How to install the Nextcloud desktop client on Ubuntu or Debian

The Nextcloud desktop sync client adds a graphical account wizard, tray integration, and local folder synchronization to an Ubuntu or Debian desktop. Installing the distro package keeps the launcher, MIME integration, and security updates tied to APT instead of a manually downloaded binary.

Ubuntu publishes nextcloud-desktop in the Universe repository, while Debian publishes the same package name in its normal package archives. Nextcloud also provides an official Linux AppImage, but the package-managed path fits desktops where administrators want updates through the operating system.

A working install should leave /usr/bin/nextcloud on PATH and add the desktop launcher under /usr/share/applications. Account login, server authorization, sync folder selection, and app-password handling belong to the first-run setup after the client is installed.

Steps to install the Nextcloud desktop client on Ubuntu or Debian:

Open a terminal with sudo privileges.
Refresh the APT package index.
```
$ sudo apt update
```
On Ubuntu, enable Universe if APT cannot find the package.
```
$ sudo add-apt-repository universe
```
Debian does not use Universe. Keep Debian on its configured Debian repositories instead of adding Ubuntu repository entries.
Refresh the package index after changing repository settings.
```
$ sudo apt update
```
Install the Nextcloud desktop client package.
```
$ sudo apt install nextcloud-desktop
Reading package lists...
Building dependency tree...
Reading state information...
##### snipped #####
Setting up nextcloud-desktop (4.0.6-1) ...
```
The exact version and dependency list differ by release. Install nextcloud-desktop-cmd separately only when a non-GUI sync command is also needed.
Confirm the installed package version.
```
$ dpkg-query --show nextcloud-desktop
nextcloud-desktop    4.0.6-1
```
The sample version matches current Ubuntu 26.04 LTS package metadata. Debian and older Ubuntu releases report their own package version.
Confirm the desktop client binary is on PATH.
```
$ command -v nextcloud
/usr/bin/nextcloud
```

Confirm the desktop launcher file exists.

$ ls /usr/share/applications/com.nextcloud.desktopclient.nextcloud.desktop
/usr/share/applications/com.nextcloud.desktopclient.nextcloud.desktop

Start Nextcloud from the desktop application menu.
Confirm the first-run wizard opens and asks for the Nextcloud server address.

If browser authorization is not available or the account uses two-factor authentication, create an app password for the desktop client.
Related: How to create a Nextcloud app password