Flatpak first
Run:
flatpak install flathub eu.usdx.UltraStarDeluxeFlathub publishes eu.usdx.UltraStarDeluxe as documented in the upstream README. That is the preferred Linux karaoke path when Flatpak is available.
AppImage alternate
Download UltraStarDeluxe-linux-*.AppImage from GitHub Releases, then chmod +x and run it. Arch users can follow AUR ultrastardx-git listed upstream.
Song folders under Flatpak
Default songs live under ~/.var/app/eu.usdx.UltraStarDeluxe/.ultrastardx/songs/. External folders need flatpak override eu.usdx.UltraStarDeluxe --filesystem=/your/path before SongDir will see them.
Prove and update
Sing one short track, then update with flatpak update or a newer AppImage from the same Releases door. Related: first hour, song folders, download safe.
Troubleshooting empty lists
Empty set lists are usually sandbox path problems, not missing karaoke features. Re-read the README override note before downloading a second AppImage from a mirror. Safety: is karaoke safe.
Cross-links
Windows installer: install on Windows. macOS dmgs: install on macOS. Comparison: vs paid karaoke apps.
Why local karaoke still matters
A living-room PC with UltraStar Deluxe keeps pitch scoring on hardware you control. Subscription karaoke apps are convenient on phones, yet they need accounts, catalogs, and network continuity. When the room already has a TV, USB microphones, and a folder of songs you may use, the desktop path is simpler than juggling seats.
Reed Hollow documents the install door so searchers who typed karaoke find GitHub Releases or Flathub instead of Softonic-style wrappers. That is the entire editorial job: exact filenames, honest limits, and one update habit.
What UltraStar Deluxe is for
UltraStar Deluxe is a GPL-2.0 karaoke game inspired by classic console singing titles. Up to six players can sing with microphones while the engine scores pitch and rhythm. Themes, party mode, and optional visuals exist, but they are not required for a first successful night.
The program does not replace venue licensing desks. It also does not ship a commercial catalog inside the Windows installer, macOS dmg, Linux AppImage, or Flatpak. You bring song folders. That separation keeps the free program honest and keeps copyright work where it belongs.
Practical prep before guests arrive
Test one short track the day before. Confirm the microphone appears in the operating system sound panel, then inside UltraStar Deluxe Options. Confirm SongDir lists the titles you expect. Confirm the TV or projector shows lyrics at a readable size. Those four checks prevent most karaoke embarrassment.
Keep a paper note with the Releases URL, the Flatpak id if you use Linux, and the song folder path. Shared club laptops lose tribal knowledge quickly. A boring note beats a chaotic group chat when someone reimages the machine.
Update and backup habits
Return to the same GitHub Releases page for the next Windows installer, portable zip, macOS dmg, or AppImage. Flatpak users run the normal Flatpak update flow. Back up song folders and config.ini (or the .ultrastardx data directory) before major OS upgrades.
Do not install three “karaoke cleaners” or third-party updaters from search ads. Those tools are a common way malware rides a party PC. Exact upstream doors stay enough.
How this guide fits the rest of the site
Start from the home install panel when you need the OS tabs. Use download safe when teaching volunteers. Use first hour after the binary lands. Use vs paid karaoke apps when someone asks why not stay on a phone subscription forever. Use guides when you want the longer OS and troubleshooting writeups.
Independence and funding notes live on about and advertising disclosure. Editorial verification rules live on how we verify. Upstream bugs belong on the UltraStar-Deluxe/USDX issue tracker, not on this publisher inbox.
Microphone and room notes
USB microphones are enough for most karaoke nights. Start with one reliable mic before buying a mixer. Place the TV at eye level for singers who need lyrics, and keep ambient noise low enough that pitch detection stays stable. Wireless mics work when the OS sees them as ordinary audio devices.
If scoring looks dead, check the OS input meter first. UltraStar Deluxe cannot score a device the operating system never enabled. Re-assign players in Options after you swap hardware mid-night.
Song format expectations
UltraStar-format songs typically pair audio or video with a text notes file. Broken timing usually means a bad notes file, not a broken UltraStar Deluxe build. Fix songs with community editors only after one known-good track scores correctly. Do not mass-import unmarked archives from chat threads.
Keep originals of every song folder you trust. Reimages and accidental deletes are common on shared karaoke laptops. Store licence notes beside the backup.
Teaching a new host
Walk a new host through the Releases URL, the exact Windows or macOS filename, or the Flatpak id. Then watch them add SongDir and sing one track. That ten-minute drill beats a long slide deck. Point them at download safe and first hour when they need a refresher.
Remind them that Reed Hollow is an independent guide publisher. Upstream UltraStar Deluxe remains at usdx.eu and GitHub. Bug reports for the game belong upstream.
Frequently asked questions
Is UltraStar Deluxe free for Linux?
Yes. UltraStar Deluxe is free under GPL-2.0, so you can install it for local karaoke without a seat fee. Song audio and lyrics you add later may be free or paid under their own licences, which stay separate from the program licence.
Where is the safe download?
Prefer GitHub Releases for UltraStar-Deluxe/USDX when you need the Windows installer, portable zip, macOS dmgs, or Linux AppImage. On Linux you can also use Flathub Flatpak eu.usdx.UltraStarDeluxe. Skip Softonic-style wrappers that rename the setup for a karaoke search ranking.
Do songs ship inside the installer?
No. The installer is only the UltraStar Deluxe game. After install, point SongDir at UltraStar-format song folders you already have rights to use, then prove one scored song before you expand the library.