How to Install TeamViewer on Debian

This guide demonstrates how to install TeamViewer on Debian using the command-line terminal. TeamViewer provides remote access to computers and devices, enabling you to control desktops, transfer files, and provide technical support from anywhere. Whether you need to assist a family member with their computer, access your work machine from home, or manage servers remotely, TeamViewer handles secure encrypted connections across different operating systems and networks. For command-line-based remote access, you might also consider OpenSSH on Debian.

You will learn two installation methods: the recommended extrepo approach for quick setup, and manual repository configuration for users who need full control over their APT sources. Both methods install the same packages from TeamViewer’s official repository, so choose based on your preferences for simplicity versus customization.

Choose Your TeamViewer Installation Method

TeamViewer offers a dedicated APT repository for Debian systems. You can configure this repository automatically using extrepo or manually for more control.

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
extrepo (Recommended)	Debian extrepo	Latest stable	Automatic via apt upgrade	Most users; simplest setup with automatic GPG handling
Manual Repository	TeamViewer Official	Latest stable	Automatic via apt upgrade	Scripted deployments, custom configurations, or learning APT internals

For most users, the extrepo method is recommended because it handles GPG key management automatically and integrates with Debian’s trusted repository system. The manual method provides identical packages but requires more configuration steps.

Update Debian Before TeamViewer Installation

Before installing new software, first refresh your package lists and upgrade existing packages to ensure system stability:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

This command synchronizes your local package index with the repositories and then applies any pending security or bug fixes.

Install TeamViewer with extrepo (Recommended)

The extrepo tool manages external repositories through Debian’s official curated list. This method automatically handles GPG key downloads and repository configuration.

Step 1: Install extrepo

First, install the extrepo package from Debian’s repositories:

sudo apt install extrepo

Step 2: Enable Non-Free Policy

Because TeamViewer is proprietary software, you must first enable the non-free policy in extrepo’s configuration before enabling the repository:

sudo sed -i 's/# - non-free/- non-free/' /etc/extrepo/config.yaml

This command uncomments the non-free policy line, which then allows extrepo to manage repositories containing proprietary software.

Step 3: Enable the TeamViewer Repository

Now enable the TeamViewer repository. The teamviewer_default repository provides stable releases:

sudo extrepo enable teamviewer_default

TeamViewer also provides a teamviewer_preview repository for beta releases. Enable it with sudo extrepo enable teamviewer_preview if you want early access to new features. Most users should stick with the stable repository.

Step 4: Update Package Index

Refresh your package lists to include the newly added TeamViewer repository:

sudo apt update

Step 5: Install TeamViewer

Now install TeamViewer using apt:

sudo apt install teamviewer

During installation, APT pulls in all required dependencies including Qt libraries and display server components.

Step 6: Verify Installation

Confirm TeamViewer installed correctly by checking the version:

teamviewer --version

Expected output:

 TeamViewer                       15.x.x  (DEB)

Install TeamViewer with Manual Repository Configuration

If you prefer explicit control over your APT configuration or need to script deployments, you can manually add the TeamViewer repository using the modern DEB822 format.

Step 1: Install Required Packages

Begin by installing curl and gnupg for downloading and processing the GPG signing key:

sudo apt install curl gnupg

Step 2: Import the TeamViewer GPG Key

Next, download and convert TeamViewer’s GPG signing key to the binary format APT requires:

curl -fsSL https://linux.teamviewer.com/pubkey/currentkey.asc | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/teamviewer.gpg

This single command fetches the ASCII-armored key, converts it to binary format using gpg --dearmor, and writes it to the system keyrings directory with proper root ownership.

Step 3: Add the TeamViewer Repository

Create the repository configuration file using the DEB822 .sources format:

cat <<EOF | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/teamviewer.sources
Types: deb
URIs: https://linux.teamviewer.com/deb
Suites: stable
Components: main
Architectures: amd64
Signed-By: /usr/share/keyrings/teamviewer.gpg
EOF

This guide uses DEB822 .sources files for third-party repositories to keep APT configuration consistent and readable. For format details, see DEB822 format reference.

Step 4: Update Package Index

Refresh your package lists to include the TeamViewer repository:

sudo apt update

Step 5: Verify Repository Configuration

Before installing, verify the repository was added correctly by checking the package policy:

apt-cache policy teamviewer

Expected output:

teamviewer:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 15.x.x
  Version table:
     15.x.x 500
        500 https://linux.teamviewer.com/deb stable/main amd64 Packages

The version numbers are placeholders. Your output will show the actual current version available from the TeamViewer repository.

Step 6: Install TeamViewer

Once the repository is configured, install TeamViewer using apt:

sudo apt install teamviewer

Step 7: Verify Installation

Finally, confirm the installation succeeded:

teamviewer --version

Expected output:

 TeamViewer                       15.x.x  (DEB)

Launch TeamViewer

After installation, you can start TeamViewer using either the terminal or your desktop environment’s application menu.

