diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index 55c28dbce..a8baf7bb1 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -91,6 +91,11 @@ install-extra-data:
 	$(INSTALL) -d $(DESTDIR)$(DATADIR)/mime/packages
 	$(INSTALL) -m 644 src/audacity.xml $(DESTDIR)$(DATADIR)/mime/packages
 
+	# install AppData file for package managers
+	$(INSTALL) -d $(DESTDIR)$(DATADIR)/appdata
+	$(INSTALL) -m 644 help/audacity.appdata.xml $(DESTDIR)$(DATADIR)/appdata/$(AUDACITY_NAME).appdata.xml
+
+
 .PHONY: install-lrdf-data
 install-lrdf-data:
 	# install basic LRDF ontology file
@@ -129,6 +134,7 @@ uninstall: $(EXTRAUNINSTALLTARGETS)
 uninstall-extra-data:
 	rm -f $(DESTDIR)$(DATADIR)/applications/$(AUDACITY_NAME).desktop
 	rm -f $(DESTDIR)$(DATADIR)/mime/packages/audacity.xml
+	rm -f $(DESTDIR)$(DATADIR)/appdata/$(AUDACITY_NAME).appdata.xml
 
 .PHONY: uninstall-lrdf-data
 uninstall-lrdf-data:
diff --git a/help/audacity.appdata.xml b/help/audacity.appdata.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4891d5d8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/help/audacity.appdata.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<application>
+  <id type="desktop">audacity.desktop</id>
+  <licence>CC BY</licence>
+  <description>
+    <p>
+	Audacity® is a free, easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems. The interface is translated into many languages.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+	You can use Audacity to:
+	<ul>
+	<li>Record live audio.</li>
+	<li>Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs.</li>
+	<li>Edit WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP2, MP3 or Ogg Vorbis sound files.</li>
+	<li>Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together.</li>
+	<li>Change the speed or pitch of a recording.</li>
+	<li>Apply a wide range of other effects to audio recordings.</li>
+	</ul>
+    </p>
+  </description>
+  <url type="homepage">http://audacity.sourceforge.net/</url>
+  <screenshots>
+    <screenshot type="default">http://audacity.sourceforge.net/about/images/audacity-linux.png</screenshot>
+    <screenshot>http://audacity.sourceforge.net/about/images/recording.png</screenshot>
+  </screenshots>
+  <updatecontact>audacity-devel@lists.sourceforge.net</updatecontact>
+</application>