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The quickest path is your distribution’s package manager. Fedora users can run sudo dnf install btop, openSUSE Tumbleweed users can run sudo zypper in btop, and RHEL 8-family systems can enable EPEL before installing. If your repositories do not provide a suitable build, use the upstream Linux archive or compile btop yourself. Start it with btop; its menus expose every setting, while the generated configuration file is normally $HOME/.config/btop/btop.conf (or $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/btop/btop.conf when that variable is set).
This guide covers installation choices, Ubuntu and other Debian-based options, binary and source installs, display tuning, GPU prerequisites, command-line switches, and recovery when graphs or sensors do not appear.
Choose an installation route
btop is a terminal resource monitor. The right installation method depends on whether you value distribution maintenance, a current upstream build, or compile-time control. The upstream README documents all three routes; the CMake route is identified there as community maintained rather than the primary build path.
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| Route | Best for | Advantages | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distribution package | Most workstations and servers | Integrated updates, signed repository workflow, no compiler setup | Version and optional features depend on your distribution and enabled repositories |
| Official Linux archive | A current release without compiling | Prebuilt, statically linked with musl; documented for Linux kernels 2.6.39 and newer | You must select the correct release and CPU architecture and handle updates yourself |
| Make source build | Newer code than a package, or custom build flags | Supports compiler, architecture, static-linking, and GPU-support options | Requires GCC 14 or Clang 19 plus build dependencies |
| CMake source build | Projects already standardized on CMake/Ninja | Uses a familiar CMake build/install workflow | The upstream README labels this route community maintained |
For the documented commands and current compatibility notes, use the upstream btop README. A Debian-packaged snapshot is available in the Debian Sources README.
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Check prerequisites before installing
- Use a terminal with a font that contains the characters you intend to use for graphs. Braille graphs need suitable font support; block or TTY symbols are safer on minimal consoles.
- Confirm your distribution and architecture. In archive names,
x86_64means 64-bit x86, whilei486andi686are 32-bit x86. - Have administrator access only when installing into a system-owned directory. A user-owned prefix does not need
sudo. - GPU panels have additional driver, library, and permission requirements; ordinary CPU, memory, disk, and network monitoring does not require those GPU steps.
Install with a distribution package manager
Fedora
Install the repository build with:
sudo dnf install btopLaunch it with btop. Future upgrades are handled through the normal Fedora update process. The available version and compiled features follow the Fedora release and enabled repositories.
openSUSE Tumbleweed
Use the documented zypper command:
sudo zypper in btopAs with any distribution package, check the installed version and repository origin if a feature described in newer upstream documentation is missing.
RHEL, Rocky Linux, and AlmaLinux 8 or newer
The upstream instructions use EPEL. Enable it, then install btop:
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sudo dnf install btopRepository policy can differ between minor releases and enterprise mirrors, so verify that EPEL is enabled on the machine where you run the command.
Debian and Ubuntu
Package names and versions vary by release. First check whether your configured APT repositories offer btop:
apt-cache policy btopIf a candidate is shown, install it with your normal APT workflow, for example:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install btopIf no candidate is available, or the packaged build is too old for the feature you need, use the official archive or the Ubuntu source-build procedure below. Do not add an unrelated third-party repository solely to obtain btop; choose a documented upstream build instead.
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The upstream project publishes Linux archives for specific releases and architectures. These binaries are statically compiled with musl and are documented to run on Linux kernel releases 2.6.39 and newer. That statement applies to the upstream Linux archives; it is not a promise that every source build or GPU combination behaves identically.
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- Open the release page linked from the upstream README and select the archive matching your btop release, Linux platform, and CPU architecture.
- Check the architecture before downloading. Choose
x86_64for 64-bit Intel/AMD systems; choosei486ori686only for 32-bit x86 hardware. An incorrectly selected archive may fail to execute even though extraction succeeds. - Extract the downloaded file. With a tar archive, the general form is:
tar -xf <archive-file>- Change into the extracted btop directory and install it:
cd <extracted-btop-directory>
make installThe default install prefix is /usr/local. Installing there normally requires administrator rights:
sudo make installTo install into a directory you own, select a prefix and omit sudo:
make install PREFIX=$HOME/.localYou can also choose another system prefix with PREFIX=/target/dir make install. The project specifically cautions against using sudo unless the destination is not owned by your user. Add the chosen binary directory to PATH if your shell does not already search it.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsCompile btop from source with Make
Use a source build when your package is substantially older, you need a compile-time option, or you are comfortable maintaining compiler dependencies. The current upstream Linux instructions require at least GCC 14 or Clang 19, GNU coreutils, and sed.
