
Sublime Text 4 is NOT available as Flatpak so far. But for the old version 3, you may install it by running the commands below one by one in terminal.
NOTE: Like Snap, the Sublime Text as flatpak is also un-official package maintained by contributors, runs in sandbox and updates automatically.
Firstly, press Ctrl+Alt+T to open terminal and run command to install Flatpak daemon:
sudo apt install flatpak
Then, install Sublime Text 3 via Flatpak by running command:
flatpak install https://dl.flathub.org/repo/appstream/com.sublimetext.three.flatpakref
Uninstall Sublime Text:
For the Snap package, remove it either using Ubuntu Software or by running command in terminal:
sudo snap remove --purge sublime-text
For the Flatpak package, use the command to uninstall the package:
flatpak uninstall --delete-data com.sublimetext.three
and cleanup useless run-times via flatpak uninstall --unused.
For the official .deb package, remove it by running command:
sudo apt remove --autoremove sublime-text
The apt repository will not display in “Software & Updates” utility, so get rid of it by running command to remove the source file:
sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/sublime-text.list
And remove the key file by running command:
sudo rm /usr/share/keyrings/sublimehq-pub.gpg
Summary:
Here I introduced 3 ways to install Sublime Text in Ubuntu. The Snap is the easiest, which is available in Ubuntu Software, but the official apt repository is recommended! For those still looking for the old Sublime Text 3, the Flatpak package is available for choice.
