Run a Downloaded AppImage (chmod +x)
AppImages are portable single-file apps — make them executable and run them, no install step required.
Run chmod +x App.AppImage once, then start it with ./App.AppImage; optionally use --appimage-extract to unpack it instead.
01Command
Command
$ chmod +x App.AppImage && ./App.AppImage02What it does
An AppImage is a compressed filesystem image containing the app and all its libraries, so it runs without installation and can live on a USB stick. Downloaded files are not executable by default, which is why double-clicking or running them fails with 'Permission denied' until chmod +x is applied. If it still fails with a FUSE error on older Ubuntu versions, install libfuse2, or run App.AppImage --appimage-extract and execute the extracted AppRun as a fallback.
03Risk
!Warning: An AppImage runs with full user privileges and ships its own libraries — only download from trusted sources, since it bypasses your package manager's vetting.
04Undo
Undo
$ chmod -x App.AppImage05Sources
- Quickstart — AppImage documentationEvidence: Quickstart page shows downloading an AppImage, running chmod a+x on it and executing it; the string 'chmod' appears in the page text.
- Running AppImages — AppImage user guideEvidence: Official guide section 'Download, make executable, run' describes making the AppImage executable before running it; the phrase 'make executable' appears in the page text.
Last verified: 2026-09-19 · Category: System & Settings