How to Install Xournal++ on Windows, macOS, or Linux

Xournal++ is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and each platform has its own installation path. The official site's Installation section starts with an OS selection page, so the fastest route is to open the site, pick your operating system, and follow the platform-specific guide. The steps below describe what each path involves and what to check if something goes wrong.

Start at the Installation page

  1. Go to xournalpp.github.io.
  2. Open the Installation section in the navigation.
  3. Choose your operating system: Windows, macOS, or Linux.
  4. Follow the instructions on that page for your platform.

The site lists all three platforms as supported, so you do not need to guess whether your system qualifies before you start.

Windows

The Windows page is the entry point for Windows installers. Expect a downloadable installer package rather than a command-line build.

  • Download the installer from the Windows installation page.
  • Run it and follow the prompts.
  • Launch Xournal++ from the Start menu or desktop shortcut after installation finishes.

If the installer is blocked or flagged, check that you downloaded it from the official site rather than a third-party mirror.

macOS

The macOS page covers the Mac build. Because macOS restricts applications from unidentified developers, the first launch is usually where people get stuck.

  • Download the macOS package from the installation page.
  • Open the downloaded file and move the app into Applications if the package is distributed as a disk image.
  • On first launch, if macOS refuses to open it, use the standard "Open Anyway" route in System Settings > Privacy & Security rather than disabling security globally.

Linux

Linux has the widest set of options because Xournal++ is packaged for multiple distributions. The Linux installation page is the place to match your distribution to the right method.

  • Identify your distribution and package manager first.
  • Use the method the page lists for that distribution — this may be a native package, a distribution repository, or a Flatpak-style package depending on what the page documents.
  • After installing, verify by launching the app from your application menu or by running the program name in a terminal.

Because package names and repository setup differ per distribution, follow the page's instructions for your specific distro instead of adapting another distro's commands.

Verify the installation

Whichever platform you used, confirm the install worked before troubleshooting anything else:

  1. Launch Xournal++.
  2. Create a new note and draw a stroke with a pen, mouse, or trackpad.
  3. Open the Guide > Overview and Whirlwind Tour pages from the site if you want a quick orientation to the interface.

If the app opens and accepts input, the installation is complete.

Common sticking points

Symptom Likely cause What to check
App won't open on macOS Gatekeeper blocking an unidentified developer Allow it via Privacy & Security, not by disabling protections
Installer blocked on Windows Downloaded from an unofficial source Re-download from the official Installation page
Package not found on Linux Wrong repository or package name for your distro Re-check the Linux page for your specific distribution
No pen pressure or stylus input Device or driver issue, not the install Test with a mouse first to isolate the problem

After installing

The site's Guide section covers the Overview, a Whirlwind Tour, configuration, and the tool set — pen and highlighter, eraser, selection and snapping, LaTeX, PDF, and geometry tools. If your goal is annotating PDFs or taking handwritten notes, the PDF tools and pen tools pages are the natural next stops. Plugins are also documented separately if you want to extend the app later.

xournalpp.github.io