How to Install Blender on Linux Mint 21 | 20

Blender is a 3D creation suite that is free and open-source. It supports the entire 3D pipeline, from modeling and rigging to animation and rendering. In the following tutorial, you will learn how to install Blender on Linux Mint 21 or Linux Mint 20 release using two different methods: APT and Flatpak, using the command line terminal alone.

Recommended Steps Before Installation

First, update your system to ensure all existing packages are up to date to avoid potential conflict issues during the installation.

First, update your system to ensure all existing packages are up to date.

sudo apt update

Optionally, you can list the updates for users who require review or are curious to see what is available to update. This can be good if you have a specific you forgot to place; use the apt-hold command.

sudo apt --list upgradable

Proceed to upgrade any outdated packages using the following command.

sudo apt upgrade

Method 1 – APT Default Method

The first installation option is to use the APT manager, the easiest and quickest method, but it often falls behind in updates unless it is an urgent security matter.

Run the following command to install the software.

sudo apt install blender -y

While the version installed with the APT package manager is often the best method, sometimes this can be outdated, and you may require the latest version available. Luckily, this can be done quickly with Flatpack, which the Linux Mint team installs on their distribution as an alternative package manager installer.

Method 2 – Flatpak with Flathub Repository

The third option is to install the Flatpak package manager on your Linux Mint desktop.

First, re-install the Flatpak manager if it was removed previously.

sudo apt install flatpak -y

For users re-installing Flatpak, it is often recommended to reboot your system. Failure to do this can occur with odd issues, such as erroneous icon paths.

sudo reboot

SKIP THE REBOOT IF FLATPAK IS INSTALLED.

Next, you need to enable Flatpack using the following command in your terminal.

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

Now install Blender using the following flatpak command.

flatpak install flathub org.blender.Blender -y

Troubleshoot Flatpak Blender Installation

First, the most common error when installing a Flatpak from Flathub is the following error output.

"error: Unable to load summary from remote flathub: Can't fetch summary from disabled remote 'flathub,"

The fix is simple, run the following command to enable Flathub.

flatpak remote-modify --enable flathub

This will fix the issue the above issue. The next issue can be access to system files. I would only recommend using the following command if you have access permission with your installation accessing files; use the override command below.

sudo flatpak override org.blender.Blender --filesystem=host

Please do not use this command by default unless it is needed.

How to Launch Blender

Launching can be done in a few ways now that you have the software installed.

First, in your terminal, type the following command to launch immediately.

blender

Alternatively, Flatpak users will need to launch using the command below from a terminal instance.

flatpak run org.blender.Blender

However, this is not practical, and you would use the following path on your desktop.

Taskbar > Graphics > Blender.

Once open, you can begin to use the 3D creation suite. For complete documentation on getting started with Blender, I suggest first-time users visit the official documentation.

Additional Commands & Tips

How to Update Blender

Depending on the method of installation used, the following commands can be used to update.

APT Update Method

sudo apt upgrade && sudo apt upgrade

Flatpak Update Method

flatpak update

How to Remove (Uninstall) Blender

Use one of the following commands to suit the original installation method for users who no longer require the application.

APT Remove Method

sudo apt autoremove blender -y

For users that installed the other repositories from Rob Savory, I would suggest keeping them as he constantly maintains them. If you are using any other installations from his PPAs, removing them will cause issues.

Flatpak Remove Method

flatpak uninstall --delete-data org.blender.Blender

Next, run the following command for any leftover clean-up.

flatpak remove --unused

Conclusion

Blender is an impressive 3D creation suite that is free and open-source. It has a vast array of features and capabilities that make it unique, making it an excellent tool for anyone interested in 3D creation.