Telegram is a fast, secure messaging app that handles encrypted chats, large file transfers, and cloud sync without heavy setup. It supports groups with up to 200,000 members, channels for broadcasting, bots for automation, and custom themes for personalization. Whether you need to coordinate team projects, manage community discussions, or keep personal conversations synced across desktop, mobile, and web, Telegram delivers these features with minimal resource usage.
This guide explains how to install Telegram Desktop on Fedora using two methods: RPM Fusion for native DNF integration and Flatpak from Flathub for sandboxed isolation. You will enable the required repositories, install the application, verify the installation, and learn how to manage updates and removal.
Choose Your Telegram Installation Method
Fedora supports two installation paths for Telegram Desktop, each with different trade-offs in system integration, update management, and application isolation. The method you choose determines how Telegram receives updates and how isolated it runs from the rest of your system.
| Method | Channel | Version | Updates | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RPM Fusion | RPM Fusion Package | Latest stable | Automatic via dnf upgrade | Users wanting seamless Fedora integration and standard update workflows |
| Flatpak | Flathub | Latest stable | Automatic via flatpak update | Users prioritizing application sandboxing or needing isolated app environments |
For most users, RPM Fusion is recommended because it integrates with Fedora’s native package management system. Updates arrive alongside kernel patches and system libraries through the regular dnf upgrade workflow, requiring no additional maintenance steps. Choose Flatpak when you want tighter sandboxing with explicit permission controls, or when you need to keep Telegram isolated from your system libraries.
Method 1: Install Telegram via RPM Fusion
RPM Fusion provides the telegram-desktop package through Fedora’s native packaging system, giving you automatic updates and full desktop integration without additional runtime layers.
Update Fedora System Packages
Before installing new software, update your system packages to prevent dependency conflicts and ensure compatibility with current repository metadata. Run the following command to refresh package indexes and upgrade installed software:
sudo dnf upgrade --refreshImport RPM Fusion Repositories
Next, enable the RPM Fusion free and non-free repositories that host Telegram and thousands of other applications unavailable in Fedora’s default repositories. The free repository contains open-source software, while the non-free repository includes proprietary codecs and drivers you may need for multimedia playback. Execute these commands to add both repository channels:
sudo dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpmsudo dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpmThe
$(rpm -E %fedora)expression automatically expands to your current Fedora release number (such as 42, 43, or 44), making these commands work across different Fedora versions without modification.
After installation completes, verify that the RPM Fusion repositories are enabled by checking the active repository list:
dnf repo list | grep rpmfusionYou should see output similar to the following, confirming both base and update repositories are active:
rpmfusion-free RPM Fusion for Fedora 43 - Free rpmfusion-free-updates RPM Fusion for Fedora 43 - Free - Updates rpmfusion-nonfree RPM Fusion for Fedora 43 - Nonfree rpmfusion-nonfree-updates RPM Fusion for Fedora 43 - Nonfree - Updates
Install Telegram via DNF Command
With RPM Fusion enabled, install Telegram Desktop through DNF. The package manager automatically resolves dependencies and configures desktop integration including application menu entries and file associations:
sudo dnf install telegram-desktopVerify Telegram RPM Installation
After installation completes, verify that Telegram installed correctly by querying the package database:
rpm -q telegram-desktopThe output confirms the installed package version (your version number may differ):
telegram-desktop-6.3.9-1.fc43.x86_64
Method 2: Install Telegram via Flatpak and Flathub
Flatpak provides containerized isolation with controlled permissions and filesystem access. This method installs Telegram in a sandbox that limits what system resources the application can access, adding a security layer that keeps the app contained. Fedora Workstation ships with Flatpak pre-installed, but you need to configure the Flathub repository to access applications like Telegram.
Enable Flathub Repository
First, add the Flathub repository to access Flatpak applications. Although Fedora includes Flatpak by default, it requires explicit Flathub configuration for third-party apps. Run the following command to add Flathub as a system-wide remote:
sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepoThe --if-not-exists flag prevents errors if Flathub is already configured on your system.
Install Telegram via Flatpak Command
After enabling Flathub, install Telegram at the system level so all users on the machine can access the application. The -y flag automatically confirms the installation prompt:
sudo flatpak install flathub org.telegram.desktop -yOmit
sudoto install Telegram only for the current user. User-scope installations store data in~/.local/share/flatpak/instead of system directories, which can be useful for multi-user systems with different application needs.
