Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
In this video, I show you a practical and safe way to use Arch User Repository (AUR) packages on Ubuntu using Distrobox without a VM, without switching distros, breaking your system, or compiling everything manually.
Why do this? Because sometimes the software you need is not available in Ubuntu repositories. There may be no DEB package, Snap, or even Flatpak. The only option left is building from source, which can be time-consuming and messy. But if the software exists in AUR, there’s a much easier way.
With Distrobox, you can create an Arch Linux container inside Ubuntu, install AUR packages there, and even export apps and commands so they run like native programs on your system.
In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to set up an Arch container, install AUR helpers, install apps from AUR, and tightly integrate them with Ubuntu.
Distrobox: https://distrobox.it/
📋 Commands Used in This Video (Copy–Paste Friendly Guide)
Replace itsfoss with your actual username where applicable.
🔹 1) Install Distrobox + Podman
sudo apt install distrobox
If Podman is not installed automatically:
sudo apt install distrobox podman
Verify installation:
distrobox --version
podman --version
🔹 2) Create Required Directories
mkdir -p ~/archHome
mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
Add .local/bin to PATH:
nano ~/.bashrc
Add this line at the end of the file:
export PATH=$PATH:/home/$USER/.local/bin
Save and restart the terminal.
🔹 3) Create Arch Linux Container
distrobox create --name arch-container --image docker.io/library/archlinux:latest --home ~/archHome
Enter the container:
distrobox enter --no-workdir arch-container
🔹 4) Update Arch Linux (Inside Container)
sudo pacman -Syu
🔹 5) Install Build Essentials
sudo pacman -S --needed base-devel
sudo pacman -S git
🔹 6) Install Paru (AUR Helper)
git clone aur.archlinux.org/paru.git
cd paru
makepkg -si
🔹 7) Install AUR App (Example: Zen Browser)
paru -S zen-browser-bin
Export to system menu:
distrobox-export --app zen-browser
🔹 8) Install CLI Tool from AUR (Example: Calcure)
paru -S calcure
Find binary location:
which calcure
Export command to host (replace username):
distrobox-export --bin /usr/sbin/calcure --export-path /home/$USER/.local/bin
Run from Ubuntu terminal:
calcure
🔹 9) Update AUR + Arch Packages Later
distrobox enter --no-workdir arch-container
paru -Syu
🔹 10) Remove Exported Apps/Commands
Remove GUI app from menu:
distrobox-export --app zen-browser --delete
Remove exported CLI command:
distrobox-export --bin /usr/sbin/calcure --export-path /home/itsfoss/.local/bin --delete
🔹 11) Remove Installed Packages (Inside Container)
sudo pacman -Rs zen-browser-bin calcure
🔹 12) Stop & Delete Container
Stop container:
distrobox stop arch-container
Remove container (keep home directory):
distrobox rm arch-container
Remove container + home directory:
distrobox rm --rm-home arch-container
Or manually delete:
rm -rf ~/archHome
🔹 13) Remove Arch Linux Image (Optional Cleanup)
podman rmi docker.io/library/archlinux:latest
............................................................................................
⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 The problem with missing apps on Ubuntu
0:48 What is AUR (Arch User Repository)?
1:12 What is Distrobox & how it helps
1:44 Install Distrobox on Ubuntu
3:26 Create directories for container home & exported apps
4:41 Create an Arch Linux container with Distrobox
6:40 Install build tools & Git
7:05 Install Paru (AUR helper)
7:20 Install an AUR GUI app
7:44 Install an AUR CLI tool
8:20 Update AUR + Arch packages later
8:46 Remove exported apps/commands
9:05 Remove installed packages
9:22 Cleanup
………………………...................................................................................
🧡 Follow It's FOSS for more Linux goodness:
🌐 Website: [https://itsfoss.com](https://itsfoss.com/)
📱 Follow us for more Linux content:
🐦 X (formerly Twitter): twitter.com/itsfoss2
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/itsfoss
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/itsfoss
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/itsfoss
▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@itsfoss
📣 Telegram: https://t.me/itsfoss_official
🐘 Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@itsfoss
🌐 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/itsfoss.bsky.social
In this video, I show you a practical and safe way to use Arch User Repository (AUR) packages on Ubuntu using Distrobox without a VM, without switching distros, breaking your system, or compiling everything manually.
