If you enjoy managing and editing your photos on your Linux system, Shotwell is one of the best lightweight tools you can use. As a simple yet powerful photo manager, Shotwell allows you to organize, view, and make quick edits to your photo collection with ease. In this article, you’ll learn how to install Shotwell on FunOS, either from the official Ubuntu repositories or via the Xtradeb Applications PPA for newer versions.
What is Shotwell?
Shotwell is an open-source photo manager developed by the GNOME project. It’s designed to make importing, organizing, and sharing photos simple. Shotwell supports a wide range of image formats, including RAW files from digital cameras, and provides essential editing tools such as cropping, red-eye correction, and color adjustments.
You can also organize photos into events, tag them for easy searching, and upload them directly to online services like Flickr or Google Photos through supported plugins. Because Shotwell is lightweight and easy to use, it’s a great fit for FunOS users who prefer efficient and straightforward applications.
How to Install Shotwell on FunOS
There are two main methods to install Shotwell on FunOS. You can install it from the Ubuntu repositories (recommended for stability) or from the Xtradeb Applications PPA (which often provides newer versions).
Method 1: Installing from the Ubuntu Repositories
Work on: 22.04.5 ✅ | 24.04.3 ✅ | 25.04 ✅ | 25.10 ✅ | 26.04 ✅
This method installs Shotwell using the package available in the official Ubuntu repositories. It’s stable and safe for most users.
Step 1: Open a Terminal
There are three ways to open a Terminal in FunOS:
- Click Menu in the lower-left corner of the screen, then click Terminal
- Click the Terminal icon in the Tray
- Press Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard
Step 2: Update the Package List
Before installing, update your system’s package list to ensure you get the latest version from the repositories.
sudo apt updateStep 3: Install Shotwell
Run the following command to install Shotwell:
sudo apt install shotwellStep 4: Reload the Menu
After installation, reload the menu so that Shotwell appears in the application list.
- Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner.
- Click Reload menu.
Method 2: Installing from the Xtradeb Applications PPA
Work on: 22.04.5 ✅ | 24.04.3 ✅ | 25.04 ✅ | 25.10 ✅ | 26.04 ❌
This method installs Shotwell from the Xtradeb Applications PPA, which is maintained by the Xtradeb Packaging Team. This PPA often provides newer versions of desktop applications compared to the Ubuntu repositories.
👉 https://launchpad.net/~xtradeb
Step 1: Open a Terminal
There are three ways to open a Terminal in FunOS:
- Click Menu in the lower-left corner of the screen, then click Terminal
- Click the Terminal icon in the Tray
- Press Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard
Step 2: Add the Xtradeb Applications PPA
Add the repository using the following command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xtradeb/appsStep 3: Update the Package List
After adding the PPA, update your package list to include the new repository:
sudo apt updateStep 4: Install Shotwell
Now install Shotwell with:
sudo apt install shotwellStep 5: Reload the Menu
Once installation is complete, reload the menu so that the new application appears:
- Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner.
- Click Reload menu.
Launching Shotwell
To open Shotwell, click the Menu button in the lower-left corner, then navigate to the Graphics category. From there, click Shotwell to start the application.
How to Uninstall Shotwell on FunOS
If you no longer need Shotwell or want to reinstall it cleanly, you can easily remove it from your FunOS system. The uninstallation process depends on how you originally installed Shotwell — either from the Ubuntu repositories or from the Xtradeb Applications PPA. Follow the appropriate method below.
Uninstall Shotwell Installed from the Ubuntu Repositories
Step 1: Open a Terminal
There are three ways to open a Terminal in FunOS:
- Click Menu in the left corner of the screen, then click Terminal
- Click the Terminal icon in the Tray
- Press Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard
Step 2: Remove Shotwell
Run the following command to completely remove Shotwell and its configuration files installed via the repositories:
sudo apt remove --purge shotwellStep 3: Remove Any Unused Dependencies
After removing Shotwell, you can clean up unneeded packages that were installed as dependencies:
sudo apt autoremove --purgeStep 4: Remove User Data (Optional)
If you also want to delete all personal data, such as imported photos and Shotwell’s settings, run these commands:
rm -rf $HOME/.config/shotwell
rm -rf $HOME/.cache/shotwell
rm -rf $HOME/.local/share/shotwell⚠️ Warning: This step permanently deletes Shotwell’s user data from your home directory. Only run these commands if you are sure you no longer need the data.
Step 5: Reload the Menu
After uninstalling, refresh the application menu to remove Shotwell from the list:
- Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner.
- Click Reload menu.
Uninstall Shotwell Installed from the Xtradeb Applications PPA
Step 1: Open a Terminal
There are three ways to open a Terminal in FunOS:
- Click Menu in the left corner of the screen, then click Terminal
- Click the Terminal icon in the Tray
- Press Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard
Step 2: Remove Shotwell
Remove Shotwell installed from the PPA by running:
sudo apt remove --purge shotwellStep 3: Remove Any Unused Dependencies
Clean up unnecessary packages that are no longer needed:
sudo apt autoremove --purgeStep 4: Remove the Xtradeb Applications PPA
If you no longer want to keep the PPA on your system, remove it with:
sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:xtradeb/appsStep 5: Update the Package List
Update your repositories after removing the PPA to refresh the package database:
sudo apt updateStep 6: Remove User Data (Optional)
If you want to completely remove all personal settings and photo databases created by Shotwell, run:
rm -rf $HOME/.config/shotwell
rm -rf $HOME/.cache/shotwell
rm -rf $HOME/.local/share/shotwell⚠️ Note: This step is optional. Only perform it if you want to erase all traces of Shotwell user data.
Step 7: Reload the Menu
Finally, refresh the menu so Shotwell no longer appears in the application list:
- Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner.
- Click Reload menu.
Conclusion
Shotwell is a reliable and lightweight photo manager that fits perfectly with FunOS. Whether you choose to install it from the Ubuntu repositories for maximum stability or from the Xtradeb Applications PPA for newer features, the process is straightforward and user-friendly.
If you ever decide to remove Shotwell, FunOS makes it just as simple, with clear commands to uninstall the package, clean up unused dependencies, and even remove your user data if desired.
With these steps, you can easily manage Shotwell installation and removal on FunOS according to your needs.
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