How to Install PyCharm on Linux: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

PyCharm is widely regarded as one of the most powerful and feature-rich Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) available for Python development. Built by JetBrains, it delivers a comprehensive toolkit that includes intelligent code completion, advanced debugging, version control integration, project management, and much more. Whether you are a beginner writing your first Python script or a seasoned developer building complex applications, PyCharm adapts to your workflow seamlessly.

PyCharm is available in two editions:

• Community Edition – Free, open-source, and ideal for pure Python development.
• Professional Edition – A paid version that adds support for web frameworks (Django, Flask), database tools, remote development, and scientific computing.

This guide walks you through every method to install PyCharm on Linux, covering both editions, multiple installation approaches, initial configuration, and clean uninstallation. If you are running Python projects on a remote server, a reliable VPS Hosting environment from AlexHost gives you the performance and flexibility to run PyCharm-connected remote interpreters without compromise.

Step 1: Verify System Requirements

Before downloading PyCharm, confirm that your Linux system meets the minimum hardware and software requirements to ensure a smooth experience.

PyCharm includes a bundled Java Development Kit (JDK), so you do not need to install Java separately. The IDE supports a wide range of Linux distributions, including:

• Ubuntu (20.04, 22.04, 24.04)
• Debian
• Fedora
• Arch Linux / Manjaro
• openSUSE
• Linux Mint
• CentOS / AlmaLinux / Rocky Linux

Step 2: Download PyCharm for Linux

The safest and most up-to-date source for PyCharm is the official JetBrains website.

1. Open your browser and navigate to the JetBrains PyCharm download page.
2. Select your edition:

• Community – Free and open-source.
• Professional – Paid, with a 30-day free trial available.

1. Ensure Linux is selected as the target operating system.
2. Click Download to retrieve the .tar.gz archive.

The file will be named something like pycharm-community-2024.x.x.tar.gz or pycharm-professional-2024.x.x.tar.gz depending on the edition and version you selected.

Step 3: Install PyCharm from the .tar.gz Archive

This is the official, distribution-agnostic installation method recommended by JetBrains. It gives you full control over the installation location and version.

3.1 – Open the Terminal

Press Ctrl + Alt + T to launch your terminal emulator, or search for "Terminal" in your application menu.

3.2 – Navigate to Your Downloads Directory

cd ~/Downloads

3.3 – Extract the Archive

For the Community Edition:

tar -xzf pycharm-community-*.tar.gz

For the Professional Edition:

tar -xzf pycharm-professional-*.tar.gz

3.4 – Move the Extracted Folder to /opt

The /opt directory is the conventional location for manually installed third-party software on Linux systems:

sudo mv pycharm-community-* /opt/pycharm

> Note: If you installed the Professional edition, adjust the directory name accordingly, for example sudo mv pycharm-professional-* /opt/pycharm-professional.

3.5 – Launch PyCharm

Navigate into the bin directory inside the extracted folder and execute the startup script:

cd /opt/pycharm/bin
./pycharm.sh

PyCharm will launch, and the initial setup wizard will guide you through the first-run configuration.

Step 4: Create a Desktop Entry (Application Menu Shortcut)

Running PyCharm from the terminal every time is inconvenient. Create a desktop entry to add PyCharm to your system's application launcher so you can open it like any other GUI application.

Method A: Using PyCharm's Built-In Tool

1. With PyCharm open, click Tools in the top menu bar.
2. Select Create Desktop Entry…
3. Check "Create entry for all users" if you want the shortcut available system-wide.
4. Click OK.

PyCharm will now appear in your application menu (GNOME, KDE, XFCE, etc.).