Ubuntu 24.04 example
The documented dependency command installs the build toolchain and documentation utility:
sudo apt install coreutils sed git build-essential lowdownClone the upstream repository, enter it, and build:
git clone https://github.com/aristocratos/btop.git
cd btop
makeInstall the resulting build to the default prefix:
sudo make installOr choose a user-owned or custom location:
make install PREFIX=$HOME/.local
# or
make install PREFIX=/target/dirRun make without an install step if you only want to test the binary from the source directory. A compiler error usually means the installed compiler is older than GCC 14 or Clang 19, a required utility is missing, or the selected architecture does not match the host.
Useful Make options
| Option | Effect | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
GPU_SUPPORT=false |
Disables GPU support at compile time | When GPU libraries are unavailable or a smaller feature set is desired |
STATIC=true |
Requests a static compilation | When you need a self-contained binary and understand the platform trade-offs |
CXX=<compiler> |
Selects the C++ compiler | When more than one supported compiler is installed |
ARCH=<architecture> |
Selects the target architecture | When building for a specific supported target |
Combine options on the build command, for example make GPU_SUPPORT=false. Keep the same choices documented for your installation so that later rebuilds are reproducible.
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Build with CMake and Ninja
The README presents CMake as an additional, community-maintained source route. Its Debian Bookworm example installs:
sudo apt install cmake git g++ ninja-build lowdownThen configure and compile with Ninja:
cmake -B build -G Ninja
cmake --build buildInstall the result with:
cmake --install buildThe default install prefix is /usr/local; use the standard CMake prefix option when you need another location:
cmake -B build -G Ninja -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/target/dir
cmake --build build
cmake --install buildTo disable GPU support in this route, configure with -DBTOP_GPU=OFF. Choose this path when your environment already uses CMake or when you specifically need its build integration; otherwise, the package manager, archive, or Make instructions are simpler.
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Start btop and verify the installation
Run:
btopIf the shell reports that the command is not found, check where the install placed the executable and whether that directory is in PATH. A package install normally handles this automatically. A user-prefix install commonly requires adding its bin directory to your shell startup configuration.
The upstream documentation states that all options are changeable from within the UI. Open the configuration menu, adjust a setting, and leave the program normally so the generated configuration can be reused on the next launch. If the configuration file did not exist, btop creates it automatically.
Find the configuration and log files
btop stores configuration and logs under $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/btop when XDG_CONFIG_HOME is set. If it is not set, the fallback directory is $HOME/.config/btop. The main file is therefore usually:
$HOME/.config/btop/btop.confUse the UI for discovering an option, then edit btop.conf directly when you want repeatable settings across machines. Back up the file before large edits; malformed values can be corrected by restoring the backup or generating a fresh file after moving the old one aside.
Tune colors, panels, and graphs
Color and terminal compatibility
| Setting | Purpose | Practical choice |
|---|---|---|
color_theme |
Selects the visual theme | Use the built-in Default or TTY theme, or a theme file in the documented themes directories |
truecolor |
Controls true-color output | Enable it when the terminal and font render 24-bit color correctly |
force_tty |
Forces terminal-oriented rendering | Useful when automatic terminal detection chooses an unsuitable mode |
presets |
Saves panel layouts | The default preset displays all boxes; select another layout when you need a focused view |
vim_keys |
Uses Vim-style directional controls in lists | Enable it if those navigation keys are part of your normal terminal workflow |
Choose a graph symbol
| Value | Detail | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
braille |
Highest graph resolution | Depends on a font that contains and correctly aligns Braille characters |
block |
Less detailed than Braille | Uses more common characters and is a good fallback for many terminals |
tty |
Small symbol set and shorter history display | Designed for real TTYs and minimal environments |
If lines are clipped, replaced by squares, or misaligned, change graph_symbol from braille to block or tty. Font fallback and the terminal emulator’s bidirectional-text setting can also affect rendering.
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CPU temperatures and frequency
temp_scale selects Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin, or Rankine. Use show_cpu_freq when you want frequency information in the CPU panel. check_temp and the related temperature settings control how btop reads and presents thermal data. Sensor availability still depends on the kernel and hardware; a setting cannot create a sensor that the system does not expose.
