How to Install FileZilla Fedora Linux

FileZilla is one of the most popular FTP clients, and for a good reason. It’s easy to use, free, and has cross-platform support. In the following tutorial, you will learn how to install FileZilla on Fedora Linux using the standard Fedora repository, which often has the newest version, or the alternative natively installed Flatpak manager with Flathub using the command line terminal.

Update Fedora

Before you begin, update your system to ensure all existing packages are up to date to avoid any conflicts during the installation.

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Method 1: FileZilla with Fedora Repository

The first method is to install FileZilla directly from the Fedora default appstream repo. This would be the easiest option, but the version can often fall behind the latest releases, which can bring new features and bug fixes.

Use the following command to install FileZilla.

sudo dnf install filezilla -y

Alternatively, if you want the latest version, use the second method below; the Flatpak method may be more desired.

Method 2: FileZilla with Flatpak and Flathub

The second option is to use the Flatpak package manager installed on Fedora-based systems. The extra benefit of using Flatpak installations is that you will always have the most up-to-date version. However, with distributions such as Fedora or similar types that focus on the latest packages, the significant advantage is often not as substantial or not present. However, still, this is the user’s discretion in choosing.

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

sudo dnf 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 wrong icon paths.

reboot

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

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

Now run the installation using the following flatpak command.

flatpak install flathub org.filezillaproject.Filezilla -y

Troubleshoot FileZilla Flatpak 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.filezillaproject.Filezilla --filesystem=host

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

How to Launch FileZilla FTP Client

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

Use the following command to launch the FTP client immediately in your terminal.

filezilla

Lastly, Flatpak users can run from the terminal using the following command.

flatpak run org.filezillaproject.Filezilla

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

Activities > Show Applications > FileZilla

Example:

Once you open FileZilla, users who have used the software or a similar FTP software will instantly get a feel for creating profiles to connect to remote FTP resources. For new users of FTP, I would suggest checking out the FileZilla documentation wiki that will quickly help you use the software; it has information and examples.

Example:

Additional Commands & Tips

How to Update FileZilla

Updates should appear in notifications, but I often advise checking for updates using the command line terminal to ensure you have received the updates. This can be critical with Fedora systems, given how many updates are pushed.

DNF Method

sudo dnf update --fresh

Flatpak Method

flatpak update

How to Remove FileZilla

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

DNF Method

FileZilla, when installed, adds quite a few dependencies, so ideally, using the autoremove command is best to keep your system clean and not bloated.

sudo dnf autoremove filezilla -y

Flatpak Method

flatpak remove  --delete-data org.filezillaproject.Filezilla -y

Next, run the following command for any leftover clean-ups required, similar to the dnf autoremove command.

flatpak remove --unused

Conclusion

In this small tutorial, you have learned how to install the FileZilla FTP client on your Fedora Linux desktop using either Fedora’s default repository source or the alternative Flatpak installation with the Flathub source. Overall, FileZilla is still one of the most popular desktop clients and is often updated and has the best mix of features for newcomers and advanced users.