How to Install JabRef in Ubuntu 24.04 Linux

If you’re managing a large list of academic references, JabRef is the tool that you might be looking for. It is an open-source but powerful bibliography reference manager that helps researchers, students, and academics organize their references efficiently.

It uses BibTeX as its native format and is ideal for those working with LaTeX or other academic tools.

In this detailed guide, you’ll learn how to install JabRef in Ubuntu 24.04 using different reliable methods.

System Requirements

You should have the following things before installing JabRef on Ubuntu 24.04:

• Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat) or compatible derivative
• At least 2GB of RAM (4GB recommended)
• 200MB of free disk space
• Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 8 or higher

Step 1: Update Your System

Open the command terminal in your Ubuntu 24.04 and run the system update command to make sure we have the latest package updates on our system.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Java (JRE 17 or newer)

JabRef is a Java application and requires the Java Runtime Environment to execute. Ubuntu 24.04 may not come with Java pre-installed, so this step is crucial.

sudo apt install openjdk-17-jre -y

To check the Java version:

java -version

Step 3: Choose a Method to Install JabRef

There are multiple methods to install JabRef; you can select the one that suits you:

Method	Recommended For	Installation Difficulty
.deb package	Most users	Easy
Flatpak	Isolated environment users	Medium
Snap	Isolated environment users	Easy

Method 1: Install JabRef Using .deb Package (Recommended)

We can directly download it by visiting the official JabRef GitHub download page. Alternatively, if you prefer not to do that, here is the command that will automatically download the latest Debian file of JabRef available on GitHub.

wget $(curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/JabRef/jabref/releases/latest | grep browser_download_url | grep '.deb"' | cut -d '"' -f 4)

Once you have the debian file of JabRef install it using dpkg, for example –

sudo dpkg -i jabref_*_amd64.deb

If you see missing dependency errors, fix them by running:

sudo apt --fix-broken install

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Method 2: Install JabRef Using Flatpak (Alternative)

Another way to get the JabRef is using the universal package manager “Flatpak” that installs the applications in an isolated environment. It’s great if you want to avoid system-level package conflicts or use multiple versions.

Install Flatpak (if not installed)

sudo apt install flatpak -y

Add Flathub Repository (if not already added)

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Install JabRef

flatpak install flathub org.jabref.jabref

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Method 3: Installing JabRef via Snap Package (optional)

You might be thinking when JabRef is available through the Snap then why we have not talked about in the beginning of this article because it one of the straight forward method to use. Well, the reason is the JabRef team does not officially recommend using the Snap version — because users may encounter frustrating behavior when opening PDFs or external files.

Initially, JabRef asks which application to use for opening such files, but after selecting the same app three times, it automatically sets it as the default — without providing a straightforward way to change it later. This happens because Snap uses a sandboxed environment, which isolates user-installed applications from JabRef.

Hence, as a result, even modifying the settings under Preferences → External File Types has no effect. The choice is stored in the XDG permission system, and changing it requires a command-line workaround like:

flatpak permission-set --data "{'always-ask':<false>}" desktop-used-apps application/pdf snap.jabref okularApplication_pdf 0 3

This example sets Okular as the default PDF reader. If you prefer to be asked every time, simply set 'always-ask':<true> instead. This limitation is a key reason why the developers do not recommend using the Snap version.

Neverthless, if you want to install the Jabref using the Snap, then here is the command to do that:

sudo snap install jabref

Step 4: Launch JabRef

After installation, you can launch JabRef via the Application area of Ubuntu. Go to App Menu → Search “JabRef” Or run it manually by running the command: jabref (or flatpak run org.jabref.jabref if you used Flatpak).

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Post-Installation Configuration

After installing JabRef, you may want to configure it for optimal use:

Setting Up Your First Library

1. Launch JabRef from the Applications menu
2. Click “File” → “New Library” to create a new bibliography database
3. Choose a location to save your .bib file
4. Start adding references manually or import from various sources

Configuring Preferences

Access JabRef preferences through “Options” → “Preferences” to customize:

• General settings and language preferences
• File handling and external programs
• Citation key patterns
• Export formats and filters

Integrating with LaTeX Editors

JabRef works excellently with LaTeX editors like TeXstudio, Kile, or VS Code with LaTeX extensions. To integrate:

1. Save your JabRef library as a .bib file
2. In your LaTeX document, add: \bibliography{yourbibfile}
3. Use \cite{key} commands to reference entries

How to Uninstall JabRef (Optional)

If installed via .deb:

sudo apt remove jabref

If installed via Flatpak:

flatpak uninstall org.jabref.jabref

If using SNAP:

sudo snap remove jabref

Ending Note:

Installing JabRef on Ubuntu 24.04 is easy and flexible. You can choose any of the mentioned methods in this article as per your convenience, well, no matter which method you choose JabRef can save you hours of work managing citations, especially when paired with LaTeX or research workflows.