Telegram is a cross-platform, cloud-based instant messaging application that enables users to send and receive messages, execute voice and video calls, share files, and participate in group chats. It is well-known for its speed, security, and extensive features, making it a popular option for individuals and groups seeking a versatile messaging application.
Telegram is considered the best innovation among all the instant messaging applications worldwide. The user base of this application has been growing at a quick pace since its inception. In this article, we will discuss and explain several ways how to install the Telegram desktop on Ubuntu.
How to Install Telegram Desktop on Ubuntu
Ubuntu, being a versatile Linux operating system, has several ways of installing applications. The same applies to Telegram. In this article, we portray four different ways to install Telegram Desktop on Ubuntu.
Let’s find out all four different ways to install Telegram on Ubuntu below:
1. Official Telegram Download
To download the Telegram desktop from the official website, you can follow the below-mentioned steps.
1. Open a browser and go to the official website of Telegram or click on this direct link and look for the tab Get Telegram for Linux x64. Once you click on the mentioned tab, the .tar.xz
file containing the Telegram package will start downloading immediately.
2. Or, we can also download the Telegram package by using the below-mentioned wget
command in the terminal window of Ubuntu:
wget "https://telegram.org/dl/desktop/linux" -O telegram.tar.xz
3. Now, it’s time to extract the .tar file. For that, you can use the below-mentioned command:
tar -xvf telegram.tar.xz
4. Once the file is extracted, execute the file by using the below-mentioned command:
./Telegram
That’s it! Now, the Telegram desktop app will pop up on your screen. When you first open Telegram Desktop, you will be asked to enter and confirm your phone number. Follow the steps shown on the screen to complete the setup. Or, you can check out our guide on; how to use Telegram on Ubuntu.
2. Install Telegram Using the App Center
Ubuntu’s App Center provides a graphical interface for installing applications on the Ubuntu operating system.
Here’s how you can install the Telegram Desktop app using the App Center:
1. Click the Ubuntu icon at the bottom of the page, search for App Center, and open it.
2. Click on the search icon and search for Telegram in the search bar. Click on the Telegram Desktop from the listing.
3. Then, click Install and enter your password to begin the installation process. It may take some time to complete the installation process.
Once the installation is complete, you can launch Telegram from the applications menu. Now, you are ready to use it on your device.
3. Install Telegram using Snap
If you want to install the Snapcraft version of Telegram, you can use the Snap package manager that comes built-in with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Therefore, no installation of Snap is required.
To download the Telegram desktop application using Snap, simply follow the steps mentioned below:
1. Open the Terminal using the Ctrl + Alt + T and type in the below-mentioned command.
sudo snap install telegram-desktop
2. After the installation is completed. Launch the Telegram desktop app using the below-mentioned terminal command.
telegram-desktop
4. Install Telegram using Flatpak
If you do not prefer Snap, you can always opt for Flatpak package manager to download and install the Telegram Desktop application. But Flatpak has to be installed as the latest Ubuntu OS does not come with an in-built Flatpak utility.
To install the Flatpak package manager and Telegram, you can follow the steps below:
1. For installing Flatpak use the below terminal command mentioned:
sudo apt install gnome-software-plugin-flatpak
OR,
sudo apt install flatpak
2. After the installation completes, run the below-mentioned command to enable the Flathub repository, as Flathub is the best place to find Flatpak apps:
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
Note
After the Flathub installation is complete, restart your system. After that, we can proceed with the installation of the Telegram desktop application.
3. To install Telegram via Flatpak, you need to run the below-mentioned terminal command:
flatpak install flathub org.telegram.desktop
5. Install Telegram using PPA
Follow these below-mentioned steps to obtain the package and install the Telegram desktop on Ubuntu using PPA.
1. Open a terminal and run the below-mentioned command to add the official Telegram Desktop PPA (Personal Package Archive) repository:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:atareao/telegram
2. After that, you need to update the list of packages in Ubuntu. For that, run the below-mentioned terminal command:
sudo apt update
3. Now, you can install Telegram using the apt command. To do that, run the command below to install Telegram Desktop on Ubuntu:
sudo apt install telegram-desktop
4. After the download completes, you can open Telegram Desktop by searching for it in the Applications menu or by running this telegram-desktop
terminal command.
You’ve finished setting up Telegram Desktop on Ubuntu. You can now start using it to communicate with your friends and join groups and channels on Telegram.
How to Use Telegram on Ubuntu
Once you have installed Telegram, you need to set it up to use it. There are two ways to use Telegram on Ubuntu. Let’s explore these two methods step-by-step for a better understanding.
1. To use Telegram via QR code
You can log in to Telegram using the QR code. To do this, open the Telegram app on your mobile phone and scan the QR code displayed on the Telegram desktop application open on your computer. Or, you can also follow the on-screen instructions.
2. To use Telegram via Phone Number
If you don’t have Telegram installed on your mobile phone, you can still use Telegram on your desktop by logging in with your phone number. Follow the steps mentioned below to do so:
1. Click on the Login using your phone number option. After that, select the country you are from the drop-down list.
2. Then type in your mobile phone number and click on the Next button.
3. Type in the OTP on your computer screen that you have received from Telegram on your mobile phone to verify your Telegram account.
That’s it! You can use any of the above methods to install Telegram on Ubuntu. Now, you will be able to use your Telegram account directly from your Ubuntu computer with your phone simultaneously. If you also want to use WhatsApp on Ubuntu then check out our linked guide.