Vivaldi is a unique web browser designed specifically for power users. It offers a host of features that are not available in other browsers, including an advanced tab management system, built-in note-taking capabilities, and a customizable interface. Vivaldi also includes several privacy-oriented features, such as built-in ad and tracker blockers.
However, the real selling point of Vivaldi is its flexibility. Users can customize just about every aspect of the browser, from the position of the toolbar to the color scheme. This level of customization is not possible with other browsers, which makes Vivaldi a must-have for anyone who wants complete control over their browsing experience. Whether you’re looking for a more efficient way to manage your tabs or enjoy a browser that looks and feels exactly the way you want it to, Vivaldi is worth checking out.
In the following tutorial, you will learn how to install Vivaldi Browser on Linux Mint 21 LTS release series using the command line terminal and the option of Vivaldi stable or Vivaldi snapshot browser versions.
Table of Contents
Update Linux Mint
First, update your system to ensure all existing packages are up to date. This will ensure no conflicts arise as best as possible during the installation.
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
Install Required Packages
To complete the installation, you will need to install the following software packages using the following command in your terminal.
sudo apt install dirmngr ca-certificates software-properties-common gnupg gnupg2 apt-transport-https curl -y
If unsure, run the command; it will not harm you.
These are the most common software packages found on nearly all Linux distributions.
Import Vivaldi GPG Key & Repository
Import GPG Key
In the first step, you will need to download the GPG key, which is used to verify the authenticity of the packages you are downloading and installing.
curl -fsSL https://repo.vivaldi.com/archive/linux_signing_key.pub | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/vivaldi.gpg > /dev/null
Import and Add the Repository
Next, add the repo as follows:
echo deb [arch=amd64,armhf signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/vivaldi.gpg] https://repo.vivaldi.com/archive/deb/ stable main | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vivaldi.list
Install Vivaldi Browser
Once you have imported the repository, you can install Vivaldi using the following.
First, update your repository list to reflect the new repository changes:
sudo apt update
Install either the stable or snapshot (nightly) version of Vivaldi Browser. Note you can install both together.
Install Vivaldi Browser Stable
sudo apt install vivaldi-stable -y
Confirm the version and build of the Vivaldi Browser version installed on your operating system using the following command:
vivaldi --version
Optional – Install Vivaldi Snapshot (Nightly)
Run the following command for users or developers who want to test Vivaldi’s development version.
sudo apt install vivaldi-snapshot -y
Confirm the version and build of the Vivaldi Browser version installed on your operating system using the following command:
vivaldi-snapshot --version
Note, stick with Stable for your daily browsing, do not use the development version for any serious browsing or transactions.
How to Launch Vivaldi Browser
With the installation complete, you can run Vivaldi in a few different ways.
First, while you are in your terminal, you can use the following command:
vivaldi
For most desktop users, you would use the following path to open the Vivaldi browser on your desktop.
Taskbar > Internet > Vivaldi {version}.
Example:
The first time you open Vivaldi, you will be greeted by the following landing page to customize your browser. Vivaldi will have about five pages of quick setting options to customize your Vivaldi experience. Overall, it should take 1 to 5 minutes, depending on how much customizing you want.
Example:
Note, you will be able to choose a color theme, the Dark theme is quite popular along with Hot Pink, but others are available.
Example:
Once done, you will see the final landing page, and you are good to go browsing.
Example (Hot Pink):
Besides the theme and privacy options, you will get a screen to configure tab preferences; again, this is all on the user installing the browser’s taste and can be modified later. Once complete, you will arrive at your default launch screen customized to your country.
Example:
Congratulations, you have successfully installed Vivaldi Browser on your desktop. Remember, your browser depends on tabs; the color theme and location may look different, but that’s great, and the best part of Vivaldi is the customization.
How to Update/Upgrade Vivaldi Browser
Most desktop users rely on automatic updates or auto-update notifications, which can be ok. Still, given that you are learning to install the browser using a terminal, you should update by running the APT update command in your terminal as you would check your entire system for any updates.
sudo apt update
If one is available, use the upgrade option.
sudo apt upgrade
How to Remove (Uninstall) Vivaldi Browser
To remove Vivaldi, execute the following terminal command.
Remove Vivaldi Browser Stable
sudo apt autoremove vivaldi-stable --purge -y
Remove Vivaldi Browser Snapshot
sudo apt autoremove vivaldi-snapshot --purge -y
Note unused dependencies will also be removed.
For users who will no longer install or want to install the Vivaldi browser on their system, use the following command to delete the Vivaldi Repository.
sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vivaldi.list /usr/share/keyrings/vivaldi.gpg
Comments and Conclusion
Vivaldi is a powerful and customizable web browser with many features that its competitors do not. While some browsers, such as Brave Browser, are focused more on the privacy of their users, Vivaldi comes with more features overall. A new feature for Vivaldi is the tab management feature; by selecting multiple tabs, you can put them in a “stack,” which saves valuable real estate on the tab bar. Once in a stack, you can also move them around as one unit, which is helpful if you have a lot of tabs open. Try out Vivaldi today to see how it can improve your browsing experience!