To upgrade Flatpak on Linux Mint, you usually refresh the apps and runtimes you already use rather than replace the flatpak package itself. Linux Mint 22.x and 21.x desktop installs already include Flatpak with Flathub enabled, so most readers only need sudo flatpak update -y.
The package-level path only matters when the Mint archives lag behind a Flatpak fix or feature you need. In that case, confirm the newer candidate first, upgrade only the Flatpak package set through the stable PPA, and keep the rollback steps nearby if you need to return to the Mint archive.
Upgrade Flatpak on Linux Mint
Linux Mint 22.x ships Flatpak 1.14.x from its Ubuntu 24.04 base, while Linux Mint 21.x ships Flatpak 1.12.x from its Ubuntu 22.04 base. The Flatpak stable PPA currently publishes Flatpak 1.16.x for both supported Mint releases, which is newer than the Mint archives even though it does not always match the newest upstream tag on release day.
| Linux Mint release | Ubuntu base | Archive Flatpak | Flatpak stable PPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux Mint 22.x | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | Flatpak 1.14.x | Flatpak 1.16.x |
| Linux Mint 21.x | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | Flatpak 1.12.x | Flatpak 1.16.x |
Refresh Linux Mint Package Metadata Before the Flatpak Upgrade
Open a terminal from the applications menu or by using the keyboard shortcut configured on your system, then refresh the package lists before you add the PPA:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgradeThis guide uses
sudofor APT commands. If your account does not have sudo access yet, follow the guide on how to create and add users to sudoers on Linux Mint.
Add the Flatpak Stable PPA
The stable PPA is the only PPA this guide recommends. The development PPA currently publishes the same Flatpak 1.16.6 build as stable on supported Mint releases, so it does not improve the normal upgrade path.
sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:flatpak/stableThe -y flag accepts the Launchpad prompt automatically, so the PPA is added without another confirmation step.
Mint 22.x creates flatpak-stable-noble.list, while Mint 21.x creates flatpak-stable-jammy.list. That .list file is normal for PPA-based configuration on Linux Mint.
Refresh APT after the PPA is added, then confirm that the new candidate comes from ppa.launchpadcontent.net. Relevant output includes:
sudo apt updateHit:5 http://packages.linuxmint.com zena Release Get:9 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/flatpak/stable/ubuntu noble InRelease [17.8 kB] Get:11 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/flatpak/stable/ubuntu noble/main amd64 Packages [2,620 B] Reading package lists...
apt-cache policy flatpakRelevant output includes:
flatpak:
Installed: 1.14.6-1ubuntu0.1
Candidate: 1.16.6-1~flatpak1~24.04.1
Version table:
1.16.6-1~flatpak1~24.04.1 500
500 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/flatpak/stable/ubuntu noble/main amd64 Packages
On Mint 21.x, the same check shows the jammy branch and a 1.16.6-1~flatpak1~22.04.1 candidate.
Upgrade the Flatpak Package
Use a single-package upgrade so APT only touches the Flatpak package set. APT also upgrades bubblewrap, libflatpak0, and gir1.2-flatpak-1.0 because those packages move with Flatpak in the PPA.
sudo apt install --only-upgrade -y flatpakRelevant output includes:
The following additional packages will be installed: bubblewrap gir1.2-flatpak-1.0 libflatpak0 The following packages will be upgraded: bubblewrap flatpak gir1.2-flatpak-1.0 libflatpak0 4 to upgrade, 0 to newly install, 0 to remove and 2 not to upgrade. Need to get 1,863 kB of archives. Setting up flatpak (1.16.6-1~flatpak1~24.04.1) ...
Verify the Flatpak Version
Check the installed Flatpak version after the package upgrade:
flatpak --versionFlatpak 1.16.6
On Mint 21.x, the same command upgrades Flatpak to 1.16.6 from the stable PPA.
Update Flatpak Apps and Runtimes on Linux Mint
This is the command path most readers actually need. Upgrading the flatpak package through APT does not update the installed apps and runtimes inside your Flatpak remotes.
Check or Add the Flathub Remote on Linux Mint
Linux Mint should already have Flathub enabled system-wide. Confirm that before you update applications:
flatpak remotesflathub system
Stock Linux Mint desktop installs usually show flathub system here, which is why the update commands below use sudo.
If flatpak remotes does not show flathub, you are probably working on a customized or trimmed-down Mint installation rather than the stock desktop setup. Add the remote manually, then rerun the same check:
sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepoThe --if-not-exists flag skips the add if Flathub is already present.
Update Flatpak Apps and Runtimes
Refresh every installed Flatpak application and runtime with one command:
sudo flatpak update -yLooking for updates... Nothing to do.
