Skip to content
Office

How to Install Apache OpenOffice on Ubuntu & Debian

How to Install Apache OpenOffice on Ubuntu & Debian

Apache OpenOffice is a powerful, free and open-source office productivity suite that includes word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and database software. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to install OpenOffice on Ubuntu and Debian Linux systems.

Prerequisites

  • Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or later / Debian 10 or later
  • Root or sudo access
  • Internet connection
  • At least 2GB free disk space
Note: If you have LibreOffice installed, it won’t interfere with OpenOffice. You can use both suites on the same system.

Method 1: Install OpenOffice from DEB Packages (Recommended)

Step 1: Download OpenOffice

Visit the official Apache OpenOffice download page and download the latest Linux .tar.gz package. Alternatively, use these commands:

wget https://sourceforge.net/projects/openofficeorg.mirror/files/4.1.15/binaries/en-US/Apache_OpenOffice_4.1.15_Linux_x86-64-deb.tar.gz
tar -xzf Apache_OpenOffice_4.1.15_Linux_x86-64-deb.tar.gz

Step 2: Navigate to the Package Directory

cd en-US/DEBS

Step 3: Install the Packages

Install the main application and desktop integration:

sudo dpkg -i *.deb
sudo dpkg -i desktop-integration/*.deb
Success! OpenOffice should now be installed and available in your applications menu.

Method 2: Install Using apt Repository

Step 1: Add the Repository

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:openoffice-ppa/snapshots

Step 2: Update Package Lists

sudo apt update

Step 3: Install OpenOffice

sudo apt install openoffice.org

Launching OpenOffice

After installation, you can launch OpenOffice in several ways:

From Terminal:

soffice

From Application Menu:

  • Click on “Activities” or the applications icon
  • Search for “OpenOffice”
  • Select your desired application (Writer, Calc, Impress, etc.)

Uninstalling OpenOffice

If you need to remove OpenOffice:

sudo apt remove openoffice.org*
sudo apt autoremove
Warning: This will remove all OpenOffice packages. Your personal settings in ~/.openoffice will remain unless you manually delete them.

Troubleshooting

Java Not Found Error

If you get a Java error, install the Java runtime:

sudo apt install default-jre

Missing Dependencies

If installation fails due to missing dependencies:

sudo apt install -f
sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Icon Not Showing

Refresh the desktop database:

sudo update-desktop-database /usr/share/applications

Conclusion

You now have Apache OpenOffice successfully installed on your Ubuntu or Debian system. The suite includes:

  • Writer – Word processing
  • Calc – Spreadsheets
  • Impress – Presentations
  • Draw – Graphics
  • Math – Formula editor
  • Base – Database management
Congratulations! You can now enjoy a full-featured, free office suite on your Linux system.

Leave a Reply