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On Ubuntu 22.04 (Jammy), the simplest way to install wkhtmltopdf is through Ubuntu’s APT package manager. Enable the universe repository component if needed, refresh the package index, and install the package:
sudo add-apt-repository universe
sudo apt update
sudo apt install wkhtmltopdfUbuntu’s Jammy archive lists wkhtmltopdf as version 0.12.6-2. Confirm that the executable is available and see the version reported by your installation with command -v wkhtmltopdf and wkhtmltopdf --version. Ubuntu’s Jammy package record identifies the package and its dependencies.
What the Ubuntu 22.04 install gives you
wkhtmltopdf is a command-line tool for converting HTML to PDF; the package description also identifies HTML-to-image conversion tools. Ubuntu builds its Jammy package against Qt 5 and Qt WebKit runtime dependencies. Installing through APT is the practical default because APT selects and installs the dependencies associated with Ubuntu’s package.
The version in Ubuntu’s Jammy archive is 0.12.6-2. That is the Ubuntu package version, not the upstream project’s bare version number. The upstream project identifies 0.12.6 as its stable series and dates that release to June 11, 2020. The distro package and upstream release artifact come from different distribution routes, so check the version reported by the executable rather than assuming they are interchangeable. Ubuntu’s package record and the upstream downloads page describe their respective versions.
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Install the Ubuntu archive package
-
Enable the universe component
The package is in Ubuntu’s
universearchive component. On a typical Ubuntu 22.04 desktop, open Software & Updates, select the Ubuntu Software tab, and enable Community-maintained free and open-source software (universe) if it is not already enabled. On a system with the repository-management helper available, you can enable it from a terminal:sudo add-apt-repository universe -
Refresh APT’s package index
sudo apt updateThis asks APT to retrieve current package information from the enabled repositories. If it reports repository or network errors, resolve those first; an outdated or incomplete index can prevent the package from appearing even when the repository component is enabled.
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Install wkhtmltopdf
sudo apt install wkhtmltopdfReview APT’s proposed package and dependency changes, then confirm the installation. APT manages the dependencies listed for the Ubuntu archive build, including its Qt 5 and Qt WebKit runtime dependencies.
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Verify the command
command -v wkhtmltopdf wkhtmltopdf --versionThe first command prints the executable’s path when it is available on your shell’s search path. The second asks the installed executable to report its version. The Ubuntu archive record lists package version
0.12.6-2; the exact formatting of the executable’s version output is a separate matter.Recommended: Fix Windows Errors and Clear Junk Files in Minutes - Free Scan →Recommended: Crashes or Glitches? A Free Driver Scan Usually Finds the Culprit →Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Choose between Ubuntu’s package and an upstream build
| Route | What you install | Dependency handling | When it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu APT | Jammy archive package 0.12.6-2, according to Ubuntu’s package record. |
APT resolves the archive package’s dependencies. | Use this as the default for an ordinary Ubuntu 22.04 installation. Ubuntu recommends package-manager installation rather than manually downloading a package. See Ubuntu’s package download guidance. |
| Upstream Jammy artifact | An upstream build for Ubuntu 22.04, with assets listed through the project’s release links. The exact newest filename is not established here; check the upstream downloads page and its release listing. | Follow the dependencies specified for the downloaded package; do not assume they match APT’s archive dependencies. | Choose this only if your workflow specifically requires an upstream build. Match the artifact to the machine’s CPU architecture. |
The upstream downloads page identifies 0.12.6 as the stable series, released June 11, 2020. The project’s repository record refers to Jammy 0.12.6.1-2 assets, but that does not establish which release asset is newest at the time you install. Check the official release listing for the current filename and architecture before downloading. Do not copy a filename from an old command or guide without checking that it still exists and matches your system.
If you do choose a downloaded .deb, use the package manager to install it so dependency problems are visible and can be resolved. For an Ubuntu archive package, the direct command remains sudo apt install wkhtmltopdf; the manual-download route is not required merely because the software is used on a server.
