Problem installing .deb in Software Install Ubuntu 20.04

Solution 1:

If you are using firefox, and opted to download and open the file with Software Install, what has likely occurred is the file has been downloaded into the /tmp/mozilla_userX directory, from which the Ubuntu Software Installer is not able to install anything.

Opting to save the file first before opening with Software Install should solve this issue.

For files that have already been downloaded, moving the file out of the /tmp/mozilla_userX directory into a sub-directory of /home/user/, e.g. Downloads, should solve the problem.

Solution 2:

If you're looking for a reliable GUI way to install .deb files, use gdebi.

To see if you already have it installed on your system...

dpkg -l gdebi | grep ii

If it's not there, install it this way...

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gdebi

Then get the "Properties" of any .deb file, and set the default "Open With" application as gdebi. Now you can just double-click on .deb files to install them.

Note: gdebi may not operate properly if .deb files are on the desktop.

Update #1:

gdebi is broken in Ubuntu 21.04.