Method B: Create the Desktop Entry Manually

If the built-in method does not work on your desktop environment, create the .desktop file manually:

sudo nano /usr/share/applications/pycharm.desktop

Paste the following content:

[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Name=PyCharm Community
Icon=/opt/pycharm/bin/pycharm.png
Exec=/opt/pycharm/bin/pycharm.sh
Comment=Python IDE for Professional Developers
Categories=Development;IDE;
Terminal=false
StartupWMClass=jetbrains-pycharm

Save the file with Ctrl + O, then exit with Ctrl + X. The shortcut will appear in your launcher immediately.

Step 5: Install PyCharm via Snap (Simpler Alternative)

Snap is a universal package format that works across most modern Linux distributions. It handles dependencies and automatic updates automatically, making it the fastest way to get PyCharm running.

5.1 – Ensure Snap Is Installed

On Ubuntu and many other distributions, Snap is pre-installed. If it is not available, install it:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install snapd   # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo dnf install snapd                       # Fedora
sudo pacman -S snapd                         # Arch Linux

5.2 – Install PyCharm via Snap

For the Community Edition:

sudo snap install pycharm-community --classic

For the Professional Edition:

sudo snap install pycharm-professional --classic

The --classic flag is required because PyCharm needs unrestricted access to system resources, which is outside the default Snap sandbox.

5.3 – Launch PyCharm

Once installed, you can launch PyCharm from your application menu or by running:

pycharm-community
# or
pycharm-professional

Step 6: Install PyCharm via Toolbox App (Recommended for Multiple JetBrains Tools)

If you use multiple JetBrains products (IntelliJ IDEA, WebStorm, DataGrip, etc.), the JetBrains Toolbox App is the most efficient way to manage all of them from a single interface.

1. Download the Toolbox App from the JetBrains Toolbox page.
2. Extract and run the AppImage:

tar -xzf jetbrains-toolbox-*.tar.gz
cd jetbrains-toolbox-*/
./jetbrains-toolbox

1. From the Toolbox interface, find PyCharm Community or PyCharm Professional and click Install.

The Toolbox App manages updates, rollbacks, and multiple IDE versions automatically.

Step 7: Initial Setup and Configuration

After launching PyCharm for the first time, the setup wizard will walk you through several important configuration steps.

7.1 – Activate the Professional Edition

If you installed the Professional edition, you will be prompted to activate it. You can do so using:

• Your JetBrains account (if you have an active subscription).
• A license key provided by your organization.
• A 30-day free trial (no payment required upfront).

The Community edition requires no activation.

7.2 – Configure the Python Interpreter

PyCharm will ask you to select a Python interpreter for your projects. You have several options:

• System Python – Uses the Python installation already present on your system (e.g., /usr/bin/python3).
• Virtual Environment (venv) – Creates an isolated environment for each project, preventing dependency conflicts. This is the recommended approach.
• Conda Environment – If you use Anaconda or Miniconda.
• Remote Interpreter – Connects to a Python interpreter running on a remote server via SSH. This is particularly useful when your code runs on a Dedicated Server or a cloud VPS.

To configure the interpreter:

1. Go to File → Settings → Project → Python Interpreter.
2. Click the gear icon and select Add Interpreter.
3. Choose your preferred option and follow the prompts.

7.3 – Install Plugins (Optional)

PyCharm's plugin ecosystem extends its functionality significantly. To install plugins:

1. Go to File → Settings → Plugins.
2. Browse the Marketplace tab.
3. Search for and install plugins relevant to your workflow.

Popular plugins include:

• Vim / IdeaVim – Vim keybindings inside PyCharm.
• Docker – Manage Docker containers directly from the IDE.
• GitToolBox – Enhanced Git integration.
• Rainbow Brackets – Color-coded bracket matching.
• Database Navigator – SQL and database management tools.

7.4 – Configure Version Control

PyCharm has built-in Git support. To connect your project to a Git repository:

1. Go to VCS → Enable Version Control Integration.
2. Select Git and click OK.
3. Use the Commit, Push, and Pull options from the Git menu.

