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FLATPAK FLATPAKREF
File conversion

Convert FLATPAK to FLATPAKREF

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Aug 10, 2026
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Is it possible to convert FLATPAK to FLATPAKREF?
Yes - FLATPAK converts to FLATPAKREF.

A .flatpakref is not an unpacked bundle; it is a small text pointer to a repo that hosts the app. Import your .flatpak into a local repo with flatpak build-import-bundle, publish the repo, then hand-write a .flatpakref file with the app id, branch and repo URL.

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Sep 2026

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Why convert FLATPAK to FLATPAKREF?

A .flatpak is a single self-contained bundle, while a .flatpakref is a tiny reference file that adds a remote and installs one app in a single click. You create the .flatpakref after you have somewhere to host the app, so the bundle first has to go into a repository.

How to convert FLATPAK to FLATPAKREF

flatpak build-import-bundle + repo OPEN-SOURCE

Run flatpak build-import-bundle ~/my-repo app.flatpak to import the bundle, then flatpak build-update-repo ~/my-repo and host that directory over HTTP.

Write the .flatpakref file FREE

Create a text file with [Flatpak Ref] and fields Name=, Branch=, Url= (your repo URL) and the base64 GPGKey=; users open it to add the remote and install the app.

Install the bundle directly instead EASIEST

If you do not need a repo, skip the ref entirely: flatpak install app.flatpak installs a single-file bundle without any .flatpakref.

About these formats

.FLATPAK Linux Flatpak Application Bundle

A .flatpak file is a Flatpak single-file bundle: one Linux application or runtime packaged into a standalone file for direct download, sharing on removable media, or sending by email. Open…

Open .FLATPAK details →
.FLATPAKREF FLATPAKREF File

A .FLATPAKREF file is a data file used by specific software.

Open .FLATPAKREF details →

Quality & what to watch

  • A .flatpakref only works if the repository it points to stays online; it contains no application data itself.
  • The Url in the ref must match where you actually host the repo, and the GPGKey must be the base64 of the key that signed the repo, or installs fail.
  • Single-file bundles carry no update path, so the point of the ref is to give users a repo they can update from.

Frequently asked questions

Does build-import-bundle produce a .flatpakref?
No, it only imports the bundle into a repo. You then write the .flatpakref file by hand.
What are the mandatory fields in a .flatpakref?
At minimum Name, Branch and Url; GPGKey and RuntimeRepo are needed for signed repos and runtime resolution.
Do I have to host a repository?
Yes for a ref. If you just want a one-off install, use flatpak install app.flatpak on the bundle directly.
How do I get the base64 GPGKey value?
Export the signing key with gpg --export <keyid> and pipe it through base64 | tr -d '\n'.