Disk, swap, and filesystem panels
Use show_disks to control disk panels, show_swap for swap information, and disks_filter to limit which devices appear. use_fstab tells btop to use filesystem entries from /etc/fstab when building the disk view, which can keep the panel focused on mounts relevant to the host.
Network interface and scale
net_iface selects an interface, while net_auto allows automatic selection. Set net_download and net_upload when you want fixed graph ceilings instead of automatic scaling. A fixed ceiling makes comparisons easier on a busy server; automatic scaling is more convenient when traffic varies widely.
Enable GPU monitoring only when the prerequisites are met
GPU panels require a binary compiled with GPU support. Upstream Linux x86_64 builds enable GPU support by default, but that does not guarantee data on every machine.
NVIDIA
NVIDIA monitoring requires an official NVIDIA driver and the nvidia-ml dynamic library. If either is absent, btop can run normally while showing no NVIDIA metrics. Confirm the driver and library installation before changing btop permissions.
AMD
AMD monitoring uses ROCm SMI. Some distributions do not package ROCm SMI, so the feature may be unavailable even when the GPU driver itself is working.
Intel
Intel GPU monitoring needs permission to read SYSFS. CPU wattage support can require the same elevated access. After installing from source, the upstream Make targets provide two methods:
sudo make setcapThis is the preferred method. The alternative is:
sudo make setuidRun the command from the corresponding btop source tree, and understand that granting capabilities or using SUID changes the security posture of the installed executable. Do not apply either method merely to obtain ordinary CPU, memory, disk, or network statistics.
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Use command-line options for repeatable launches
The installed build’s exact switches should be confirmed with btop --help. The Debian btop(1) manual documents these options:
| Option | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
-c, --config |
Uses an alternate configuration file | btop --config $HOME/.config/btop/server.conf |
-d, --debug |
Enables extra logs and metrics | btop --debug |
-f, --filter |
Starts with a process filter | btop --filter nginx |
-l, --low-color |
Uses 256 colors | btop --low-color |
-p, --preset |
Loads a preset numbered 0 through 9 | btop --preset 2 |
-t, --tty |
Uses ANSI graph symbols and 16 colors | btop --tty |
--no-tty |
Disables TTY mode | btop --no-tty |
-u, --update |
Sets the initial update period in milliseconds | btop --update 2000 |
--default-config |
Prints default configuration values | btop --default-config |
--themes-dir |
Uses a custom theme directory | btop --themes-dir /path/to/themes |
These switches are useful for shell aliases, remote sessions, and troubleshooting without permanently changing your main configuration. The Debian manual for version 1.4.7-1 is available at manpages.debian.org.
Troubleshoot common problems
The package cannot be found
Check the distribution release, enabled repositories, and package metadata. Package availability is release-specific. If the repository has no btop candidate, switch to the matching official archive or follow the source-build route instead of forcing an unrelated repository.
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Verify that the archive architecture matches the host and that the executable directory is in PATH. For a source build, rerun the build after confirming the compiler meets the GCC 14 or Clang 19 minimum and that coreutils and sed are installed.
Graphs look broken
Missing glyphs, clipped lines, and uneven alignment usually indicate terminal or font rendering. Switch graph_symbol to block or tty, try a font with Braille support, and inspect the terminal emulator’s bidirectional-text rendering setting.
GPU values are blank
First establish that the binary includes GPU support. Then check the vendor-specific requirement: NVIDIA’s official driver and nvidia-ml library, AMD’s ROCm SMI package, or Intel SYSFS permissions. Only after those checks should you consider sudo make setcap or the SUID alternative for Intel-related access.
Configuration changes do not persist
Confirm which configuration path is active by checking XDG_CONFIG_HOME. An alternate file supplied with --config affects that launch only unless you make it your regular startup choice. Ensure the btop configuration directory is writable by your user.
Which route should you keep?
Use the package manager when its btop version and features meet your needs; it gives you the cleanest update and removal path. Use the official archive when you need a newer release without installing compilers and can manage manual updates. Build with Make when you require options such as GPU_SUPPORT=false, STATIC=true, a selected compiler, or a target architecture. Choose CMake when its community-maintained workflow fits an existing build system. Whichever route you select, keep the configuration file under your normal XDG configuration directory and choose graph symbols that your terminal can render reliably.
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