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I want to download packages from the Ubuntu archive without fully installing them. The default sudo apt install downloads and installs them. I only want to download them. Is this possible?

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Yes it is possible to download packages without installing them. This is often used in cases where internet access on another computer is not available, and one needs to be able to sideload the packages onto the machine. Here is what you do:

  1. Remove any packages currently saved in the cache by running sudo apt clean.
  2. Include --download-only in the command, e.g: sudo apt install --download-only <NameOfPackage>. This also works for multiple packages, e.g: sudo apt install --download-only <package1> <package2> <package3>

All packages downloaded via this method will be saved in the /var/cache/apt/archives directory. You'll be able to copy them to your desired location or leave them there for future sudo apt install operations.

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    apt download is quite simple.
    – Pilot6
    Jan 27, 2020 at 19:40
  • Very nice. Can you download multiple packages that way: sudo apt-get install -d [package1] [package2] [package3] Jan 27, 2020 at 19:47
  • @Broadsworde You certainly can!
    – Daniel M.
    Jan 27, 2020 at 19:47

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