How to install latest Obsidian on Ubuntu 24.04 or older versions

#ubuntu #obsidian #productivity #linux

There are currently some limitations commonly encountered when installing Obsidian via snap or flatpak packages.

In this tutorial, I will show you two quick and easy ways to install Obsidian without any problems.

Method 1 - Automatic mode

Install the latest version of Obsidian on Ubuntu with just the command below:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/oviniciusfeitosa/obsidian-ubuntu-installer/main/install.sh | sh

By installing this way, you can enjoy the full functionality, including the use of plugins and custom configurations, which are usually restricted in other installation methods.

Method 2 - Manual mode

If you prefer a manual installation, just follow the steps below:

Choose your preferred directory to download Obsidian. In my case I chose the /tmp/obsidian-install directory.

  mkdir -p /tmp/obsidian-install
  cd /tmp/obsidian-install

Download the .AppImage file of the latest available release:

  wget $(curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/obsidianmd/obsidian-releases/releases/latest | grep "browser_download_url.*AppImage" | grep -v "arm64" | cut -d : -f 2,3 | tr -d \")

Extract the .AppImage file

  ./Obsidian-1.6.7.AppImage --appimage-extract

Move the squashfs-root folder to /opt/Obsidian folder

  sudo mv squashfs-root /opt/Obsidian

Set the permissions that correctly run the application

  sudo chown -R root: /opt/Obsidian
  sudo chmod 4755 /opt/Obsidian/chrome-sandbox
  sudo find /opt/Obsidian -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;

Create a symbolic link:

  ln -s /opt/Obsidian/AppRun /usr/local/bin/obsidian

Create a application desktop launcher file ~/.local/share/applications/obsidian.desktop:

  echo "[Desktop Entry]
  Name=Obsidian
  Comment=A powerful knowledge base that works on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files
  Exec=/usr/local/bin/obsidian
  Icon=/opt/Obsidian/obsidian.png
  Terminal=false
  Type=Application
  Version=1.5.11
  Categories=Office;Utility;
  MimeType=x-scheme-handler/obsidian;text/html;" > ~/.local/share/applications/obsidian.desktop

Conclusion

And there you have it—two simple and effective methods to install Obsidian on Ubuntu, ensuring you get the most out of this powerful note-taking tool without any of the usual installation headaches. Whether you prefer the hands-off automatic method or enjoy getting your hands dirty with the manual approach, you're now fully equipped to set up Obsidian on your system.

If you found this tutorial helpful, be sure to check out my GitHub profile for more useful tools and scripts. And don't forget to give a ⭐ to the obsidian-ubuntu-installer repository if this script made your life a little easier today!

Happy note-taking, and welcome to a smoother, more streamlined Obsidian experience on Ubuntu!