The Proton VPN Linux app officially supports Mint. Please see What Linux versions does Proton VPN support? for a list of which versions are currently supported.
1. Download our repository setup package
This package contains the repository configuration and keys that are required to install the Proton VPN app.
Download the Proton VPN DEB package
2. Install the Proton VPN repository
Double-click the downloaded DEB file. Your default package manager will now install our repository.
Please don’t try to check the GPG signature of this release package (dpkg-sig –verify). Our internal release process is split into several part and the release package is signed with a GPG key, and the repo is signed with another GPG key. So the keys don’t match.
If you want to check the repo package integrity, you can check its checksum with the following command:
echo "c68a0b8dad58ab75080eed7cb989e5634fc88fca051703139c025352a6ee19ad protonvpn-stable-release_1.0.3-2_all.deb" | sha256sum --check -
3. Update the apt-get package list
The following command updates the list of available packages and their versions. Doing this allows you to install the Proton VPN App. Open Terminal and enter:
sudo apt-get update
4. Install the Proton VPN Linux app
sudo apt-get install protonvpn
The Proton VPN Linux app is now installed and can be run from your application launcher menu.
Linux system tray icon (optional)
If you wish, you can install the Linux app system tray icon. This shows your connection status and allows you to easily Quick Connect or Disconnect without opening the main Proton VPN window.
To install the system tray icon, open Terminal and run:
sudo apt install gir1.2-appindicator3-0.1
If asked to select your default displays manager, you can find out what it is by running:
grep '/usr/s\?bin' /etc/systemd/system/display-manager.service
Once everything is installed, restart your PC and sign in using your Proton Account login details. If you do not have a Proton VPN account, now is the time to sign up for a Free Proton VPN plan for Linux.
The Proton VPN Linux app is now ready to secure your internet browsing and allow you to access the internet without censorship blocks.
Learn how to use the Proton VPN Linux app
Notes
1. How to uninstall the official app
Run:
sudo apt-get autoremove protonvpn
Remove any leftover files:
rm -rf ~/.cache/protonvpn
And
rm -rf ~/.config/protonvpn
2. How to disable Kill Switch if you have uninstalled the app
If the app is still installed, you can disable the kill switch from within the app. If you have uninstalled the app with the kill switch still enabled, then this won’t be possible and you may not be able to access the internet. To fix this:
a) Identify the name of the Proton VPN connection. To do this, run:
nmcli connection show --active
You will now see a list of active connections.
b) Look for any connections with names that start pvpn- This usually includes pvpn-killswitch and pvpn-ipv6leak-protection, and may include pvpn-routed-killswitch. Delete all these connections using the following command:
nmcli connection delete [connection name]
For example:
nmcli connection delete pvpn-killswitch
c) Once you’ve done this, run the following command again to make sure that all Proton VPN connections have been deleted:
nmcli connection show --active
If any remain, delete them as described above.
3. Required dependencies
You will need one (not both, which can cause problems) of the following dependencies installed on your Mint system for the Proton VPN app to work:
- KWallet
- Gnome-keyring
Most versions of Mint come pre-installed with one of these dependencies, anyway, so it’s unlikely you’ll need to do anything else. Our app also requires:
- systemd
4. Try out our beta Linux app
The beta version of our Linux app gives you access to new features before they are released publicly, but it is still in development. By using the beta version and sharing your feedback, you can help us find and address bugs.
Please note that we only officially support the beta app on Debian, Ubuntu, and Fedora. It should work on Mint, but support for this distribution may be limited.
Important: You cannot upgrade from the beta version of our Linux app to the stable version. You will need to uninstall the beta app and then install the official app. Similarly, if you are using the stable version of our Linux VPN app, you should uninstall it before installing the early beta version.
If you would like to install the beta version instead of the stable release of this app, open a terminal window and:
1. Download the beta package. Enter:
wget https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian/dists/unstable/main/binary-all/protonvpn-beta-release_1.0.3-2_all.deb
2. Install the Proton VPN beta repository containing the new app. Run:
sudo dpkg -i ./protonvpn-beta-release_1.0.3-2_all.deb && sudo apt update
3. If you’re running the old (v3) Proton VPN app or CLI (stable or beta versions), simply run:
sudo apt update && apt upgrade
If you don’t have Proton VPN installed, run:
sudo apt install proton-vpn-gnome-desktop
To check for updates and ensure that you’re running the latest version of the app, enter:
sudo apt update && apt upgrade
System tray icon (beta)
Simply restart the Proton VPN app (if it is already running). To do this, click V → Quit and open the app again.
How to remove the beta Linux app
To uninstall the new Linux app, open a terminal and enter:
sudo apt purge "protonvpn*" proton-vpn-gnome-desktop && sudo apt autoremove
