How to Install the Latest KiCad in Linux

Created on: 8 September 2017

This short tutorial shows how to install the latest version of KiCad in Linux. The newest version of KiCad is installed in Linux Mint. KiCad can be installed in Ubuntu Linux using the exact same steps.

KiCad is an electronic design automation (EDA) software suite used for drawing circuit diagrams (known as schematic capture) and laying out printed circuit boards.

Although KiCad can be installed from the Software Manager in Linux Mint and Ubuntu, the newest version of KiCad is usually not available there. In this tutorial KiCad is installed via the KiCad PPA.

Install KiCad in Linux Mint and Ubuntu

Open a command line terminal in Linux Mint or Ubuntu (keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + t).

Enter the following commands in the terminal window. You will need to enter your password after entering the first command.

The easiest way to copy and paste these commands to the terminal window is to select a command below by dragging using the mouse and then middle-clicking the mouse (usually by pressing the mouse scroll wheel down) in the terminal window. This allows each command to be copied and pasted without using the keyboard. Just press the Enter key in the terminal window after the command has been pasted there.

sudo add-apt-repository --yes ppa:js-reynaud/kicad-4
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install kicad

When running the last command you will be prompted whether you want to continue. Just press the Enter key to continue.

The video below shows the above commands being executed in a terminal window on a Linux Mint Mate system. After the last command finishes executing, the newest version of KiCad is installed on your system.

Installing KiCad on other Linux Distributions

Instructions are provided on the KiCad website for installing KiCad on the following Linux distributions: Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, Arch Linux, Fedora, openSUSE, Snappy, and Gentoo. Simply visit the KiCad download page to find a link for your Linux distribution.