On Ubuntu 24.04 (Noble), the simplest installation is Ubuntu’s APT package: run sudo apt update, then sudo apt install wkhtmltopdf. Check the executable path and version, then convert a small local HTML file to confirm rendering works in your environment. Ubuntu lists the Noble amd64 package as 0.12.6-2build2 in Universe; a separate third-party guide reports a different upstream Jammy build that may be installed on Noble, but that is not an Ubuntu-endorsed compatibility guarantee.
Install the Ubuntu 24.04 archive package
For the version packaged for Noble, use APT:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install wkhtmltopdfUbuntu lists wkhtmltopdf in the Universe repository for amd64 as version 0.12.6-2build2. It is a command-line utility that converts HTML to PDF or image using WebKit. The package listing identifies Qt 5 and Qt WebKit dependencies and recommends an X server or Xvfb; runtime needs can therefore matter on a headless server. See the Ubuntu Noble package listing.
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If APT reports that it cannot locate the package, confirm that the Universe component is enabled in your repository configuration, then refresh metadata and retry.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsChoose a build that matches your requirements
Ubuntu’s package is the straightforward choice when you want the Noble archive build and its package-manager integration. If your application specifically depends on behavior associated with upstream’s patched-Qt build, check the installed build and test the required behavior rather than assuming all wkhtmltopdf packages are equivalent. The upstream packaging project distinguishes patched-Qt builds and says distribution support for them is preferable when available.
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A third-party guide reports that its upstream 0.12.6.1-3 Jammy amd64 .deb works on Noble after installing listed font and runtime dependencies. This is a reported recipe, not an official Ubuntu package listing or an independently validated guarantee. It is a different build from Noble’s 0.12.6-2build2; do not treat the version strings as interchangeable. See the third-party installation guide.
| Route | Build identity | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu APT archive | Noble amd64 package 0.12.6-2build2 |
Ubuntu package integration; package listing includes Qt/WebKit dependencies and recommends an X server or Xvfb. |
| Reported upstream Jammy package | 0.12.6.1-3 Jammy amd64 .deb |
A third-party guide reports installation on Noble with font/runtime dependencies; compatibility is not established as an Ubuntu guarantee. Verify the actual build and the behavior your application needs. |
Check which wkhtmltopdf is running
After installation, check both command resolution and version:
command -v wkhtmltopdf
wkhtmltopdf --versionThe path shows which executable your shell will run; the version output helps identify its build. For the reported upstream-package route, the third-party guide uses which wkhtmltopdf and wkhtmltopdf -V, and reports a path of /usr/local/bin/wkhtmltopdf with a version line marked with patched qt. The archive package may resolve to /usr/bin/wkhtmltopdf. Neither path by itself proves a conversion will succeed.
Smoke-test a local conversion
Use a small local file to test actual rendering and output creation:
printf '<h1>wkhtmltopdf check</h1><p>Local render succeeded.</p>n' > /tmp/wkhtmltopdf-check.html
wkhtmltopdf /tmp/wkhtmltopdf-check.html /tmp/wkhtmltopdf-check.pdf
file /tmp/wkhtmltopdf-check.pdfA successful check should leave a PDF at the requested path, and file should identify it as a PDF document. This is a suggested verification procedure, not a claim that a test was run for this article.
Troubleshoot installation and conversion
- APT cannot locate the package: Ubuntu lists it in Universe. Check whether Universe is enabled, then run
sudo apt updatebefore installing again. - The downloaded .deb has unmet dependencies: The third-party guide reports missing font packages as a common issue for its route, including
xfonts-75dpiandxfonts-base, along with runtime libraries. Follow the dependency list for that package and use APT to install dependencies or repair package configuration; do not assume those instructions apply identically to the archive package. - The path is unexpected: Run
command -v wkhtmltopdfand inspect for multiple installations. A downloaded upstream package may place the executable under/usr/local/bin, while the distribution package may use/usr/bin; your shell may therefore invoke a different copy than intended. - Conversion fails on a headless host: Review the selected package’s runtime dependencies and the Ubuntu package listing’s X server or Xvfb recommendation. A package installing successfully does not by itself establish that rendering has all runtime support it needs.
- The executable runs but required output differs: Confirm the version line and test the feature your application relies on. Patched-Qt and other builds should not be presumed to have identical behavior.
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