How to Install FreeTube on Ubuntu 22.04 | 20.04

FreeTube is a free and open-source desktop application that allows users to watch, browse, and download videos from various video hosting websites without being tracked or monitored. FreeTube is designed to protect users’ privacy and security by utilizing the Tor network, a popular privacy-focused tool, to route traffic through anonymous nodes.

Some key features of FreeTube include:

• Support for multiple video hosting websites, including YouTube, PeerTube, and Odysee/LBRY.
• Ability to watch, browse, and download videos without ads and tracking.
• Option to create and manage subscriptions, playlists, and history.
• Customizable settings, including video quality, language, and theme.
• Open-source and community-driven development, with regular updates and bug fixes.

Unlike other video hosting websites or applications, FreeTube stands out with its privacy and security features. Using the Tor network, FreeTube can protect users’ online privacy and anonymity, making it an excellent option for those concerned about their online activities being tracked or monitored.

In addition, FreeTube is also highly customizable, allowing users to adjust the settings to their liking and preferences. Users can choose from various video qualities, languages, and themes to create a personalized viewing experience.

The guide will demonstrate how to install FreeTube on Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish or Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa by downloading the .deb file and installing FreeTube manually or with the Flatpak and Flathub third-party repository using the command-line terminal. With these installation methods, users can quickly and easily start using FreeTube and enjoy a private and secure video browsing experience.

Method 1: Install FreeTube with .deb

Before you begin, visit FreeTube’s website and download the latest version of the .deb package. Alternatively, you can use the command-line tool “wget” to download the package directly from the terminal.

Open the terminal and navigate to the directory where the .deb file was downloaded.

cd ~/Downloads

Use the following command to install the .deb package:

sudo dpkg -i freetube*.deb

If the installation is successful, you should see a message indicating that FreeTube has been installed.

Note: The process will fail if any dependencies are missing during the installation. In this case, use the following command to install the missing dependencies before attempting to install FreeTube again:

sudo apt -f install

Following these steps, you can install FreeTube on Ubuntu using the .deb package. This method is ideal for downloading and installing software directly from the source.

Method 2: Install FreeTube with Flatpak and Flathub

The second method for installing FreeTube is using Flatpak, a package manager that provides a sandboxed application environment. Before installing FreeTube using Flatpak, you must add the Flathub repository containing the FreeTube package.

Note: If you don’t have Flatpak installed, follow our guide on How to Install Flatpak on Ubuntu with the Flatpak Team Official LaunchPAD PPA for the latest supported version.

Open the terminal and type the following command to add the Flathub repository:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Once the repository is added, install FreeTube by running the following command:

flatpak install flathub io.freetubeapp.FreeTube

How to Launch FreeTube

Launching FreeTube on Ubuntu can be done through the command terminal or the application icon in the menu. Here are the steps for both methods: the apt method and Flatpak.

APT/Debian Files:

freetube

Flatpak installations:

flatpak run io.freetubeapp.FreeTube

Launching FreeTube from the Application Icon in the Menu:

1. Click on the Applications icon on the bottom-left corner of the screen.
2. Search for FreeTube in the search bar.
3. Click on the FreeTube icon to launch the application.

Example of FreeTube in the application menu of Ubuntu:

When launching FreeTube on Ubuntu Linux for the first time, there are several features that users should check out to get the most out of the application. Here are some of the most important features to explore:

1. Search – FreeTube supports multiple video hosting websites, including YouTube, PeerTube, and Odysee/LBRY. Users can use the search feature to find specific videos or channels across these websites.
2. Subscriptions – Users can subscribe to channels on FreeTube to receive updates on new videos. This feature is especially useful for keeping up with content creators that users enjoy watching.
3. Playlists – FreeTube allows users to create and manage playlists of their favorite videos. This feature helps organize videos and makes finding and watching specific content easy.
4. History – FreeTube keeps track of users’ browsing history, making it easy to revisit recently viewed videos. This feature can also resume the playback of previously interrupted videos.
5. Settings – FreeTube offers customizable settings, including video quality, language, and theme. Users should explore the settings menu to adjust them to their liking and preferences.

Tips and advice for using FreeTube on Ubuntu Linux:

1. FreeTube is designed to protect users’ privacy and security, but it’s important to remember that no tool can provide 100% anonymity or security. Users should still practice caution when browsing the internet.
2. To ensure optimal performance and security, users should keep FreeTube updated by regularly checking for updates.
3. FreeTube allows users to download videos for offline viewing. This feature can be especially useful for watching videos without an internet connection, but users should be aware of copyright laws and regulations when downloading videos.
4. FreeTube is an open-source and community-driven project, and users are encouraged to contribute to its development and improvement. Users can report bugs, suggest features, and contribute code by visiting the FreeTube GitHub repository.

Users can make the most of FreeTube on Ubuntu Linux and enjoy a private and secure video browsing experience by checking out these features and following these tips and advice.

Examples of FreeTube UI on Ubuntu:

Additional Tips

How to Remove FreeTube

To remove FreeTube from Ubuntu, run the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt remove freetube

If FreeTube was installed using Flatpak, run the following command:

flatpak uninstall io.freetubeapp.FreeTube

Conclusion

Installing FreeTube on Ubuntu is a straightforward process. Users can choose between installing with the .deb file or installing with Flatpak and Flathub. By following the step-by-step instructions in this guide, novice users can quickly and easily install FreeTube and enjoy a private and secure video browsing experience.