Use the converter after installation
Once verification succeeds, the basic command structure is to pass an HTML page or file as the input and a destination filename as the output. For example, a URL-to-PDF invocation has this shape:
wkhtmltopdf https://example.com output.pdfThis illustrates the command’s input/output pattern; it is not a guarantee that every site will render successfully. Pages may depend on network access or page behavior outside the converter’s control. Test with the actual pages and environment used by your workflow.
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For scripts or applications, use the installed executable explicitly and check the process exit status and expected output file. A successful package installation only confirms that the tool is installed; it does not prove that a particular page will load, render as desired, or be safe to process.
Security: do not convert untrusted HTML as-is
Upstream warns: “Do not use wkhtmltopdf with any untrusted HTML – be sure to sanitize any user-supplied HTML/JS, otherwise it can lead to complete takeover of the server on which it is run!” This warning matters especially when a service converts files or markup supplied by customers, users, or an external system. Do not pass such content through unchanged. Sanitize it or keep it out of the conversion process, and treat conversion of user-controlled content as a security boundary rather than a routine formatting operation. The upstream downloads page contains the warning.
Troubleshooting installation and verification
-
APT says it cannot locate the package
Check that
universeis enabled, then runsudo apt updateagain. Confirm that the machine is using Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy repositories and that the update completed without repository errors. Ubuntu lists the package in Jammy’suniversecomponent: package record. -
APT reports dependency or repository errors
Read the specific package-manager error before retrying. An unavailable repository, incomplete package index, or inconsistent package state can prevent installation. Refresh the index with
sudo apt updateafter fixing repository access. Avoid downloading a random package file as a workaround; Ubuntu recommends using a package manager for package installation. See Ubuntu’s download guidance.Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Rank #4
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Installation finished, but the shell cannot find the command
Run
command -v wkhtmltopdfin the same account and environment where the application runs. If it returns nothing, confirm that APT completed the installation and that the application’s environment uses the expected executable search path. Runwkhtmltopdf --versiondirectly in that environment to distinguish a path issue from an installation issue. -
The installed version differs from an online guide
Check both the package version and the executable’s version output. Ubuntu’s Jammy package record lists
0.12.6-2, while the upstream page calls0.12.6its stable series; these are not the same version notation or necessarily the same build. If a workflow requires a particular upstream build, verify the current Jammy release artifact and architecture on the upstream downloads page. -
A conversion fails even though installation succeeded
Separate installation checks from rendering checks: first confirm the executable path and version, then test the failing input and capture any command output or exit status in your application logs. Installation alone does not establish that the source page is reachable or compatible with the conversion workflow. Do not use untrusted page content as a diagnostic shortcut; apply the upstream security warning.
Performance, reliability, and cost considerations
The sources cited here identify package versions and dependencies, but do not establish comparative rendering speed, output fidelity, performance under load, or reliability for a particular workload. Evaluate those against the pages and execution environment your application actually uses rather than relying on an unsupported benchmark. APT installation gives you Ubuntu’s packaged version and dependency management; an upstream artifact is a separate choice whose exact current release asset must be checked.
Best Value
The installation uses Ubuntu’s software repositories and does not require buying a commercial license according to the package information cited here. This guide does not make claims about support arrangements, service guarantees, or the cost of the server where the command runs.
Or skip the browser setup
If your actual goal is to capture a website screenshot or PDF through an API rather than install a local HTML converter, ScreenshotNeo offers a one-request option. It is not an installation of wkhtmltopdf or a drop-in replacement for every local conversion workflow. The service accepts a URL and can return a screenshot or PDF; see the API documentation for parameters and response details.
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpWith its default clean-shot behavior, cookie and consent banners are accepted and more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets are removed before capture; each step can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and responses include X-Page-Verdict and X-Billed headers. An MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for AI agents and MCP clients. The free plan includes 1,000 shots per month without a card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots.
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Does Ubuntu’s Jammy package include the command-line tools for both PDF and image conversion?
Ubuntu describes the package as providing tools to convert HTML to PDF or image using WebKit. Check the installed package and its available commands on your machine if your workflow depends on a specific executable.
Is the upstream stable release date the same as the Ubuntu package version date?
No. The upstream downloads page dates the 0.12.6 stable series to June 11, 2020; Ubuntu’s Jammy archive lists its package version as 0.12.6-2 and does not state a publication year on the cited record.
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