# Is it possible to have several Anki versions on Linux?

**URL:** <https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/is-it-possible-to-have-several-anki-versions-on-linux/6325>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [January 6, 2021, 7:37pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/is-it-possible-to-have-several-anki-versions-on-linux/6325 "2021-01-06T19:37:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Aizen](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/Aizen)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:37pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/is-it-possible-to-have-several-anki-versions-on-linux/6325/1 "2021-01-06T19:37:11Z")

</div>

Dear Anki community,

The question is: is it possible to have several Anki versions on Linux?

I have a Windows background, and recently installed Ubuntu 20.04 on an old Laptop.

Digression: I am new to Linux, so this may be a silly question.

On Windows, I managed to have several Anki versions by: (1.) downloading the .exe file, (2.) change the program folder-path (for example C:\Program Files\Anki2138\ instead of C:\Program Files\Anki), (3.) installing and renaming the desktop shortcut (i.e. Anki —\> Anki2138).

This allows me to have several releases on one computer. In other words, I can use add-ons that only on certain releases work, simply by “Switch Profile” —\> “Downgrade and Quit”, and opening the respective release.

Is something like this possible on Linux? I downloaded Anki 2.1.26, followed the README file, done the same with 2.1.38, but failed to have 2 Ankis (I anticipated this, but tried anyway).

I can uninstall everything (i.e. start from scratch) and follow your suggestions: that’s not an issue.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dae](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/dae/32/65_2.png) [@dae](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/dae)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 9:54am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/is-it-possible-to-have-several-anki-versions-on-linux/6325/2 "2021-01-07T09:54:40Z")

</div>

The Linux version can be run directly from the untarred folder, without installing it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/anki2/original/1X/8f1279ababc5879d54e4838989f606cfe55af8c7.jpeg) [@system](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2023, 5:18am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/is-it-possible-to-have-several-anki-versions-on-linux/6325/3 "2023-05-01T05:18:19Z")

</div>


