How to Install and Use Neovim on Ubuntu and other Linux Distributions

Neovim is a powerful, modern alternative to Vim, built for speed and extensibility. Whether you’re a developer, sysadmin, or someone who lives in the terminal, Neovim can seriously boost your productivity. In this post, I’ll show you how to install Neovim on Ubuntu and other Linux distros, plus some tips to get started using it.

Why Use Neovim?

Before jumping in, here’s why Neovim is worth your time:

• Fast and lightweight
• Fully compatible with Vim
• Asynchronous plugin system
• Better support for modern tooling (like LSP, treesitter, etc.)
• Actively maintained

Now let’s get it installed.

Installing Neovim

On Ubuntu and Debian-based systems

The default Neovim in Ubuntu’s package repo can be outdated. Here’s how to install the latest version using apt:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install neovim

If you want the latest stable release, use the Neovim PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:neovim-ppa/stable
sudo apt update
sudo apt install neovim

On Arch Linux

Neovim is in the official repositories:

sudo pacman -S neovim

On Fedora

sudo dnf install neovim

From AppImage (universal method)

If your distro doesn’t have an up-to-date Neovim, use the AppImage:

wget https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/latest/download/nvim.appimage
chmod u+x nvim.appimage
./nvim.appimage

To make it global:

sudo mv nvim.appimage /usr/local/bin/nvim

Basic Usage

Launch Neovim by typing:

nvim

You’re now in normal mode. Here’s a quick crash course:

• i → insert mode (start typing)
• Esc → go back to normal mode
• :w → save file
• :q → quit
• :wq → save and quit
• :help → open help docs

Creating a Config File

Neovim uses a different config path than Vim:

~/.config/nvim/init.vim

Or, for Lua-based config (modern and recommended):

~/.config/nvim/init.lua

Here’s a basic init.vim to get started:

set number
set relativenumber
syntax on
set tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4 expandtab

Installing Plugins with vim-plug

1. Install vim-plug:

curl -fLo ~/.local/share/nvim/site/autoload/plug.vim --create-dirs \
     https://raw.githubusercontent.com/junegunn/vim-plug/master/plug.vim

2. Add plugins in your init.vim:

call plug#begin('~/.vim/plugged')

Plug 'preservim/nerdtree'
Plug 'tpope/vim-fugitive'

call plug#end()

3. In Neovim, run:

:PlugInstall

Done.

Final Tips

• Learn the basics of Vim — Neovim builds on it.
• Use :checkhealth to debug issues.
• Explore plugins like telescope.nvim, nvim-lspconfig, treesitter, and which-key.

Wrapping Up

Neovim is fast, flexible, and future-ready. Once you get past the initial learning curve, it’s a game changer. Whether you’re writing code, editing configs, or just taking notes, Neovim can make it faster and smoother.

Have questions or plugin suggestions? Drop them in the comments.