Linux

Turn your scripts into videos on Linux

The full Vid Optimus app for Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Debian, Fedora and more. Pick the package for your distro, install it in a minute, and render finished videos on your own computer.

Download for Linux How to install
  • .deb, .rpm and AppImage
  • Free for 7 days, no card
  • No GPU required
Step 1

Choose the right file for your Linux

Not sure which distro you run? Most people use Ubuntu or Linux Mint, so the .deb is the right choice.

Recommended

.deb package

Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Pop!_OS, Zorin, Debian

  • Installs with a double-click
  • Adds Vid Optimus to your app menu
  • Installs anything else it needs for you

Coming soon

.rpm package

Fedora, openSUSE, RHEL-based distros

  • Native installer for Fedora and openSUSE
  • Adds Vid Optimus to your app menu
  • Installs anything else it needs for you

Coming soon

AppImage

Arch, Manjaro and any other distro

  • One file, runs without installing
  • Works on almost any 64-bit distro
  • Needs FUSE 2 (see the guide below)

Coming soon

Using Windows or a Mac? See every download

Step 2

How to install Vid Optimus on Linux

Open the guide for the file you downloaded. Commands can be copied and pasted into a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T on most desktops).

.deb Ubuntu, Mint, Pop!_OS, Zorin, Debian
  1. Double-click the .deb file in your Downloads folder. It opens in your Software or App Center.
  2. Click Install and enter your password when asked.
  3. Prefer the terminal? Run this instead: 
    cd ~/Downloads
sudo apt install ./Vid.Optimus_*_amd64.deb
  4. Open Vid Optimus from your app menu. Your 7-day trial starts on first launch.
.rpm Fedora, openSUSE
  1. Double-click the .rpm file to open it in Software, then click Install.
  2. Or on Fedora, in a terminal: 
    cd ~/Downloads
sudo dnf install ./Vid.Optimus-*.x86_64.rpm
  3. On openSUSE: 
    cd ~/Downloads
sudo zypper install ./Vid.Optimus-*.x86_64.rpm
  4. Open Vid Optimus from your app menu.
AppImage Any other distro
  1. Install FUSE 2 if your distro doesn't have it. On Ubuntu 24.04 and newer: 
    sudo apt install libfuse2t64

    On Ubuntu 22.04 the package is called libfuse2. Arch and Manjaro users: sudo pacman -S fuse2.

  2. Allow the file to run. Right-click it, open Properties, then Permissions, and turn on Allow executing file as program. Or in a terminal: 
    cd ~/Downloads
chmod +x Vid.Optimus_*_amd64.AppImage
  3. Double-click the AppImage to start Vid Optimus. Or from the terminal: 
    ./Vid.Optimus_*_amd64.AppImage

Tip: move the AppImage somewhere permanent, like a folder called Applications in your home folder, before you start using it.

System requirements

What your Linux computer needs

No special hardware. Vid Optimus tests the video encoders your computer really has and uses the fastest one, falling back to the CPU when it needs to.

Also on Windows and MacOne licence works on any of them. Move it any time.
  • DistributionUbuntu 22.04 or newer, Linux Mint 21+, Pop!_OS 22.04+, Debian 12+, Fedora 36+, or a similar 64-bit distro
  • DesktopA graphical desktop such as GNOME, KDE Plasma, Cinnamon or Xfce
  • Processor64-bit Intel or AMD (x86_64). ARM is not supported yet.
  • Graphics cardOptional. NVIDIA NVENC, VA-API or Intel Quick Sync speed up export when your drivers support them.
  • InternetNeeded for AI images, stock, voiceover and transcription. Rendering runs on your computer.
Troubleshooting

Fixes for common Linux problems

Most issues come from the distro, not the app, and take one command to fix.

The AppImage does nothing when I open it

AppImages need FUSE 2, which Ubuntu 22.04 and newer no longer include. Install it with the command below (on Ubuntu 22.04 the package is called libfuse2), then open the AppImage again. The .deb does not need this.

sudo apt install libfuse2t64

The window is blank, white or flickers

This comes from the graphics driver, most often on NVIDIA. Make sure you have the latest version, which works around it for you. If it still happens, start the app from a terminal with this setting (for the AppImage, put ./ and the file name in place of vidoptimus):

WEBKIT_DISABLE_COMPOSITING_MODE=1 vidoptimus

My API keys are not saved

Vid Optimus keeps keys in your system keyring. GNOME, KDE, Cinnamon and most desktops have one. On a minimal setup, install GNOME Keyring, log out and back in, then add your keys again.

sudo apt install gnome-keyring

The .deb says dependencies are missing

Install with apt rather than dpkg, so it fetches what is missing for you. Run this from the folder you downloaded to:

sudo apt install ./Vid.Optimus_*_amd64.deb

Export is slower than I expected

Vid Optimus tests NVIDIA NVENC, VA-API and Intel Quick Sync, and uses the CPU when none of them work. Hardware encoding needs your graphics drivers installed. Check which encoder it picked in Settings, then Video encoding.

It says the file is not a supported package

You probably have the wrong package for your distro. Use the .deb on Ubuntu, Mint or Debian, the .rpm on Fedora or openSUSE, and the AppImage anywhere else.

Update or remove

Updating and uninstalling

To update, download the new version in the same format and install it the same way. Your projects and settings stay where they are.

Remove the .deb

Remove it from your Software or App Center, or run:

sudo apt remove vid-optimus

Remove the .rpm

Remove it from Software, or run:

sudo dnf remove vid-optimus

Remove the AppImage

Just delete the AppImage file. Nothing else was installed.

Your projects

Uninstalling never deletes your projects. They stay in your project library folder, which you can see in Settings.

FAQ

Vid Optimus for Linux: your questions

Distros, packages, updates and your licence.

Still stuck? Tell us your distro and what you see, and we'll help you get it running. Contact us
Which Linux file should I download?

Use the .deb on Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Pop!_OS, Zorin or Debian. Use the .rpm on Fedora or openSUSE. Use the AppImage on anything else, such as Arch or Manjaro.

Which Linux versions are supported?

Ubuntu 22.04 or newer, Linux Mint 21+, Pop!_OS 22.04+, Debian 12+, Fedora 36+ and similar 64-bit distros with a graphical desktop. Older releases such as Ubuntu 20.04 are not supported.

Does it work on ARM or a Raspberry Pi?

Not yet. The Linux build is for 64-bit Intel and AMD processors (x86_64).

Is it the same app as on Windows and Mac?

Yes. You get the full app with every feature: AI Director, AI images and stock, voiceover, word-level captions and the timeline editor.

How do I update to a new version?

Download the new version in the same format you use now and install it the same way. Your projects and settings are kept.

Can I use my licence on Linux and another computer?

One licence works on one computer at a time, whether it runs Linux, Windows or macOS. Move it from your dashboard whenever you switch.

Do I need an internet connection?

Yes. AI images, stock search, voiceover and transcription use online providers, and your licence is checked online. The final video renders on your computer.

Try it free

Turn your next script into a video on Linux.

Free for 7 days with every feature: up to 3 videos a day, scripts up to 5,000 characters, no watermark.

Download for Linux See pricing