How to Install Latest LibreOffice in Linux Mint Using the Terminal

LibreOffice is one of the most powerful free and open-source office suites available today. Featuring a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool, and more, it is widely used on Linux systems, including Linux Mint. While Linux Mint often comes with LibreOffice pre-installed, the version may not always be the latest. Installing the most recent version ensures you benefit from performance improvements, new features, and bug fixes.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to install the latest version of LibreOffice in Linux Mint using the Terminal. This method is efficient, reliable, and ensures you stay updated with the newest release.

Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure:

• You have a working internet connection.
• You have administrative privileges (you’ll be using sudo).

Step 1: Remove the Existing LibreOffice Installation

First, it’s a good idea to remove the older version of LibreOffice supplied by the Linux Mint repository. This helps avoid conflicts between versions.

sudo apt remove --purge libreoffice*

Then, clean up any unnecessary dependencies:

sudo apt autoremove

This ensures your system is ready for the fresh installation.

Step 2: Download the Latest LibreOffice Package

You will now download the latest official release from the LibreOffice website. The website offers .tar.gz archive files for Linux.

Go to the official LibreOffice download page:

https://www.libreoffice.org/download/download

Choose the Linux (64-bit, deb) version and download the corresponding .tar.gz archive. Alternatively, use wget in the Terminal. Replace the URL below with the latest version’s direct download link from the website:

wget https://download.documentfoundation.org/libreoffice/stable/7.6.4/deb/x86_64/LibreOffice_7.6.4_Linux_x86-64_deb.tar.gz

Step 3: Extract the Downloaded Archive

Once the download is complete, extract the archive using the following command:

tar -xvf LibreOffice_7.6.4_Linux_x86-64_deb.tar.gz

This will extract the files into a folder such as LibreOffice_7.6.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb.

Step 4: Install LibreOffice

Navigate to the DEBS directory inside the extracted folder:

cd LibreOffice_7.6.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS

Now install all the .deb packages inside that folder using dpkg:

sudo dpkg -i *.deb

This process may take a few minutes depending on your system specifications.

Step 5: Verify the Installation

After the installation completes, run the following command to verify the new version of LibreOffice:

libreoffice --version

You should see the latest version number printed in the terminal output.

Step 6: Add Menu Entries (If Missing)

In most cases, installing via dpkg will automatically add LibreOffice entries to your Mint application menu. If they don’t appear right away, try logging out and logging back in, or executing:

sudo update-desktop-database

This will refresh the available application shortcuts.

Keeping LibreOffice Updated

LibreOffice does not update automatically when manually installed, so you’ll need to repeat this process each time a new version is released.

You can stay informed about new versions by subscribing to the official LibreOffice newsletter or checking the website periodically.

Optional: Using LibreOffice Fresh PPA (Not Officially Recommended)

For those who prefer an easier route and are willing to trade a slight delay in availability for convenience, there is an unofficial PPA (Personal Package Archive) that offers newer versions than Mint’s official repositories:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa
sudo apt update
sudo apt install libreoffice

Note: This method might include beta releases. Proceed with caution if you require maximum stability.

Final Thoughts

Installing the latest version of LibreOffice in Linux Mint using the Terminal gives you access to the newest features and performance improvements. While it requires a few steps, the process is straightforward if followed carefully. Whether you’re working on office documents, spreadsheets, or presentations, keeping LibreOffice up to date ensures peak productivity and compatibility.

For additional information and troubleshooting, review the official LibreOffice documentation or consult community forums.