PhpStorm update on Ubuntu/Mint

I had the same issue and was able to change ownership of the PhpStorm folder to get it to work. Assuming your username is newownername and PhpStorm installation is located in /opt/phpstorm, the command should look like this:

chown -R newownername /opt/phpstorm

Note that you should change username and path to appropriate values.

No need (and not recommended) to change the ownership or the permissions of the opt/phpstorm directory. In fact, the error message returned says exactly what you should do: run it as a privileged user to update it.

After exiting PHPStorm, you can run it as a privileged user using the following instructions

sudo updatedb && sudo locate phpstorm.shsudo /path/to/phpstorm.sh

The first instruction updates the locate database and returns the location of the phpstorm executable in your computer.Use the returned location as the path in the second instruction.

When starting PHPStorm as root, it will start with the default settings. It might even ask you if you want to apply your license... No need to change any of this: the default settings and running PHPStorm in evaluation mode will work just fine. After it starts, check for updates in the menu Help and apply them normally. PHPStorm might restart once again as root. Just close it once more and restart normally. When restarting as your user, you'll be given the ability to select your normal settings (usually stored in your user's directory: the path will be suggested). Accept and continue. PHPStorm will start with all your preferences and settings restored and properly upgraded.

If plugin updates are required, you can update them normally. No need to do it using root.

This solution is recommended by JetBrains. Changing the ownership or the permissions of the opt/phpstorm directory is not recommended and in fact pointed as incorrect by Jet Brains, as you can verify on their answer regarding the process of upgrading a similar product: Fixed: PyCharm automatic update fails on Linux due to permissions.

JetBrains are publishing their entire IDE portfolio as snaps, including PHPStorm. Snaps work on all supported versions of Ubuntu, including 14.04 and on Linux Mint 17.x and 18.x.

Some of the advantages of the JetBrains snaps are that they are always up to date, will automatically stay updated and are very easy to install.

To install PHPStorm in Ubuntu or Linux Mint:

sudo apt install snapdsudo snap install phpstorm --classic