How to use IDM in linux with extension support

Prerequisite: Flatpak.

Introduction

If you’re a long-time Windows user who recently switched to Linux, chances are you’ve missed a few familiar tools—especially Internet Download Manager (IDM). Known for its blazing fast downloads, browser integration, and ability to resume interrupted files, IDM is a favorite among users who frequently download large files or media.

But here’s the catch: IDM was built for Windows. There’s no official Linux version.

So the question is—how do you get IDM-like functionality on Linux, complete with extension support for Chrome or Firefox? That’s exactly what we’re going to solve in this guide. Let’s get you back to downloading like a boss, the Linux way.

Install IDM through WINE

1. Install WINE using Flatpak.

   flatpak install flathub org.winehq.Wine//stable
   

2. Create a 64-Bit WINEPREFIX named IDM using flatpak winetricks. Install IDM in default location.

   flatpak run --command=winetricks org.winehq.Wine
   

3. Open Winetricks

4. Select Winetricks Prefix Architecture: 64, Name: IDM
   

5. Run IDM exe installer

6. put this script as idm in ~/.local/bin/.
   Make it executable.

   chmod +x ~/.local/bin/idm
   

Change USER_NAME.

#!/bin/bash

if  [[ $1 == '-d' ]]; then
   flatpak run --env="WINEPREFIX=/home/USER_NAME/.var/app/org.winehq.Wine/data/wineprefixes/IDM/" org.winehq.Wine "/home/USER_NAME/.var/app/org.winehq.Wine/data/wineprefixes/IDM/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Internet Download Manager/IDMan.exe" /d "$2"
elif [[ $1 == *://* ]]; then
  flatpak run --env="WINEPREFIX=/home/USER_NAME/.var/app/org.winehq.Wine/data/wineprefixes/IDM/" org.winehq.Wine "/home/USER_NAME/.var/app/org.winehq.Wine/data/wineprefixes/IDM/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Internet Download Manager/IDMan.exe" /d "$1"
else
  echo "Usage: idm [URL] or idm -d [URL]"
fi

1. Put idm.png icon in ~/.local/share/icons. Or directly link idm icon.
   idm.png source

2. Create application launcher in

~/.local/share/applications/idm.desktop

[Desktop Entry]
Name=Internet Download Manager
Exec=flatpak run --env="WINEPREFIX=/home/USER_NAME/.var/app/org.winehq.Wine/data/wineprefixes/IDM/" org.winehq.Wine "/home/USER_NAME/.var/app/org.winehq.Wine/data/wineprefixes/IDM/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Internet Download Manager/IDMan.exe" @@u %U @@
Type=Application
Terminal=false
Categories=Internet;
Icon=/home/USER_NAME/.var/app/org.winehq.Wine/data/icons/hicolor/48x48/apps/2829_IDMan.0.png
Comment=Launch Internet Download Manager.
StartupWMClass=Internet Download Manager

Change USER_NAME.

Extension

Firefox based browsers

1. Install extension: Download by Internet Download Manager
2. Turn on the Extension by clicking it. Try Download something. It will prompt you to install Native Messaging. Install it.
   Native Messaging source.
3. Enable and pin extension:
4. Install native messaging: Check connection should give you green signal
5. Restart browser. Test a download.

Chromium based browsers

Unfortunately Google has remove the extension from webstore because of Manifest V2.