How to install FileZilla FTP client on Ubuntu

This tutorial explains how to install, remove and manage FileZilla FTP client on Ubuntu Linux via command line and Software Center.

Ubuntu Linux provides two methods for software management. These methods are the command line and Software center. Let's learn how to use both options to add and remove FileZilla client.

Installing FileZilla client from the command line

To install FileZilla client from the command line, use the following commands.

$sudo apt-get update
$sudo apt-get install filezilla

The first command synchronizes the configured repositories. It is an optional command. We use it before installing the software to make sure that Ubuntu downloads the latest version of the software. Software management is a privileged task. It needs confirmation from the user. To confirm it, type your login password when it prompts.

The second command finds FileZilla client in all configured repositories. If it finds FileZilla client, it prints the name of packages associated with FileZilla client. It also prints the required disk size to install them. Before installing the program, the command takes permission from the user. To give permission, you have to type y. Type y and press the Enter key when it prompts.

The following image shows how to use the above commands on the command line.

apt-get install filezilla

Verifying the installation

To verify the installation of FileZilla client, you can use the following command.

sudo apt list –installed | grep filezilla

The following image shows the output of the above command.

verify installation

Viewing the version

The following command prints the version of the installed FileZilla client.

filezilla --version

printing version

Starting FileZilla client from the command line

To start FileZilla client from the command line, use the following command.

filezilla

If FileZilla client is installed, the above command starts the program. The following image shows the output of the above command.

starting filezilla from command line

Uninstalling / Removing FileZilla client

The following command uninstalls or removes FileZilla client.

sudo apt remove filezilla

You have to verify the remove operation. To verify it, type Y and press the Enter key. The following image shows the above command with the output.

removing filezilla from command line

Additional commands

By default, the apt-get command takes permission from the user before performing each action. This default behavior is good if you want to allow only certain actions. But if you want to allow all actions, you can use the -y switch with the apt-get command. If you use the -y switch with the apt-get command, the command performs the installation in interactive mode. In this mode, the command automatically allows all actions.

The following command performs the default installation.

$sudo apt-get install filezilla

The following command performs the interactive installation.

$sudo apt-get -y install filezilla

The "apt remove" command does not delete the configuration file of the program. If you install the program again, the program does not create a new configuration. It uses the existing configuration file. This command allows you to reinstall a program without losing any setting or customization. But if you want to delete the program completely, you can use the "purge" option. If you use the "purge" option, the command removes the program completely.

The following command deletes FileZilla client but keeps its configuration file.

sudo apt remove filezilla

The following command deletes FileZilla client and removes its configuration file.

sudo apt purge filezilla

Installing FileZilla client from Software Center

To install FileZilla client from Software Center, start Software Center and search FileZilla client.

starting software center

Select FileZilla from the search results and click the Install button. To authenticate the installation, type your login password and click the Authenticate button.

adding filezilla from software center

After the successful authentication, Software Center downloads and installs FileZilla client.

filezilla installed

Starting FileZilla client in GUI

To start FileZilla client in GUI, click the "Show Application" button and click the FileZilla client icon. If FileZilla client icon is not available in the list, you can use the search option to find it.

starting filezilla in gui

Removing FileZilla client from GUI

To remove FileZilla client from GUI, open Software Center and search FileZilla client and click the Remove button. You need to authenticate the remove operation. To authenticate the remove operation, type your login password and click the Authenticate button.

removing filezilla from gui

After successful authentication, Software Center removes FileZilla client.

filezilla removed gui

That’s all for this tutorial. In this tutorial, we learn how to install, launch, manage, and remove FileZilla client from the command line and Software Center on Ubuntu Linux.

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