Support Center / Download and setup / How to install a VPN on Linux Mint

How to install a VPN on Linux Mint

Please note that we only officially support Linux on Debian, Ubuntu, and Fedora. Reports indicate that our Linux app works on Linux Mint, but support for this distribution may be limited and is restricted to the GNOME desktop environment.

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.

Linux Mint Cinnamon package installer

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 proton-vpn-gnome-desktop

The Proton VPN Linux app is now installed and can be run from your application launcher menu.

Learn how to use the Proton VPN Linux app

Notes

1. How to remove the official Linux app

To uninstall the new Linux app, open a terminal and enter:

sudo apt autoremove "protonvpn*" proton-vpn-gnome-desktop

2. How to uninstall the old (v3) app

Run:

sudo apt-get autoremove protonvpn

Remove any leftover files:

rm -rf ~/.cache/protonvpn

And

rm -rf ~/.config/protonvpn

3. 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.

4. Required dependencies

  • Gnome-keyring
  • systemd

5. 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

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

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