> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://anki.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Installing & Upgrading Anki on Linux

## Requirements

The packaged version requires a recent 64 bit Intel/AMD Linux with glibc 2.35+ or ARM/AArch64 with glibc 2.39+, and common
libraries like libwayland-client and systemd. If you are on a different
architecture, or a barebones Linux distro, you will not be able to use the
packaged version, but you may be able to use the [Python wheels](https://betas.ankiweb.net/#via-pypipip)
instead.

Debian and derivatives, such as Ubuntu and [Chromebooks with Linux enabled](https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/9145439?), please use the following before
installing:

```shell theme={null}
sudo apt install libxcb-xinerama0 libxcb-cursor0 libnss3 libxcb-icccm4 libxcb-keysyms1
```

Arch and derivatives, such as Manjaro, please use the following before
installing:

```shell theme={null}
sudo pacman -S libxinerama xcb-util-cursor nss
```

If Anki fails to start after installing, you may be [missing other libraries](./missing-libraries).

If you're on Ubuntu 24.04 and Anki won't start, please see [this thread](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/issues-running-on-ubuntu-24-04/40974).

Anki's build system only supports glibc, so musl-based distros are not currently supported.

## Installing

To install Anki:

1. Download Anki from [https://apps.ankiweb.net](https://apps.ankiweb.net) to your Downloads folder.
2. If zstd is not already installed on your system, you'll need to install it using your package manager (e.g `sudo apt install zstd` on Debian/Ubuntu, or `sudo pacman -S zstd` on Arch).
3. Open a terminal and run the following commands, replacing the filename as appropriate.

```shell theme={null}
tar xaf Downloads/anki-2XXX-linux-x86_64.tar.zst
cd anki-linux
sudo ./install.sh
```

On some Linux systems, you may need to use `tar xaf --use-compress-program=unzstd`.

4. You can then start Anki by typing `anki` and hitting <kbd>Enter</kbd>. If you encounter
   any issues, please see the links on the left.

## Upgrading

If you were running Anki from a .deb/.rpm/etc in the past, please make
sure to remove the system version before installing the package
provided here.

If you're upgrading from a previous package, simply repeat the
installation steps to upgrade to the latest version. Your user data
will be preserved.

If you wish to downgrade to a previous version, please make sure you
[downgrade first](http://changes.ankiweb.net).

## Add-on Compatibility

Some add-ons may not always work with the latest Anki release. If you upgrade to
the latest Anki version and find an add-on you cannot live without stops working,
you can download older Anki versions from the [releases page](https://github.com/ankitects/anki/releases).

## System Qt versions

Anki uses the official PyQt builds by default. This makes it easier to
install Anki on distros that don't have the relevant Python/Qt versions, but means that
you may not have access certain Qt features provided by your Linux distro, such as certain
Qt themes, support for the FCITX input method, etc.

If your Linux distro provides up-to-date Anki packages, you may find using them easiest.

## Problems

If you encounter any issues when installing or starting Anki, please see the
following pages:

* [Missing Libraries](./missing-libraries)
* [Display Issues](./display-issues)
* [Blank Main Window](./blank-window)
* [Linux Distro Packages](./distro-packages)
* [Incorrect GTK Theme](./gtk-theme)
* [Wayland](./wayland)
* [Input Methods](./input-methods)