helix/book/src/package-managers.md

Package managers

• Linux
  • Ubuntu
  • Fedora/RHEL
  • Arch Linux extra
  • NixOS
  • Flatpak
  • Snap
  • AppImage
• macOS
  • Homebrew Core
  • MacPorts
• Windows
  • Winget
  • Scoop
  • Chocolatey
  • MSYS2

Linux

The following third party repositories are available:

Ubuntu

Add the PPA for Helix:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:maveonair/helix-editor
sudo apt update
sudo apt install helix

Fedora/RHEL

sudo dnf install helix

Arch Linux extra

Releases are available in the extra repository:

sudo pacman -S helix

💡 When installed from the extra repository, run Helix with helix instead of hx.

For example:

helix --health

to check health

Additionally, a helix-git package is available in the AUR, which builds the master branch.

NixOS

Helix is available in nixpkgs through the helix attribute, the unstable channel usually carries the latest release.

Helix is also available as a flake in the project root. Use nix develop to spin up a reproducible development shell. Outputs are cached for each push to master using Cachix. The flake is configured to automatically make use of this cache assuming the user accepts the new settings on first use.

If you are using a version of Nix without flakes enabled, install Cachix CLI and use cachix use helix to configure Nix to use cached outputs when possible.

Flatpak

Helix is available on Flathub:

flatpak install flathub com.helix_editor.Helix
flatpak run com.helix_editor.Helix

Snap

Helix is available on Snapcraft and can be installed with:

snap install --classic helix

This will install Helix as both /snap/bin/helix and /snap/bin/hx, so make sure /snap/bin is in your PATH.

AppImage

Install Helix using the Linux AppImage format. Download the official Helix AppImage from the latest releases page.

chmod +x helix-*.AppImage # change permission for executable mode
./helix-*.AppImage # run helix

You can optionally add the .desktop file. Helix must be installed in PATH with the name hx. For example:

mkdir -p "$HOME/.local/bin"
mv helix-*.AppImage "$HOME/.local/bin/hx"

and make sure ~/.local/bin is in your PATH.

macOS

Homebrew Core

brew install helix

MacPorts

port install helix

Windows

Install on Windows using Winget, Scoop, Chocolatey or MSYS2.

Winget

Windows Package Manager winget command-line tool is by default available on Windows 11 and modern versions of Windows 10 as a part of the App Installer. You can get App Installer from the Microsoft Store. If it's already installed, make sure it is updated with the latest version.

winget install Helix.Helix

Scoop

scoop install helix

Chocolatey

choco install helix

MSYS2

For 64-bit Windows 8.1 or above:

pacman -S mingw-w64-ucrt-x86_64-helix