Why do this? Because sometimes the software you need is not available in Ubuntu repositories. There may be no DEB package, Snap, or even Flatpak. The only option left is building from source, which can be time-consuming and messy. But if the software exists in AUR, there’s a much easier way.
With Distrobox, you can create an Arch Linux container inside Ubuntu, install AUR packages there, and even export apps and commands so they run like native programs on your system.
In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to set up an Arch container, install AUR helpers, install apps from AUR, and tightly integrate them with Ubuntu.
Distrobox: https://distrobox.it/
📋 Commands Used in This Video (Copy–Paste Friendly Guide)
Replace itsfoss with your actual username where applicable.
🔹 1) Install Distrobox + Podman
sudo apt install distrobox
If Podman is not installed automatically:
sudo apt install distrobox podman
Verify installation:
distrobox --version
podman --version
🔹 2) Create Required Directories
mkdir -p ~/archHome
mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
Add .local/bin to PATH:
nano ~/.bashrc
Add this line at the end of the file:
export PATH=$PATH:/home/$USER/.local/bin
Save and restart the terminal.
🔹 3) Create Arch Linux Container
distrobox create --name arch-container --image docker.io/library/archlinux:latest --home ~/archHome
Enter the container:
distrobox enter --no-workdir arch-container
🔹 4) Update Arch Linux (Inside Container)
sudo pacman -Syu
🔹 5) Install Build Essentials
sudo pacman -S --needed base-devel
sudo pacman -S git
🔹 6) Install Paru (AUR Helper)
git clone aur.archlinux.org/paru.git
cd paru
makepkg -si
🔹 7) Install AUR App (Example: Zen Browser)
paru -S zen-browser-bin
Export to system menu:
distrobox-export --app zen-browser
🔹 8) Install CLI Tool from AUR (Example: Calcure)
paru -S calcure
Find binary location:
which calcure
Export command to host (replace username):
distrobox-export --bin /usr/sbin/calcure --export-path /home/$USER/.local/bin
Run from Ubuntu terminal:
calcure
🔹 9) Update AUR + Arch Packages Later
distrobox enter --no-workdir arch-container
paru -Syu
🔹 10) Remove Exported Apps/Commands
Remove GUI app from menu:
distrobox-export --app zen-browser --delete
Remove exported CLI command:
distrobox-export --bin /usr/sbin/calcure --export-path /home/itsfoss/.local/bin --delete
🔹 11) Remove Installed Packages (Inside Container)
sudo pacman -Rs zen-browser-bin calcure
🔹 12) Stop & Delete Container
Stop container:
distrobox stop arch-container
Remove container (keep home directory):
distrobox rm arch-container
Remove container + home directory:
distrobox rm --rm-home arch-container
Or manually delete:
rm -rf ~/archHome
🔹 13) Remove Arch Linux Image (Optional Cleanup)
podman rmi docker.io/library/archlinux:latest
............................................................................................
⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 The problem with missing apps on Ubuntu
0:48 What is AUR (Arch User Repository)?
1:12 What is Distrobox & how it helps
1:44 Install Distrobox on Ubuntu
3:26 Create directories for container home & exported apps
4:41 Create an Arch Linux container with Distrobox
6:40 Install build tools & Git
7:05 Install Paru (AUR helper)
7:20 Install an AUR GUI app
7:44 Install an AUR CLI tool
8:20 Update AUR + Arch packages later
8:46 Remove exported apps/commands
9:05 Remove installed packages
9:22 Cleanup
………………………...................................................................................
🧡 Follow It's FOSS for more Linux goodness:
🌐 Website: [https://itsfoss.com](https://itsfoss.com/)
📱 Follow us for more Linux content:
🐦 X (formerly Twitter): twitter.com/itsfoss2
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/itsfoss
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/itsfoss
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/itsfoss
▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@itsfoss
📣 Telegram: https://t.me/itsfoss_official
🐘 Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@itsfoss
🌐 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/itsfoss.bsky.social
