Telegram is an application that allows you to send messages and make voice calls over the Internet. It is available on various Linux distributions, including Ubuntu. With Telegram, you can easily send messages, photos, videos, and other files to friends and family.
Here are three simple methods to install Telegram on Ubuntu, based on my experience with different Linux distributions.
📌 Method 1: Install Telegram via Terminal (APT)
Step 1: Install Telegram Desktop using the terminal
To quickly install Telegram Desktop, open the terminal and run the following command:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install telegram-desktopStep 2: (Optional) Install additional packages
There are optional packages related to Telegram Desktop, such as a command-line interface for Telegram Messenger and a plugin for the Purple messaging framework. You can install them if needed:
sudo apt install telegram-cli telegram-purpleStep 3: Launch Telegram
Once installed, you can launch Telegram by running:
telegram-desktopAlternatively, you can find Telegram in your applications menu and pin it to the taskbar by selecting “Add to Favorites.”
📌 Method 2: Install Telegram via Snap (Recommended)
This method installs Telegram using Snap, which provides an easy way to manage applications across different Linux distributions.
To install Telegram via Snap, run:
sudo snap install telegram-desktop
Once installed, you can find Telegram in your applications menu.
📌 Method 3: Download Telegram from the Official Website
This is the quickest and easiest method since you don’t need to use terminal commands.
Step 1: Download the installation file
Open your browser and visit: https://desktop.telegram.org/?setln=en
The website will automatically detect your system architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) and provide the correct download link.
Step 2: Extract the downloaded file
After downloading the .tar.xz file, extract it. For example, you might download tsetup.4.10.2.tar.xz.
Step 3: Run Telegram
Inside the extracted Telegram folder, you will find two files: Telegram and Updater.
- Click on Telegram to launch the application.
- Click on Updater to update the application when needed.
Step 4: Add Telegram to the applications menu
To make Telegram easier to access, search for it in the applications menu and select “Add to Favorites.”
📌 Method 4: Install Telegram via Flatpak
Flatpak is another package management system that allows you to install applications in a sandboxed environment. If you prefer using Flatpak, follow these steps to install Telegram on Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04.
Step 1: Install Flatpak (if not already installed)
If Flatpak is not installed on your system, install it using the following command:
sudo apt install flatpakStep 2: Add the Flathub repository
Flathub is the main repository for Flatpak applications. Add it to your system with:
sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepoStep 3: Install Telegram Desktop via Flatpak
Now, install Telegram from Flathub using the command:
sudo flatpak install flathub org.telegram.desktopStep 4: Launch Telegram
Once installed, you can start Telegram by running:
flatpak run org.telegram.desktopAlternatively, you can find Telegram in your applications menu.
Common Installation Issues and Fixes
🔹 Issue 1: “Unable to locate package telegram-desktop” when installing via APT
Cause: The package is not found in the default Ubuntu repository.
Fix: Update the package list and retry the installation:
sudo apt updateCheck if you typed the command correctly.
🔹 Issue 2: “Snap package not found” when installing via Snap
The cause may be that Snap is not installed or enabled on your system; please refer to the Snap installation guide [here] and then try again using method 2.
🔹 Issue 3: Telegram does not start after installation
Cause: There might be missing dependencies or software conflicts.
Fix: Restart your computer, then open Telegram using the command:
telegram-desktopIf Telegram still doesn’t open, you can remove it completely and reinstall:
Uninstall Telegram via Snap:
To uninstall Telegram when installed via Snap, use the following command in the terminal:
sudo snap remove telegram-desktopUninstall Telegram via APT:
If you installed Telegram via APT, you can use this command to remove it:
sudo apt remove telegram-desktop
sudo apt purge telegram-desktopAfter uninstalling, you may need to run the following command to remove unnecessary packages:
sudo apt autoremoveUninstall Telegram when installed via .deb file:
If you installed Telegram via a .deb file, you can remove it with this command:
sudo dpkg -r telegram-desktopIf there are dependency errors, you can fix them by running:
sudo apt --fix-broken installAfter uninstalling, you can check to ensure that Telegram has been fully removed.
🔹 Issue 4: “File not found” when downloading Telegram from the website
Cause: The downloaded file might be corrupted or incorrect.
Fix:
- Re-download the file from the official website: https://desktop.telegram.org/?setln=en
- Ensure you download the correct
.tar.xzfile for your system (32-bit or 64-bit).
🔹 Issue 5: Telegram does not appear in the applications menu
This is a common issue, but it’s easy to fix.
Fix:
- Restart your system, and Telegram should appear in the applications menu.
- If it still doesn’t show up, try launching it manually using the terminal: bashCopyEdit
telegram-desktop
These are the simplest ways to install Telegram on Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04, along with solutions to common installation issues. With Telegram, you can easily communicate with friends and share various types of media.