Ok we’re talking at cross purposes.
Yes, mullvad has a noble repo, it doesnt have a xia repo (which is the mint equivalent version name)
Attempting to add the mullvad repo using the old ubuntu instructions failed because noble =/= xia
Yes you can work around that but its not beginner level.
Op asked if Flatpaks was the answer whivh imho it isnt, the best answer is downloading the .deb
Really sorry, it’s too long ago to remember the exact error,
but IIRC
when you followed the ubuntu instructions for adding the repository it would kick an error because the command included a reference to noble and mint os name is xia so the contents of the osrelease when checked didnt match and it threw an error.
Could be wrong, I didnt document it.
The work around was to edit the commands.
All a moot point now as
a) the instructions now on the mullvad site don’t reference noble and
b) mullvad now appears to be in the mint store (which is how you should always install if possible
Not correct, only true if you’ve manually added the repo
Further to this, mullvad vpn and browser are now in the Mint store.
Download and install from there
EDIT
Apols, they’re not, I checked on the machine I had faffed around with to get the mullvad repo working. Please ignore
It’s reasonable advice. Mullvad is literally the only time I’ve found the ubuntu instructions to not work on mint
Where does mullvad say it’s not meant to be used on Mint ? I literally have it running on 5 mint devices.
Can’t see that on their website at a quick search
Saying it is not supported is not the same as not meant to be used
In fact to the contrary this references install for mint
https://mullvad.net/en/help/install-mullvad-app-linux
Got to the section that says
“Download and install the app”
For a command line explanation
Honestly though just download the .deb and double click on it out of the folder to get debi to install. It’s all gui and easy
Doesn’t always work - for example the mullvad browser won’t install on mint with the ubuntu instructions as OS version gets reported as Xia not noble (if I’m recalling the issue correctly it was 6-9 months ago)
Yes you can amend the commands to get it to work but it’s definitely not beginner level, I had to faff around for an hour or so before I worked it out
For mullvad vpn the client will tell you when there’s an update available by a very obvious flag in the app that you click on to download it then click/double click on the file out of the downloads to get debi to install it.
To answer the broader question, where ever possible install apps via software manager, that way they are updated with apt / update manager.
I would suggest using flatpacks sparingly as they are disk hogs.
Which involves asking the oppressing person/organisation to hand over the capability to resist them.
“Please Mr Mugger, give me your gun, then you can’t rob me”
How exactly do you think that request is going to go ?