If you only want one application, append its app ID, such as sudo flatpak update org.videolan.VLC -y. The same pattern works for Flathub apps you might already use from guides such as install Discord on Linux Mint or install GitHub Desktop on Linux Mint.
Troubleshoot Flatpak Package Upgrades on Linux Mint
The most common problems after a Flatpak package upgrade are an unchanged APT candidate and app launch errors caused by stale runtime metadata.
Fix a Flatpak Candidate That Does Not Change
If sudo apt install --only-upgrade -y flatpak reports that nothing can be upgraded, refresh APT again and inspect the candidate package directly:
sudo apt update && apt-cache policy flatpakRelevant output includes:
flatpak:
Installed: 1.14.6-1ubuntu0.1
Candidate: 1.16.6-1~flatpak1~24.04.1
Version table:
1.16.6-1~flatpak1~24.04.1 500
500 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/flatpak/stable/ubuntu noble/main amd64 Packages
If the candidate still points to the Mint archive version, add the stable PPA again and make sure the new flatpak-stable-*.list file exists in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/.
Fix Missing Runtime Errors After a Flatpak Upgrade
A newer Flatpak package does not refresh app runtimes by itself. When an app fails with a runtime error, update the installed Flatpak content first:
error: app/com.spotify.Client/x86_64/stable requires runtime org.freedesktop.Platform/x86_64/24.08 which was not found
sudo flatpak update -yLooking for updates... Nothing to do.
If sudo flatpak update -y finishes cleanly and the app still fails, confirm that flathub is present in flatpak remotes and then reinstall the affected application from the same remote.
Downgrade Flatpak on Linux Mint
If the stable PPA introduces a regression in your workflow, remove the PPA and downgrade the Flatpak package set back to the Mint archive. Keep this rollback scoped to the Flatpak packages so you do not disturb unrelated desktop components.
Avoid
ppa-purgefor this rollback on Linux Mint. Downgrading Flatpak from the PPA can remove desktop packages along withflatpak, so the safer path is to target the Mint archive packages explicitly with--allow-downgrades.
Remove the Flatpak Stable PPA
Remove the PPA first so APT stops preferring the newer Flatpak packages before you downgrade them:
sudo add-apt-repository --remove -y ppa:flatpak/stablesudo apt updateDowngrade Flatpak on Linux Mint 22.x
Mint 22.x is based on Ubuntu 24.04, so target the noble-updates pocket during the rollback:
sudo apt install --allow-downgrades -y flatpak/noble-updates libflatpak0/noble-updates gir1.2-flatpak-1.0/noble-updates bubblewrap/noble-updatesDowngrade Flatpak on Linux Mint 21.x
Mint 21.x is based on Ubuntu 22.04, so target the jammy-updates pocket instead:
sudo apt install --allow-downgrades -y flatpak/jammy-updates libflatpak0/jammy-updates gir1.2-flatpak-1.0/jammy-updates bubblewrap/jammy-updatesThe --allow-downgrades flag tells APT to accept the older archive version again. These noble-updates and jammy-updates targets are the Ubuntu archive pockets underneath Linux Mint and tell APT exactly where the downgraded Flatpak package set should come from.
Verify the Flatpak Rollback
Confirm that Flatpak is back on the Mint archive version after the rollback:
flatpak --versionFlatpak 1.14.6
On Mint 21.x, the same rollback returns Flatpak 1.12.7 from the archive.
Conclusion
Flatpak on Linux Mint is now current, whether you stayed with the Mint archive or moved to the stable PPA for a newer package build. After that, sudo flatpak update -y keeps your installed apps and runtimes in sync. If you want more desktop examples next, you can install Chromium Browser on Linux Mint or install Steam on Linux Mint.
I am so sick of LINUX GOOFS who want everybody to use the terminal to upgrade and make Linux COMPLEX for regular users: “Here are the 50 f’n comands you need to know!”
I use UPDATE MANAGER. When updating, a box appears for updating Flatpacks:
Additional Changes Are Required
REMOVE
UPGRADE
What do they mean and which should you use? The Default appears to be REMOVE. Correct??? What does it do to your Flatpack? What does UPGRADE do?
This is all the information regular users of Linux Mint require for upgrading. Can you HELP?
You make a fair point, Doug. That Update Manager dialog is confusing. Choose UPGRADE. It updates your Flatpak apps to newer versions while keeping your data and settings intact.
REMOVE uninstalls old runtime versions that apps no longer need. This happens automatically after upgrades. Linux Mint changed the default to UPGRADE in recent releases to match what most users expect.
The terminal commands in the guide offer more control (rolling back, switching channels, fixing stuck updates), but you are right that Update Manager handles routine upgrades for most users. Both approaches work.