Get Avidemux up and running on Linux Mint 20 LTS with three practical methods: the stable Mint repository, an official PPA for newer releases, or a sandboxed Flatpak from Flathub. The guide walks you through each step, explains why you’d choose one option over another, and shows how to verify the installed version. It also covers quick rollback instructions if a newer build misbehaves. Perfect for anyone who’s hit codec issues with the default editor and needs a reliable fix fast.

Install/Upgrade Avidemux on Linux Mint 20 LTS

If you’re running Mint 20 LTS and the video editor that came with your install can’t handle newer codecs, this guide will show you how to get a current Avidemux version working without pulling your hair out. You’ll see two practical ways – the plain‑old apt route (good for stability) and a PPA/Flatpak combo (best if you need the latest features).

Why the repository version often isn’t enough

The Mint 20 LTS repos ship Avidemux 2.5, which predates AV1 support and still uses an ancient Qt4 UI. I ran into this after a recent driver update: my video card stopped decoding H.265 streams in the stock build, but a newer binary handled them fine. The fix was simply to upgrade the editor itself.

Installing Avidemux from the official Mint repos

This method is the safest if you dislike third‑party sources. It won’t give you bleeding‑edge features, but it’s rock solid and updates with your normal system upgrades.

1. Open a terminal and refresh the package list – this ensures you’re pulling the latest snapshot of what Mint has vetted.

   sudo apt update
   

2. Install the package. The command pulls both the GUI and the required codecs.

   sudo apt install avidemux2.7-qt5
   

3. Launch Avidemux from the menu or run avidemux2.7-qt5 to verify it starts.

If you’re satisfied with this version, you can stop here. Otherwise move on to a newer build.

Pulling a fresh build from the Avidemux PPA

The official developers maintain a Personal Package Archive that tracks upstream releases more closely than Mint’s repos. I’ve used it several times; the only downside is a slightly larger update payload.

1. Add the PPA – this tells apt where to look for the newer packages.

   sudo add-apt-repository ppa:avidemux/ppa
   

2. Update the package list again so apt sees the new source.

   sudo apt update
   

3. Install (or upgrade) Avidemux. The same package name works, but apt will now pull the newer version from the PPA.

   sudo apt install avidemux2.7-qt5
   

4. Run avidemux2.7-qt5 --version to confirm you’re on the latest build (at time of writing 2.7.8).

If you ever need to roll back, just remove the PPA and reinstall from the Mint repo:

sudo add-apt-repository -r ppa:avidemux/ppa
sudo apt install avidemux2.7-qt5

Using Flatpak for a sandboxed, up‑to‑date copy

Flatpak isn’t mandatory, but it gives you the newest Avidemux without touching your system libraries. I keep flatpaks for tools that change fast; they’re isolated and easy to update.

1. Make sure Flatpak is installed (Mint ships it by default). If not:

   sudo apt install flatpak
   

2. Add the Flathub repo if you haven’t already.

   flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
   

3. Install Avidemux from Flathub – this pulls a fully self‑contained version that includes the latest codecs.

   flatpak install flathub org.avidemux.Avidemux
   

4. Launch it with:

   flatpak run org.avidemux.Avidemux
   

Flatpak packages are larger than native debs because they bundle their own runtime, but the trade‑off is a clean install that won’t break after a system upgrade.

TL;DR – which route to take?

• Stick with Mint’s repo if you value rock‑solid stability and don’t need brand new codec support.
• Use the PPA when you want newer features but still prefer native deb packaging.
• Go Flatpak for the freshest Avidemux without risking dependency headaches.

Give one of these a spin, and you should be slicing video again in no time. Happy cutting!