Install on Linux

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This page shows old instructions for MuseScore 2.
For MuseScore 4 users, see Install on Linux.

As of MuseScore 2.0.3 you can, for the first time, get hold of a copy for Linux straight from the download page, just like Windows and Mac users. This is possible thanks to the AppImage packaging format, which runs on pretty much all Linux distributions. If you prefer, there is still the option to get it the traditional way via your distribution's package manager (but you may have to wait for it to get packaged by the relevant maintainer). Of course, you can always build from source.

AppImage

The AppImage format is a new way of packaging Linux applications. AppImages are portable - they don't have to be installed - and they run on pretty much any Linux distribution. Dependencies are included in the one AppImage file.

Step 1 - Download

Before you download an AppImage, you need to know your processor's architecture. These terminal commands will show it:

    arch

    uname -m

The output will be something like "i686", "x86_64" or "armv7":

i686 (or similar) - 32-bit Intel/AMD processor (found on older machines).
x86_64 (or similar) - 64-bit Intel/AMD processor (modern laptop and desktop computers, most Chromebooks).
armv7 (or later) - ARM processor (phones & tablets, Raspberry Pi 2/3 running Ubuntu Mate, some Chromebooks, usually 32-bit at present).

Now you can head over to the download page and find the AppImage that best matches your architecture. Once downloaded, the file will be named "MuseScore-X.Y.Z-$(arch).AppImage".

Step 2 - Give execute permission

Before you can use the AppImage you need to give permission for it to be run as a program.

From the Terminal:

This command gives the user (u) permission to execute (x) the AppImage. It works on all Linux systems.

    cd ~/Downloads
    chmod u+x MuseScore*.AppImage

Note: Use the "cd" command to change directory to wherever you saved the AppImage.

From a File Manager:

If you prefer to avoid the command line, there is usually a way give execute permission from inside a File Manager.

In GNOME Files (Nautilus), simply:

Right-click on the AppImage and select "Properties".
Open the "Permissions" tab.
Enable the option labelled "Allow executing file as a program".

The process may be slightly different in other file managers.

Step 3 - Run it!

Now you should be able to run the program simply by double-clicking on it!

When you downloaded the AppImage it was probably saved in your Downloads folder, but you can move somewhere else it at any time (e.g. you could put it on your desktop for easy access). If you ever want to remove it then simply delete it.

Installing the AppImage (optional)

You can run the AppImage without installing it, but you must install it if you want it to be completely integrated with your desktop environment. This has the following benefits:

Adds the AppImage to your Applications Menu or Launcher
Sets the correct icons for MuseScore's files (MSCZ, MSCX) and for MusicXML files (MXL, XML)
Makes the AppImage available via your File Manager's right-click "Open with..." menu

To install it, run the AppImage from the Terminal with the "install" option (see immediately below). This copies a desktop file and various icons to your computer. If you want to remove them you will need to run the "remove" option before you delete the AppImage. This does not affect any scores created with any version of MuseScore.

Using command line options

Running the AppImage from the Terminal allows you to use various command line options. The AppImage has some special options in addition to MuseScore's normal command line options.

You will need to change directory (cd) to wherever the AppImage is saved your system, for example:

    cd ~/Desktop
    ./MuseScore*.AppImage [option...]

Or give the path to the AppImage:

    ~/desktop/MuseScore*.AppImage [option...]

Use the "--help" and "man" options to get more information about the available command line options:

    ./MuseScore*.AppImage --help   # displays a complete list of command line options
    ./MuseScore*.AppImage man      # displays the manual page (explains what the options do)

Distribution Packages

Fedora

Import the GPG key:

su
rpm --import http://prereleases.musescore.org/linux/Fedora/RPM-GPG-KEY-Seve

Go to the download page of the MuseScore website. Click on the link for the stable Fedora download and choose the correct rpm package for your architecture.

Depending on your architecture, use one of the two sets of commands to install MuseScore

for arch i386

su
yum localinstall musescore-X.Y-1.fc10.i386.rpm

for arch x86_64

su
yum localinstall musescore-X.Y-1.fc10.x86_64.rpm

If you have difficulty with sound, see Fedora 11 and sound.
See also the hints for the various distributions on the download page.