Install Parabolic on Linux with Flatpak

Parabolic gives you a graphical interface for yt-dlp on Linux, so you can choose a video or audio format, subtitles, and a destination without assembling a command.

Install Parabolic on Linux with Flatpak

Install Flatpak and add the Flathub repository first if your distribution does not already provide it, then install Parabolic with its current application ID.

flatpak install flathub org.nickvision.tubeconverter

The ID still uses tubeconverter, while the application name is Parabolic. You can launch it from your desktop app menu after installation, or run the following command.

flatpak run org.nickvision.tubeconverter

I checked the current Parabolic repository, its Flathub listing, and the latest GitHub release before updating these installation steps. My current Linux runner does not have Flatpak installed, so I could not execute these commands here.

Choose Parabolic when you want a yt-dlp GUI

Parabolic is a frontend, not a replacement download engine. Its interface handles choices you would otherwise pass to yt-dlp on the command line.

• Paste a supported web address and choose a video or audio download.
• Select mp4, webm, mp3, opus, flac, or wav when the source offers a compatible stream.
• Choose subtitles and metadata when you need them in the saved file.
• Run more than one download through the queue when your connection and the source allow it.

The project documents those formats, subtitle and metadata support, and concurrent downloads in its official repository.

Download a file without losing control of the output

Open Parabolic and add the page address you are allowed to save. Pick whether you need video or audio, inspect the available formats, choose an output folder, and enable subtitles only when you need a separate subtitle track.

For a playlist or a long queue, start with one item first so you can confirm the format, language, and destination before adding more work.

Parabolic versus the yt-dlp command line

Use yt-dlp directly when you need repeatable scripts, shell pipelines, scheduled jobs, or flags that Parabolic does not expose.

Parabolic sends work to yt-dlp rather than replacing it. If you need automation, read the yt-dlp project documentation before copying commands from an old forum post.

Respect copyright, access rules, and your account privacy

Only download material you own or have permission to save. A downloader does not grant a license to reuse a video, audio track, subtitles, or private material.

Do not share session cookies or exported browser data, and do not bypass a site’s access controls or terms.

Keep Parabolic current

Download sites change frequently, so update the Flatpak before diagnosing a failed download. The Parabolic project’s latest GitHub release is 2026.5.0, published in May 2026, and Flathub lists the stable package as version 2026.5.0.

flatpak update org.nickvision.tubeconverter

If an address still fails after an update, check the Parabolic issue tracker for a current report.