Doiwnload 26.2 to a Windows computer and click on ‘Help’ then ‘About LibreOffice’ which then identifies the ‘Version’ as 26.2.03.
Download 26.2 to a Linux system (my case Zorin 18 Pro) then click on ‘Help’ then ‘About LibreOffice’ the ‘Version’ as 25.8.4.2.
I have download the same file twice and get the same result!
Does anyone know why this is the case?
FWIW, I’m running LO 25.8.4.2 as well (on Debian Trixie 13.3).
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IIRC an earlier version of LO is standard for 13.3, and I installed the newer version from debian’s backport repository a few weeks ago.
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I’d like to use 26.2 as well, but will wait until it is available in their backports. Maybe 26.2 is available already.
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Just checked, 26.2 is not yet in Trixie backports
Because on Linux, the version that you run is not the version you installed. You have parallel installations now (one from distro, one from TDF).
They have talked about 26.2 on the Zorin Forum.
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The first thing that comes to mind is the 25.8 version is being executed, not 26.2.
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Silly question, but in addition to downloading the package, you also installed it, correct 
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How did you start LibreOffice? All the existing desktop icons and menu items are going to be still pointing to the 25.8 version. The downloaded version is installed under /opt on a linux system. Double check your application menu for new items.
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From the command line type:
# I expect you will see /opt/libreoffice26.2
ls -l /opt
# Check version from command line
/opt/libreoffice26.2/program/soffice --version.
There should be distribution specific package management commands to view what was installed and their file names or the contents of deb files (zorin is based on ubuntu), etc, which would have indicated the package was installed under /opt. There is a standard for this, Filesystem Hierarchy Standard.
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If a directory is not in your $PATH, you must use the fully qualified name. You could create new desktop icons to execute 26.2 or a shell alias or function in .bashrc (if using bash). I did notice there are desktop files under /opt/libreoffice26.2/share/xdg/. I don’t know if the xdg system is configured to pick these up or if you need to copy them to some place under your $HOME directory like ~/.local/share/applications/. Check with the Zorin Forum.
# display executables from your $PATH
type -a soffice
# display $PATH
echo $PATH
# A prettier version of the above
echo "${PATH//:/$'\n'}"As a complete novice I do not understand why the download and what I am using are different. the answer does not explain why the discrepancy between the windows version and the Linux version. LibreOffice download site clearly says 26.2 but that is not what is unpacked and installed!
How sure are you to be correct here “as a complete novice”.
Can you really rule out a parallel install as Mike suggested?
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Let’s start with the version you use: Linux has several ways to install this: A regular install (I guess Zorin uses apt and .deb, but I don’t know). then Snap, Flatpaks and AppImage.
For regular installs you can use the repository of your distribution or add an additional repository (for LibreOffice) or do a local install of downloaded packages (as you would maybe do, if you would compile your own version).
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So what file exactly did you download?
How did you install this file?
Are you sure there is desktop integration for this version?
How do you start LibreOffice?
EDIT:
Checking the zorin-help shows their software-store can handle all types. Look in the help at the screenshot for installing Discord: It shows in the upper right part a little dropdown-menu, set to Flathub.
My guess from the forum-link @lodf2023 gave above would be: Your 25.8 is a Flatpack and you added now 26.2 as .deb-install, but it iscurrently only available from the command-line.
This is wrong statement. It is unpacked and installed. Just not started.
You now have two LibreOffices, in two different places. And when you run libreoffice (or whatever commend you use), the one from your OS repo (the older one) gets called, from the older place. The newer one, successfully unpacked and installed, sits there in its place quietly. And it would run OK, if you start it with a correct command (maybe including version, or with specifying full path…)
On Windows, there is no “OS repo” version of LibreOffice - therefore, there is no problem of parallel setup (or more specifically, you would need to do quite a bit of work to make it happen).
Well, for a novice, many things in Linux and its package management need learning.
As others have stated you have 2 versions of LibreOffice installed. One is the 25.8 version which is what you see in the start menu. The 26.2 is not in the start menu. Too fix this you need to uninstall both versions.
Open the start menu and select Software. Wait for it to finish loading then click the search button in the top left corner and enter libreoffice.
Note the case of item names. LibreOffice vs libreoffice.
You must uninstall the 26.2 version first.
Select the item named LibreOffice. This is the 26.2 version. Uninstall it.
Do not uninstall the item named libreoffice yet which is the 25.8 version.
Uninstall each module that shows Installed. Writer, Draw, Impress, Calc, Math, Base.
After uninstalling the modules select and uninstall libreoffice.
Close the software manager. Right-click on an open area of the desktop and select Open in Terminal.
Enter each command exactly as shown.
Enter:
sudo apt-get remove --purge "libreoffice*"
Press enter
Enter your password.
Press enter
Wait for it to finish.
There will be a prompt asking if you want to continue.
Press y then enter.
Wait for it to finish.
Enter:
sudo apt-get clean
Press enter
Enter:
sudo apt-get autoremove
Press enter
Close the terminal and reboot/restart your computer.
You may have to authenticate up to 3 times.
Wait for your computer to finish starting.
Open the start menu and select Software. Wait for it to finish loading then click the search button in the top left corner and enter libreoffice.
Select the item named LibreOffice. Note case.
Scroll down to the version box and confirm 26.2
Go back to top. Under the Install button confirm Flathub is selected. If not click the triangle and select Flathub.
Click Install.
After installation is done you can click the Launch button in the manager or go to start menu - office and click LibreOffice.
Click Help - About LibreOffice and check the version.
Gary many thanks for this clear description of the correct fix process. I must say that your construction of such a clear answer makes me think that you must be a teacher.
The fix worked and the correct version is now installed and fully working.