How to Install the BitBoxApp AppImage on Linux

Table of Contents

Prerequisites Make the AppImage executable Option A (recommended): Using your file manager (no terminal required) Option B: Using the terminal (advanced users) Run the BitBoxApp Downloading via curl (optional) FAQ Do I need to install the BitBoxApp system-wide? Will the AppImage update automatically? Why do I need to make the file executable? The BitBoxApp does not detect my BitBox02. What should I do? How can I verify the BitBoxApp checksum?

The BitBoxApp AppImage allows you to run the BitBoxApp on Linux without installing system-wide packages. This guide explains how to make the AppImage executable and start the app, using either a graphical file manager (recommended) or the terminal.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, please make sure that:

You have downloaded the BitBoxApp AppImage from the official download page
https://bitbox.swiss/download/
Your Linux distribution is supported
Which devices and operating systems are supported by the BitBoxApp?
You have permission to run applications on your system

Make the AppImage executable

Linux disables execution permissions for downloaded files by default. You can enable execution using one of the following methods.

Option A (recommended): Using your file manager (no terminal required)

This is the easiest method for most users.

Open your file manager and navigate to the folder containing the downloaded AppImage (for example, Downloads).
Right-click the BitBoxApp AppImage file.
Select Properties.
Open the Permissions or Access Rights tab.
Enable Allow executing file as program.
Close the properties window.

The AppImage is now executable.

Option B: Using the terminal (advanced users)

If you prefer using the terminal or are working in a minimal desktop environment:

Open a terminal.
Navigate to the folder where the AppImage is located, for example:
```
cd ~/Downloads
```

Make the file executable:

chmod +x BitBox-[version]-x86_64.AppImage

Replace [version] with the actual version number of the downloaded file.

Run the BitBoxApp

You can now start the BitBoxApp.

Via file manager: Double-click the AppImage file.
Via terminal:
```
./BitBox-[version]-x86_64.AppImage
```

The BitBoxApp should launch and guide you through connecting and using your BitBox02.

Downloading via `curl` (optional)

If downloading via your browser does not work, you can use curl:

curl -O https://github.com/digitalbitbox/bitbox-wallet-app/releases/download/v[version]/BitBox-[version]-x86_64.AppImage

Replace [version] with the desired version number.

If you are downloading over Tor, configure curl accordingly (for example, by using a SOCKS5 proxy).

FAQ

Do I need to install the BitBoxApp system-wide?

No. The AppImage runs as a standalone file and does not require installation.

Will the AppImage update automatically?

No. To update the BitBoxApp, download the latest AppImage version and replace the existing file.

Why do I need to make the file executable?

For security reasons, Linux disables execution permissions on downloaded files by default. This prevents untrusted files from being run accidentally.

The BitBoxApp does not detect my BitBox02. What should I do?

If your BitBox02 is not recognized, this is usually related to USB permissions or system-specific settings. Please follow the dedicated troubleshooting guide, which includes all required steps for supported Linux distributions:
BitBox02: Not recognized via USB (macOS, Windows, Linux)

How can I verify the BitBoxApp checksum?

Verifying the checksum ensures that the AppImage was downloaded correctly and has not been modified. A step-by-step guide is available here:
How to verify the BitBoxApp checksum