How to Install KTorrent on Ubuntu

KTorrent is a full-featured BitTorrent client built for the KDE desktop environment. If you download large files, share content via torrents, or need fine-grained control over your transfers, KTorrent gives you queue management, bandwidth controls, IP filtering, and plugin support in a single application. By the end of this guide, you will have KTorrent installed on Ubuntu and verified working, ready for your first torrent.

Choose Your KTorrent Installation Method

Ubuntu offers two straightforward ways to install KTorrent. To help you decide, the table below compares each method so you can pick the one that fits your workflow.

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
APT (Default Repository)	Ubuntu Repos	Distribution default	Automatic via apt upgrade	Most users who prefer distro-tested packages
Flatpak (Flathub)	Flathub	Latest stable	Automatic via flatpak update	Users who want the newest release with sandboxing

For most users, the APT method is recommended because it integrates with your system’s package manager, receives security updates automatically, and requires no additional setup. However, choose Flatpak if you specifically need the latest upstream release or prefer application sandboxing.

Method 1: Install KTorrent via APT

The APT method installs KTorrent from Ubuntu’s default repositories. As a result, this approach is the simplest and ensures compatibility with your system libraries.

Update Your Package Index

Before installing any software, refresh your package index and upgrade existing packages. This ensures you install the latest available version and reduces dependency conflicts:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Install KTorrent

With your package index updated, install KTorrent using the following command:

sudo apt install ktorrent

APT will then download KTorrent along with any required KDE libraries. The installation typically takes a minute or two depending on your internet connection.

Verify the Installation

After installation completes, confirm that KTorrent is properly installed by checking the package status:

apt-cache policy ktorrent

As a result, you should see output showing the installed version:

ktorrent:
  Installed: 23.08.5-0ubuntu3
  Candidate: 23.08.5-0ubuntu3
  Version table:
 *** 23.08.5-0ubuntu3 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble/universe amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

Here, the “Installed” line confirms KTorrent is ready to use. Note that the exact version number depends on your Ubuntu release.

Method 2: Install KTorrent via Flatpak

Alternatively, Flatpak provides a sandboxed installation with the latest upstream release from Flathub. This method is particularly useful if you want newer features than your distribution packages or prefer application isolation.

Flatpak is not pre-installed on Ubuntu. If you have not set it up yet, install it with sudo apt install flatpak and restart your session before continuing. For detailed setup including the Flathub repository, follow our Flatpak installation guide for Ubuntu.

Add the Flathub Repository

First, ensure the Flathub repository is configured on your system. The --if-not-exists flag prevents errors if you have already added it:

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

Install KTorrent from Flathub

Next, install KTorrent using the Flatpak command. The -y flag automatically confirms the installation prompt:

sudo flatpak install flathub org.kde.ktorrent -y

Flatpak will then download the application and any required runtimes. Note that this may take several minutes on the first installation as the KDE runtime is sizeable.

Verify the Flatpak Installation

Finally, confirm the installation succeeded by checking the application details:

flatpak info org.kde.ktorrent

In response, the output displays version information and confirms the application is installed:

KTorrent - BitTorrent Client

          ID: org.kde.ktorrent
         Ref: app/org.kde.ktorrent/x86_64/stable
        Arch: x86_64
      Branch: stable
      Origin: flathub
     Version: 25.12.0

Launch KTorrent

After installation completes, you can open KTorrent using either the graphical menu or command line. Both methods launch the same application.

Launch from the Applications Menu

The simplest approach is to use your desktop’s application launcher. To do this, click Activities, then Show Applications, and search for KTorrent. Finally, click the icon to launch the application.

Launch from the Terminal

Alternatively, if you prefer the command line, you can launch KTorrent directly from your terminal. The command differs based on your installation method.

For APT installations:

ktorrent

For Flatpak installations:

flatpak run org.kde.ktorrent

Manage KTorrent

Once installed, keeping KTorrent updated ensures you have the latest security patches and features. This section covers routine maintenance and removal if you decide to uninstall the application.

Update KTorrent

KTorrent receives updates through your package manager. Therefore, run the appropriate command periodically to ensure you have the latest security patches and features.

Update via APT

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

This command refreshes your package index and then upgrades all installed packages, including KTorrent.

Update via Flatpak

flatpak update

Similarly, Flatpak updates all installed applications and their runtimes in a single command.

Remove KTorrent

If you no longer need KTorrent, uninstall it using the command matching your original installation method.

Remove via APT

To remove KTorrent and clean up any orphaned dependencies, run:

sudo apt remove ktorrent && sudo apt autoremove

Here, the autoremove command removes KDE libraries that were installed as dependencies but are no longer needed by any other application. Additionally, if you want to delete configuration files, use purge instead:

sudo apt purge ktorrent && sudo apt autoremove

Remove via Flatpak

To remove the application while keeping your torrent settings, run:

sudo flatpak uninstall org.kde.ktorrent

Additionally, to remove unused runtimes that were installed as dependencies, run:

sudo flatpak uninstall --unused

Flatpak stores application data in ~/.var/app/org.kde.ktorrent/. If you want a complete removal including your torrent settings and download history, delete this directory after uninstalling: rm -rf ~/.var/app/org.kde.ktorrent

Conclusion

In summary, you now have KTorrent installed on Ubuntu using either APT or Flatpak. The APT method provides stability with automatic updates through your system package manager, while Flatpak offers the latest features with application sandboxing. Ultimately, both methods give you a full-featured BitTorrent client with queue management, bandwidth controls, and plugin support. If you prefer a different torrent client, consider qBittorrent or Deluge as alternatives.