The article offers a step‑by‑step walkthrough for adding AnyDesk to Ubuntu and Linux Mint systems in under ten minutes. It starts with a concise one‑line command that fetches the GPG key, creates a signed by list file, updates APT, and installs the client, covering both distributions’ shared infrastructure. Following that it breaks down each part: installing wget and gnupg, grabbing the public key, adding the repository, updating package lists, and finally installing the program, while explaining why each step matters. The guide also mentions Snap or Flatpak alternatives, addresses common errors such as connection failures after kernel upgrades and keyboard issues during sessions, and provides troubleshooting hints like checking the service status and log files.

How to Install Anydesk on Ubuntu or Linux Mint

If you’re looking for a quick way to get your remote‑desktop app up and running, this guide will walk you through installing Anydesk on both Ubuntu and Linux Mint in under ten minutes—no fuss, no fancy bells and whistles.

Why you might need it

I’ve seen folks hit the “I can’t connect” error after a recent kernel update that broke the default libx11 link. A fresh install of Anydesk usually clears the problem because the newer build bundles its own runtime libraries. So if your remote sessions keep timing out, give this method a try.

Quick‑start: The one‑line way

sudo apt install wget gnupg && \
wget -qO- https://keys.anydesk.com/repos/DEB-GPG-KEY | sudo gpg --dearmor > /usr/share/keyrings/anydesk.gpg && \
echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/anydesk.gpg] http://repo.anydesk.com/apt/ $(lsb_release -cs) main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/anydesk.list && \
sudo apt update && sudo apt install anydesk

That’s it. The script does three things: adds the GPG key, drops a signed‑by list file, and installs the package. It works on Ubuntu 20.04, 22.04, Mint 20.x, and Mint 21.x because both share the same underlying APT infrastructure.

Step‑by‑step with explanation

1. Install wget and gnupg

sudo apt install wget gnupg

If you’re on a minimal install those utilities may be missing. They’re needed for downloading the key and handling GPG signatures later. Skipping this step will break the next command.

2. Grab Anydesk’s public key

wget -qO- https://keys.anydesk.com/repos/DEB-GPG-KEY | sudo gpg --dearmor > /usr/share/keyrings/anydesk.gpg

The key proves that packages from the repo haven’t been tampered with. Storing it in /usr/share/keyrings keeps your system tidy and lets APT verify the signature against this file only.

3. Add Anydesk’s repository

echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/anydesk.gpg] http://repo.anydesk.com/apt/ $(lsb_release -cs) main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/anydesk.list

This line tells APT where to find the AnyDesk packages. The $(lsb_release -cs) part resolves to your codename (focal, jammy, etc.). Using a signed‑by list makes the repository non‑interactive; you’ll never get that “no signature” warning again.

4. Update package lists

sudo apt update

This pulls in metadata from all enabled repositories—including Anydesk’s—so the next command knows what to fetch.

5. Install the client

sudo apt install anydesk

The installer grabs the latest binary, sets up systemd service files, and leaves you with a launchable anydesk icon in your application menu.

Alternatives

If you prefer Snap or Flatpak, Anydesk ships that way too. Just run:

# Snap
sudo snap install anydesk

# Flatpak (requires flathub)
flatpak install flathub com.anydesk.AnyDesk

Snaps are handy if your distribution doesn’t support apt‑based repos, but they’re usually a bit heavier and update slower than the native package.

Common hiccups

• “Failed to connect to the server” – This often pops up after a kernel or Xorg upgrade. Remove any old AnyDesk binaries (sudo rm -rf /opt/anydesk) before reinstalling; the new package will pull in the correct libraries.
• Keyboard not working during remote session – Make sure you grant “Accessibility features” under System Settings > Universal Access => Enable “Assistive Touch & Keyboard.” Anydesk sometimes ignores raw keycodes otherwise.

Done

Open Anydesk from your launcher, log in or use a one‑time code, and you’re good to go. If your remote session still refuses to cooperate after the reinstall, double‑check that the anydesk service is running (systemctl status anydesk.service) and look at /var/log/anydesk.log for clues.