How to Install Sonarr - Just One More Fix

On a Linux-Based System

Sonarr is one of those tools that feels optional until you use it for a week—then you wonder how you ever managed TV shows manually. This post walks through installing Sonarr on a Linux-based system, assuming you already have basic Linux access and aren’t afraid of the terminal.

If Linux still feels unfamiliar, I strongly recommend reading A Beginner’s Guide to Linux first. It explains distributions, package managers, and basic commands used throughout this guide.

What This Post Is About

This article covers:

What Sonarr does
Installing Sonarr on Debian/Ubuntu-based systems
Running Sonarr as a system service
Accessing the web interface

I’m focusing on the most common setup because it’s reliable and easy to maintain.

Why I Use Sonarr

Sonarr automates TV show management. It monitors shows you care about, watches for new episodes, and works with download clients to grab them automatically. Once paired with a media server like Plex, it becomes a “set it and forget it” workflow.

The real value is consistency. Correct naming, folder structure, and episode tracking all happen without constant babysitting.

Prerequisites

A Linux system (Debian or Ubuntu-based)
SSH or terminal access
sudo privileges
An updated system

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Install Required Dependencies

Sonarr runs on .NET, so we need a few dependencies first:

sudo apt install -y curl sqlite3 libicu-dev

Install Sonarr

Add the official Sonarr repository and install the package:

sudo apt install -y gnupg ca-certificates
sudo mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://repo.sonarr.tv/sonarr.gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/sonarr.gpg
echo "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/sonarr.gpg] https://repo.sonarr.tv/ubuntu focal main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/sonarr.list
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y sonarr

If you’re not on Ubuntu 20.04 (focal), this still works in most cases. Sonarr itself is portable—the repo naming is mostly historical.

Start and Enable Sonarr

Enable Sonarr so it starts automatically on boot:

sudo systemctl enable sonarr
sudo systemctl start sonarr

Check that it’s running:

sudo systemctl status sonarr

Access the Web Interface

Sonarr runs on port 8989 by default. Open a browser and go to:

http://<your-server-ip>:8989

If you’re running this locally:

http://localhost:8989

If the page loads, the installation worked.

File Permissions (Important)

This is where most people run into trouble.

Sonarr must have read/write access to:

Your TV show library
Your download directory

If you’re running Sonarr as the default service user (sonarr), make sure ownership matches:

sudo chown -R sonarr:sonarr /path/to/tv
sudo chown -R sonarr:sonarr /path/to/downloads

Bad permissions cause 90% of “Sonarr isn’t importing files” issues.

What Worked Well

Stable service-based install
Easy updates via apt
Minimal configuration to get running

What Didn’t

Permissions can be confusing at first
No guardrails—Sonarr assumes you know what you’re doing

Lessons Learned

Install Sonarr early, not after your library is already a mess. Let it enforce structure from day one. Also, always confirm permissions before troubleshooting anything else.

Wrap-Up

Sonarr is one of the core pieces of a self-hosted media setup. Once installed, it quietly does its job and rarely needs attention.

In the next article, Sonarr will start to make more sense when paired with download clients and indexers.

Summary

Sonarr installs cleanly on most Linux systems
Use the official repository for updates
Fix permissions early
Web UI runs on port 8989

Question for the Reader

Are you running Sonarr on bare metal, a VM, or a container? What gave you the most trouble during setup?