OpenShot Video Editor Officially Launches as a Snap Package

The OpenShot video editor is now officially available as a snap package in the Canonical Snap Store. This new option, which launched on September 22, is accessible through the App Center across all supported Ubuntu releases. Although a Debian package is still present in the Ubuntu archives, the addition of the snap makes installation more straightforward, especially for users on older LTS versions of Ubuntu who might be restricted by version compatibility with Qt.

The recent OpenShot 4.0 release introduced significant enhancements, such as color grading tools, improved multitrack recording, and better integration with the cloud-based ComfyUI AI service.

How to Install the OpenShot Snap Package

To install the OpenShot snap via the command line, use:

sudo snap install openshot-qt

Please note that users will need to manually grant permissions for microphone, webcam, and access to removable or external drives. This can be done through Settings > Apps > OpenShot or via the command line with:

sudo snap connect openshot-qt:audio-recordsudo snap connect openshot-qt:camerasudo snap connect openshot-qt:removable-media

The developer, Jonathan Thomas, has also requested auto-connect approval for the snap and a possible name change to simply openshot, which may be decided in the upcoming days.

Question About OpenShot Deb Packages

What does this mean for the existing OpenShot PPA? Likely, not much has changed. The PPA remains a viable option for those who prefer not to use snaps or AppImages and wish to keep receiving updates.

While OpenShot is also available on Flathub, the package there has not yet been updated to version 4.0. With the recent snap release, there is hope for a formal update on Flathub soon.