Launch from Terminal

To launch TeamViewer directly from the command line:

teamviewer

This command opens the TeamViewer user interface. If the daemon is not running, it will start automatically.

Launch from Applications Menu

Alternatively, desktop users can navigate through the application menu:

GNOME: Activities → Show Applications → TeamViewer

KDE Plasma: Application Launcher → Internet → TeamViewer

Xfce: Applications Menu → Internet → TeamViewer

TeamViewer Command Reference

In addition to the graphical interface, TeamViewer provides several command-line options for managing connections, the daemon service, and system configuration. These commands are particularly useful for headless servers and scripted deployments.

Basic Information Commands

Check your TeamViewer ID and connection status:

teamviewer info

Expected output showing your TeamViewer ID and daemon status:

 TeamViewer                       
    15.x.x  (DEB)                
 TeamViewer ID:  1 234 567 890      
 teamviewerd status               
    teamviewerd start/running

The output displays your unique TeamViewer ID, which remote users need to connect to your machine. If the daemon is not running, you will see a message suggesting to restart it.

To view all available commands and options:

teamviewer help

Daemon Management

The TeamViewer daemon must be running to accept incoming connections. Use these commands to manage the service:

To check the current daemon status:

teamviewer daemon status

Expected output when the daemon is running:

/etc/init.d/teamviewerd status
teamviewerd start/running

To start the daemon manually:

teamviewer daemon start

Similarly, to stop the daemon:

teamviewer daemon stop

After making configuration changes, restart the daemon:

teamviewer daemon restart

If you prefer manual control, disable automatic startup on boot:

teamviewer daemon disable

To restore automatic startup:

teamviewer daemon enable

Headless Server Configuration

For servers without a graphical interface, configure unattended access:

teamviewer setup

This interactive command guides you through setting up headless mode, including password configuration and license agreement.

Set a password directly (useful for automated deployments):

teamviewer passwd YOUR_SECURE_PASSWORD

Replace YOUR_SECURE_PASSWORD with a strong password. This password allows incoming connections without the graphical interface running.

Device Assignment

To assign this device to your TeamViewer account for centralized management:

teamviewer assignment --id=YOUR_ASSIGNMENT_ID

Later, you can unassign the device to make it unmanaged again:

teamviewer unassign

Repository Management

Additionally, TeamViewer can manage its own repository configuration:

To view current repository settings:

teamviewer repo

You can also switch between stable and preview releases:

teamviewer repo stable

teamviewer repo preview

Troubleshooting Support

If you encounter issues, create a log archive for support requests:

teamviewer ziplog

When troubleshooting launch problems, include additional system information:

teamviewer ziplog plus

Both commands save the archive to your home directory, containing logs and system information useful when contacting TeamViewer support.

Update TeamViewer

Since you configured the TeamViewer repository, updates arrive automatically through your system’s package manager. When new versions are released, they become available during regular system updates:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Alternatively, to update only TeamViewer without affecting other packages:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install --only-upgrade teamviewer

Remove TeamViewer

If you no longer need TeamViewer, you can remove it completely from your system.

Uninstall the Package

First, remove TeamViewer and its configuration files:

sudo apt remove --purge teamviewer

Then, remove any orphaned dependencies that were installed with TeamViewer:

sudo apt autoremove

Remove Repository Configuration

If you used extrepo to install TeamViewer, disable the repository:

sudo extrepo disable teamviewer_default

However, if you configured the repository manually, remove the sources file and GPG key instead:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/teamviewer.sources
sudo rm /usr/share/keyrings/teamviewer.gpg

Refresh the package index to confirm the repository was removed:

sudo apt update

Remove User Configuration Data

Warning: The following commands permanently delete your TeamViewer settings, connection history, and saved credentials. This action cannot be undone. Skip this step if you plan to reinstall TeamViewer later.

Remove TeamViewer user data directories:

rm -rf ~/.config/teamviewer
rm -rf ~/.local/share/teamviewer

Verify Removal

Confirm TeamViewer is no longer installed:

apt-cache policy teamviewer

Expected output after complete removal:

teamviewer:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: (none)
  Version table:

Conclusion

You have installed TeamViewer on Debian and learned how to manage the application using command-line tools. The extrepo method provides the simplest setup experience, while manual repository configuration gives you full control over your APT sources. With the daemon commands, you can configure unattended access for headless servers or disable automatic startup when you only need TeamViewer occasionally. For ongoing remote support needs, consider configuring device assignment to integrate with your TeamViewer account for centralized management.

To continue configuring your Debian system, explore our guides on enabling contrib and non-free repos on Debian for additional proprietary software, setting up Debian backports for newer package versions, or installing Docker on Debian for containerized applications.