The guide walks you through getting OpenRGB—an open‑source RGB controller—on Ubuntu 20.04 by first checking your architecture and kernel version, then installing the necessary development tools. It pulls the latest source from GitHub, explains why each dependency matters, and shows how to build and install the program using CMake and make, making use of all CPU cores for speed. After installation, it verifies the binary with a simple command, highlights common issues like driver corruption or missing device access, and offers solutions such as rebooting or adding your user to plugdev. Finally, it presents an optional PPA method for quick pre‑built binaries while noting that building from source usually keeps pace with firmware updates and manufacturer changes.

Installing OpenRGB on Ubuntu 20.04

If you’re running the LTS release and want to control your RGB gear from Linux, OpenRGB is the only thing that actually works with a wide range of devices. In this guide we’ll get it installed quickly—no more guessing which package you need or hunting down broken binaries.

Check your system first

dpkg --print-architecture   # should say amd64 or arm64

You’ll need an up‑to‑date kernel (≥5.4) and a recent version of the libusb library, because OpenRGB talks straight to HID devices over USB. If you’re on an old kernel, just run sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade.

Install the required tools

sudo apt install -y git build-essential cmake libusb-1.0-0-dev \
                    qtbase5-dev qtdeclarative5-dev libqt5svg5-dev

Why each one?

git pulls the source; build‑essential gives you a compiler; libusb lets us talk to the hardware; and the Qt libraries are needed for the GUI.

Pull OpenRGB from GitHub

cd ~/Downloads
git clone https://github.com/CalcProgrammer1/OpenRGB.git

OpenRGB is actively maintained, so cloning straight from GitHub guarantees you the latest fixes—especially the ones that fix broken support for newer motherboards after a BIOS update.

Build it

cd OpenRGB
mkdir build && cd build
cmake ..
make -j$(nproc)
sudo make install

The -j$(nproc) flag tells make to use all your cores—great if you have an 8‑core CPU. The final install step copies the binaries into /usr/local/bin.

Verify the binary

openrgb --version

You should see something like OpenRGB v0.9.3. If it throws a “permission denied” error, double‑check that you ran sudo make install.

Common pitfalls

• I’ve seen this happen after a bad driver update – the kernel’s hidraw module can get corrupted and OpenRGB will complain it can’t open any devices. Rebooting often fixes it.
• If OpenRGB starts but shows “No devices found,” run ls /dev/hidraw*. The device should show up; if not, you probably need to add your user to the plugdev group:

  sudo usermod -aG plugdev $USER

Then log out and back in.

Optional: Install from a PPA (if you prefer pre‑built binaries)

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:openrgb/ppa
sudo apt update && sudo apt install openrgb

This is faster, but the PPA sometimes lags behind GitHub releases—so if your gear just stopped working after a firmware flash, building from source is usually safer.

Wrap‑up

You’ve got OpenRGB running on Ubuntu 20.04, ready to light up your case, keyboard, and even some fans that aren’t officially supported by the manufacturer’s software. If you hit a snag, drop a comment or check the GitHub Issues page; the community is pretty quick to respond.

That’s it—time to make those LEDs dance!