How to install deb files on kubuntu without using terminal?
By Sophia Bowman
I just installed Kubuntu and downloaded chrome, steam, and Dropbox deb files. When I try to install them using Kubuntu's software manager Discover, it says it can not install from an unsigned repo.
Is there a way I can install deb files by double clicking them in Kubuntu without using dpkg from the terminal?
33 Answers
You can use either apt or dpkg to install deb files. With apt you can try apt install <file>.deb or with dpkg you can try dpkg -i <file>.deb && apt install -f. Of course you might need sudo privileges with either methods. A good explanation of these is given on this thread.
If you still get errors about it being an unsigned repo, you can add [trusted=yes] in the sources.list file for the repo in question. But do so at your own discretion as it might expose you to bugs and security issues.
You can use a different GUI installer. First, install GDebi Package Installer using your Discover software center app.
Next, open your Dolphin file manager and navigate to the deb file. Right-click on the deb file and then select "Properties".
On the "General" tab, click on "File Type Options".
Under "Application Preference Order", click on GDebi Package Installer and then click on "^ Move Up" until GDebi is at the top of the list.
Click "OK" to close the File Type Options window.
Click "OK" to close the Properties window.
Now, you can double click on a deb file and GDebi will open. You can install the package if you click on "Install".
In Kubuntu qapt should be installed by default.
So you could just right-click on your .deb and select open with QApt Package Installer, which is not as strict with unsigned repos as Discover. I wouldn't use Discover anyhow, because it gives you normally not enough feedback about dependencies, so I would go with qapt (or with apt in the CLI as mentioned above.)
If qapt ist not yet istalled, run sudo apt-get install qapt-deb-installer
hope that helps
