How to Install HandBrake on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

HandBrake is an open-source video transcoder that can be downloaded for free and supports Mac, Windows, or Linux to convert videos in many different formats into more commonly used ones like MP4 with minimal file size reduction – making it efficient at reducing the amount of data consumed on your hard drive while also helping save time!

In the following tutorial, you will learn how to install Handbrake on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Jammy Jellyfish using the command line terminal with various methods to install the transcoding software and update and remove the software if the need arises.

Update Ubuntu

First, update your system to ensure all existing packages are up to date to avoid any conflicts during the installation.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Install HandBrake – APT with Ubuntu Method

Handbrake is available in Ubuntu 22.04’s default repository, which makes it straightforward to install. The only downside of using this method is in time, and it can be a few versions behind current, with Ubuntu focusing on stability first.

Use the following command to begin the installation.

sudo apt install handbrake -y

Install HandBrake – APT with PPA Method

The second option is to use the LaunchPAD PPA APT repository by Rob Savoury. This PPA contains the latest version of HandBrake at all times and is probably the best option for Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish users to add to grab the newest version without resorting to third-party package managers.

Import the PPA using the following command.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:savoury1/handbrake -y

Next, perform an APT update to sync the new PPA.

sudo apt-get update

Now install HandBrake from the PPA using the following apt install command.

sudo apt install handbrake -y

Install HandBrake – Flatpak Method

The third option is to use the popular package manager Flatpak. Users who have used other Linux distributions such as Fedora, Linux Mint, or Pop!_OS, to mention a few, would be familiar with Flatpak packages as they feature on more operating systems. By default, Ubuntu distributions do not come with Flatpak installed due to it being the main competitor of snaps (Snapcraft).

First, install Flatpak unless you have it installed already.

sudo apt install flatpak -y

The next step is to reboot your system if you have re-installed Flatpak; if not, skip.

reboot

Next, you need to enable Flatpack using the following command in your terminal:

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

Now begin the installation using the following flatpak command.

flatpak install flathub fr.handbrake.ghb -y

How to Launch HandBrake

With the installation complete from either method, you can run the application in a few different ways.

First, while you are in your terminal, you can use the following command:

handbrake

Flatpak users will need to launch using the command below from a terminal instance:

flatpak run fr.handbrake.ghb

However, this isn’t practical, and you would use the following path on your desktop.

Activities > Show Applications > HandBrake.

Alternatively, if you cannot find it, use the search function in the Applications menu if you have many applications installed.

Example:

Now open Handbrake to the default landing screen. From here, you can begin using the transcoding software.

Example:

How to Update/Upgrade HandBrake

Updates should appear in notifications, but if these fail to show sometimes, it is recommended to check using the terminal regardless use one of the following commands to check for updates.

APT Method

sudo apt update

Flatpak Method

flatpak update

How to Remove (Uninstall) HandBrake

Use one of the following commands to suit the original installation method for users who no longer require the paint application.

APT Remove Method

sudo apt autoremove handbrake --purge -y

Note, autoremove will also delete any unused packages from HandBrake and any other leftovers from previous applications. Most times, this is safe to do and should be done to keep your system from being bloated.

Lastly, users that installed HandBrake from the PPA by Rob Savoury remove the PPA using the following command.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:savoury1/handbrake -y

Flatpak Remove Method

flatpak remove  --delete-data fr.handbrake.ghb -y

Next, run the following command for any leftover clean-ups required, similar to the autoremove command described for the apt remove example command.

flatpak remove --unused

Comments and Conclusion

In the tutorial, you have learned how to install Handbrake using three different methods on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.

HandBrake is a simple online tool that allows users to create high-quality videos without special skills. It offers everything you would expect from an editing platform but in a minimalistic way that doesn’t require much time or effort. If you’re looking for professional video content with no hassle, this might be your best option!

For more information, visit the official Handbrake documentation.