How to Install a Reliable Download Manager on Ubuntu

When it comes to downloading files from the internet, a dedicated download manager can significantly improve your experience by ensuring that files are downloaded in the background without interfering with your system's other activities. This guide will show you how to install and configure a robust download manager on Ubuntu. We will focus on two popular alternatives: Xtreme Download Manager (XDM) and uGet.

Understanding Download Managers

Download managers are tools designed to streamline the download process by handling multiple downloads, resuming downloads, and managing bandwidth efficiently. They are particularly useful when downloading large files or dealing with slow internet connections.

Installing Download Managers on Ubuntu

Alternative 1: Xtreme Download Manager (XDM)

While the original Internet Download Manager (IDM) is not natively available for Linux, Xtreme Download Manager (XDM) is a reliable and feature-rich alternative that can be easily installed on Ubuntu. Here are the steps to install XDM:

Open Terminal Update the package list with the following command:

bashsudo apt update

Install the required dependencies:

bashsudo apt install wget openjdk-11-jre

Download the latest version of XDM. Note that XDM provides a single point download link

bashwget 

Install the downloaded .deb package:

bashsudo dpkg -i 

Fix any dependency issues:

bashsudo apt --fix-broken install

Launch XDM from the application menu or type xdm in the terminal.

Alternative 2: uGet

For a lightweight and powerful download manager, consider using uGet. It is a highly configurable download manager that supports multiple protocols and has a simple, intuitive interface. Here’s how to install uGet:

Update the package list:

bashsudo apt update

Install uGet:

bashsudo apt install uget

Additional Configuration and Browser Integration

For seamless integration, you might want to configure XDM to work with your web browser. This generally involves installing browser extensions:

Browser Integration with XDM

To enable browser integration with XDM:

Install the XDM browser extension (if available) from the official source. Configure the browser to launch XDM automatically for download links.

For Firefox, you can install the XDM extension from the official site and configure Firefox to use XDM as the default download handler.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both Xtreme Download Manager (XDM) and uGet are robust and reliable download managers that can enhance your experience on Ubuntu. Follow the detailed steps above to install and configure them. Whether you’re downloading large files, streaming videos, or managing multiple downloads, a dedicated download manager can significantly improve your productivity and simplify your download tasks.