Step 8: Optimize PyCharm Performance on Linux

If PyCharm feels slow, especially on systems with limited RAM, apply these optimizations:

Increase Memory Heap Size

1. Go to Help → Change Memory Settings.
2. Increase the maximum heap size (e.g., from 750 MB to 2048 MB).
3. Click Save and Restart.

Disable Unused Plugins

Go to File → Settings → Plugins and disable any plugins you do not use. Each active plugin consumes memory and CPU cycles.

Exclude Large Directories from Indexing

If your project contains large directories (e.g., node_modules, venv, .git), mark them as excluded:

1. Right-click the directory in the Project panel.
2. Select Mark Directory as → Excluded.

Use a Faster Filesystem

If you are running PyCharm on a server or virtual machine, ensure your storage uses a performant filesystem such as ext4 or XFS. AlexHost's VPS Hosting plans use NVMe SSD storage, which significantly reduces PyCharm's indexing and startup times.

Step 9: Uninstall PyCharm from Linux

If you need to remove PyCharm, follow the appropriate method based on how you installed it.

Uninstall the Snap Version

sudo snap remove pycharm-community
# or for Professional:
sudo snap remove pycharm-professional

Uninstall the tar.gz Version

Remove the installation directory:

sudo rm -rf /opt/pycharm

Remove the desktop entry if you created one:

sudo rm /usr/share/applications/pycharm.desktop

Optionally, remove configuration and cache files from your home directory:

rm -rf ~/.config/JetBrains/PyCharm*
rm -rf ~/.cache/JetBrains/PyCharm*
rm -rf ~/.local/share/JetBrains/PyCharm*

Uninstall the Toolbox Version

Open the JetBrains Toolbox App, locate PyCharm, click the three-dot menu, and select Uninstall.

Running PyCharm Projects on a Remote Linux Server

Many Python developers use PyCharm's remote development capabilities to write and test code locally while executing it on a powerful remote server. This is especially valuable for:

• Machine learning and data science workloads requiring GPU acceleration.
• Server-side web applications (Django, FastAPI, Flask).
• Large-scale data processing pipelines.

PyCharm Professional supports SSH-based remote interpreters and full remote project synchronization. Pair this with AlexHost's GPU Hosting for AI and ML workloads, or use a standard VPS with cPanel for web development projects that need a managed control panel environment.

If your project involves a public-facing web application, do not forget to secure it with a trusted SSL Certificate to encrypt traffic between your users and your server.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I run PyCharm on a headless Linux server?

A: PyCharm requires a graphical display by default. However, PyCharm Professional supports remote development via SSH, allowing you to use the IDE on your local machine while the code runs on a headless server.

Q: Is PyCharm Community Edition enough for most developers?

A: Yes. The Community Edition covers pure Python development, including debugging, refactoring, version control, and virtual environments. The Professional Edition is necessary only if you need web framework support, database tools, or remote development features.

Q: How do I update PyCharm installed via tar.gz?

A: Download the new version from the JetBrains website, extract it, and replace the contents of /opt/pycharm with the new files. Snap and Toolbox installations update automatically.

Q: Does PyCharm work on ARM-based Linux systems?

A: Yes. JetBrains provides ARM64 builds of PyCharm for Linux, compatible with ARM-based servers and devices.

Conclusion

Installing PyCharm on Linux is a straightforward process regardless of your preferred method. The tar.gz approach gives you maximum control and works on any distribution. The Snap method offers simplicity and automatic updates. The JetBrains Toolbox is the best choice if you manage multiple JetBrains IDEs.

Once installed and configured, PyCharm provides one of the most capable Python development environments available — from intelligent code assistance and integrated debugging to remote server connectivity and plugin extensibility.

For developers who need a robust, high-performance Linux environment to deploy and test their Python applications, AlexHost offers flexible VPS Hosting and Dedicated Servers built for demanding workloads. Explore the full range of hosting solutions at AlexHost and give your Python projects the infrastructure they deserve.