Install Smile on Linux
The Smile app as an AppImage, or a .deb for Ubuntu, Debian and Mint.
Smile for Linux is in beta. It’s the same app as on Windows, for 64-bit Linux. There are two ways to get it - both update themselves:
| Download | Best for |
|---|---|
| .deb | Ubuntu, Debian, Mint and other Debian-based systems. Installs like any other app |
| AppImage | Any other distribution. Nothing to install - it’s one file you run |
Both are on auth.smilecorp.co.uk/download, on the Linux & ChromeOS card. On a Chromebook, see Install Smile on a Chromebook.
Install the .deb
Click .deb for Ubuntu / Debian, then double-click the file to open it in your software centre, or run:
sudo apt install ./smile_*_amd64.deb
Smile shows up in your apps.
Or run the AppImage
- Click Download for Linux (.AppImage).
- Let it run: right-click the file > Properties > Allow executing file as program, or in a terminal:
chmod +x Smile-*-x86_64.AppImage
- Double-click it (or run
./Smile-*-x86_64.AppImage) and sign in.
If the AppImage won’t start, your system may be missing FUSE (fuse3 on most distributions) - or use the .deb instead.
Smile updates itself, and every update is checked against Smile’s signature first.
Staying signed in
Smile keeps your sign-in encrypted by your desktop’s keyring (GNOME Keyring or KWallet - most desktops have one). Without a keyring, Smile keeps nothing on disk and asks you to sign in each time you open it.
Ubuntu 24.04 and newer
Smile always runs inside Chromium’s security sandbox. Newer Ubuntu versions block that sandbox for apps they don’t know. If the AppImage doesn’t open, allow it for Smile with this AppArmor rule, then open Smile again:
printf 'abi <abi/4.0>,\ninclude <tunables/global>\nprofile smile /tmp/.mount_Smile*/usr/lib/smile/smile flags=(unconfined) {\n userns,\n}\n' | sudo tee /etc/apparmor.d/smile-app
sudo apparmor_parser -r /etc/apparmor.d/smile-app
NotaSmile never turns its sandbox off. The rule above only lets Smile use the sandbox; it doesn’t change anything for other apps.