This simple tutorial shows how to install the latest Intellij IDEA 2024.3 in Ubuntu 22.04 and Ubuntu 24.04.

IntelliJ IDEA 2024.2 was released on November 13, 2024. See the release note for the new features.

Key highlights include a visual representation of your code’s logical structure in the Structure tool window, a smoother debugging experience for Kubernetes applications, and cluster-wide Kubernetes log access.

Intellij IDEA is available to install in Ubuntu via different ways. They include Snap, Flatpak, official tarball, and Ubuntu PPA. Choose either one that you prefer.

Method 1: Install Intellij IDEA via Snap package

JetBrains provides official Linux package through both Snap and tarball. Which is super easy to install for Ubuntu users.

The Snap package Features:

• Official package by JetBrains.
• Run in sandbox environment.
• amd64 (x86_64) only.

For all current Ubuntu releases, just launch Ubuntu Software (or App Center), then search and install ‘Intellij IDE Community, Ultimate, or Educational.

For choice, you may press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal, and run command instead the install the Snap package:

snap install intellij-idea-community --classic

The snap package installs updates automatically. You can check (and install if any) updates manually by running command:

snap refresh intellij-idea-community

Method 2: Install Intellij IDEA via Flatpak package

Another easy way to install the IDE is using Flatpak package. Which works in most Linux, though also run in sandbox environment.

The Flatpak package Features:

• Community maintained.
• Run in sandbox.
• amd64 (x86_64) and arm64 support.

Ubuntu users just need to press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. Then run the 2 commands below one by one to install the package.

• First, run command to install the Flatpak daemon:

  sudo apt install flatpak

  

• Then, run the command below to install IDEA as Flatpak:

  flatpak install https://dl.flathub.org/repo/appstream/com.jetbrains.IntelliJ-IDEA-Community.flatpakref

  You may replace Community in command with Ultimate to install the Ultimate edition.

  

And, if you’re first time installing app as Flatpak, log out and back in for the app icon visible in system app launcher.

To update the Flatpak package, use command:

flatpak update com.jetbrains.IntelliJ-IDEA-Community

Method 3: Install IntelliJ IDEA via Official Tarball

If you don’t like or have issue for the IDE running in sandbox, then use the official Linux tarball instead!

The Linux Tarball Features:

• Official package by JetBrains.
• Portable, no installation required.
• amd64 (x86_64) and arm64 support.

1. First, go to the official download page via the link below:

Depends on your need, either download the Ultimate, or scroll down and select the Community edition. For ARM64, click the down arrow (▿) icon to select from drop-down menu.

2. After downloaded the tarball, just extract and move the source folder to any location that you want for long time use.

In my case, I created a “Apps” folder in user home, and put IDEA source folder into it as sub-directory.

3. Without installation, you can now go to the ‘bin‘ sub-folder, right-click on “idea.sh” and select “Run as Program” to launch the IDE.

4. Create app shortcut, so to launch from start/application menu.

• First, press Ctrl+H in file manager and navigate to .local/share/applications directory. Then, create a new document and re-name to ‘idea.desktop’.For choice, you may open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to create the file instead:

  gedit ~/.local/share/applications/idea.desktop

  Replace gedit with gnome-text-editor for Ubuntu 24.04, or other text editor according to your Ubuntu edition and desktop environment.

• Then, paste following lines into the file you just created and save it.

  [Desktop Entry]
  Version=1.0
  Type=Application
  Name=IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
  Comment=Develop with pleasure!
  Exec=/PATH/TO/IDEA/EXECUTABLE
  Icon=/PATH/TO/IDEA/ICON-FILE
  Terminal=false
  StartupNotify=true
  StartupWMClass=jetbrains-idea-ce
  Categories=Development;IDE;Java;

  Here, you need to replace the values of ‘Exec‘ and ‘Icon‘ according where you put the source folder. And, change ‘Name’ value for Ultimate edition.
  

If everything’s done correctly, you can now search for and launch the IDE from app launcher or the overview screen depends on your DE a few moments later:

Method 4: Install IntelliJ IDEA via Ubuntu PPA

Another choice to avoid Snap and Flatpak, is using an Ubuntu PPA. However, there are only third-party maintained PPAs.

The PPA features:

• Third-party maintained.
• IDEA Community only.
• amd64 (x86_64) and arm64.
• supports Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04 only so far.

As far as I know, the xtradeb PPA is keeping updated with the most recent packages including the IDEA Community.

To install the IDE from the PPA, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. And, run commands below one by one:

• Add the PPA by running command:

  sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xtradeb/apps

  

• Then install the IDE:

  sudo apt install intellij-idea-community

  

NOTE: Linux Mint user needs to run sudo apt update after adding PPA to manually refresh system package cache.

Uninstall IntelliJ IDEA

For the Snap package, just remove it from Ubuntu Software or App Center.

For the Flatpak package, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to remove it:

flatpak uninstall --delete-data com.jetbrains.IntelliJ-IDEA-Community

And, run flatpak uninstall --unused to remove useless run-time libraries.

For IDEA installed via the official Tarball, just remove the source folder as well as .desktop file under .local/share/applications directory.

For the Ubuntu PPA package, open terminal and run command to remove it:

sudo apt remove --autoremove intellij-idea-community

Also remove the Ubuntu PPA by running command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:xtradeb/apps