How to Run VI Package Manager with Elevated Privileges on Ubuntu Linux

Updated Aug 31, 2026

Environment

Software

  • Package Manager

Operating System

  • Linux

This article explains how to download, install, and launch VI Package Manager (VIPM) on Ubuntu Linux version 24.04. VIPM requires elevated privileges to function correctly. This procedure shows how to install VIPM, launch it from the command line, and modify the Ubuntu desktop shortcut so that VIPM can be launched from the desktop icon while prompting for the required authentication.
Prerequisites:
  • Ubuntu 24.04 Linux operating system
  • sudo privileges on the target system
  • Downloaded VIPM installation package

  1. Download the VIPM installation package for Linux from one of the following locations:
  2. Extract the contents of the downloaded ZIP file.
  3. Select the installer appropriate for your Linux distribution.
  4. For Ubuntu:
    • Select the .deb installer package.
    • Install the package using Ubuntu App Center or the appropriate package installation utility.
  5. Launch VIPM from a terminal by running:
    • sudo /usr/local/jki/vipm/vipm-desktop
  6.  To enable launching VIPM from the Ubuntu desktop icon with authentication prompting, open the desktop launcher file for editing:
    •  sudo nano /usr/share/applications/vipm.desktop
  7. Locate the following line:
    •  Exec= pkexec /usr/local/jki/vipm/vipm-desktop
  8.  Replace it with:
    •  Exec=sh -c "pkexec env DISPLAY=$DISPLAY XAUTHORITY=$XAUTHORITY /usr/local/jki/vipm/vipm-desktop"
  9.  The resulting section of the file should appear as follows:
    1. [Desktop Entry]
    2. Name=VIPM
    3. Comment=VI Package Manager (VIPM)
    4. # Exec= pkexec /usr/local/jki/vipm/vipm-desktop
    5. # The modified command enables VIPM to execute as sudo when a user clicks on the desktop icon.
    6. # A user will need a sudo password. Without a password, VIPM will not launch.
    7. Exec=sh -c "pkexec env DISPLAY=$DISPLAY XAUTHORITY=$XAUTHORITY /usr/local/jki/vipm/vipm-desktop"
    8. StartupWMClass=vipm
    9. Terminal=false
    10. Type=Application
    11. Icon=/usr/local/jki/vipm/icons/linux/VIPM.png
    12. Categories=Utility;Development;
  10. Save the file and exit the editor.
  11. Reboot the system.
 
 

After rebooting, you can launch VIPM directly from the Ubuntu desktop by selecting the VIPM icon. Ubuntu prompts for authentication before VIPM starts. A user must have sudo privileges for VIPM to launch successfully.

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