Verify Telegram Flatpak Installation
Confirm that Telegram installed correctly by listing installed Flatpak applications:
flatpak list | grep -i telegramThe output shows the installed application with its identifier and branch:
Telegram Desktop org.telegram.desktop stable system
Troubleshoot Flathub Connection Issues
If you encounter the error below when installing Flatpak applications, it indicates the Flathub remote is disabled even though it appears configured. This can happen when a previous configuration step failed or when the remote was manually disabled:
error: Unable to load summary from remote flathub: Can't fetch summary from disabled remote 'flathub'
To fix this issue, explicitly enable the Flathub remote with the modify command:
sudo flatpak remote-modify --enable flathubAfter enabling the remote, retry the installation command. If the problem persists, remove and re-add the Flathub remote:
sudo flatpak remote-delete flathub
sudo flatpak remote-add flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepoLaunch Telegram Desktop
Once installation completes, launch Telegram through the desktop application menu or command line. Most users prefer the graphical interface for daily use, while terminal commands help with scripts, remote sessions, or diagnosing startup problems.
Launch Telegram from Terminal
For RPM Fusion installations, start Telegram from the terminal using the binary name:
telegram-desktopFor Flatpak installations, use the full application identifier with the Flatpak run command:
flatpak run org.telegram.desktopLaunch Telegram from Applications Menu
For everyday use, open Telegram through your desktop environment’s application menu. In GNOME, use the following path:
Activities > Show Applications > Telegram
Alternatively, search for “Telegram” directly in Activities to find and launch the application quickly.
Manage Telegram Updates
Keeping Telegram updated ensures you receive security patches, bug fixes, and new features. The update process differs depending on your installation method.
Update Telegram RPM Package
RPM Fusion installations receive updates through standard system update workflows. Run the following command to update all system packages including Telegram:
sudo dnf upgrade --refreshIf you want to update only Telegram without touching other packages, use the --only-upgrade flag:
sudo dnf install --only-upgrade telegram-desktopUpdate Telegram Flatpak Package
Flatpak installations require separate update commands. Update all Flatpak applications system-wide with:
sudo flatpak updateTo update only Telegram while leaving other Flatpak applications unchanged, specify the application identifier:
sudo flatpak update org.telegram.desktopTroubleshoot Common Telegram Issues
Telegram Desktop generally works well on Fedora, but you may encounter issues related to display configuration, audio integration, or desktop notifications. This section covers common problems and their solutions.
Fix Screen Sharing on Wayland
Telegram’s screen sharing feature requires PipeWire support under Wayland. If screen sharing shows a black screen or fails to capture your display, ensure PipeWire is running:
systemctl --user status pipewireIf PipeWire is not running, start and enable it:
systemctl --user enable --now pipewire pipewire-pulseFor Flatpak installations, the Telegram package from Flathub already has PipeWire permissions enabled by default. If screen sharing still fails, install Flatseal to verify and adjust permissions:
sudo flatpak install flathub com.github.tchx84.Flatseal -yLaunch Flatseal, select Telegram Desktop from the application list, and verify that “Pipewire” is enabled under the Sockets section.
Resolve Desktop Notification Problems
If Telegram notifications do not appear, check that the notification daemon is running and that Telegram has notification permissions in your system settings. On GNOME, navigate to Settings > Notifications and verify that Telegram is listed and enabled.
For Flatpak installations, ensure the notification permission is granted:
flatpak info --show-permissions org.telegram.desktop | grep -i notifyFix Tray Icon Not Appearing
GNOME does not display system tray icons by default. If you want Telegram to minimize to the tray instead of closing, install the AppIndicator extension. First, install the extension support package:
sudo dnf install gnome-shell-extension-appindicatorAfter installation, log out and back in, then enable the extension through the GNOME Extensions application or the Extensions website.
Remove Telegram from Fedora
If you no longer need Telegram, use the removal command that matches your installation method. The uninstall process removes the application files but preserves your chat history and settings stored on Telegram’s cloud servers.
Remove Telegram RPM Package
For RPM Fusion installations, remove Telegram and any unused dependencies:
sudo dnf remove telegram-desktopDisable RPM Fusion Repositories (Optional)
If you no longer need RPM Fusion for other applications, you can disable the repositories. However, many users keep these repositories enabled for multimedia codecs, graphics drivers, and other third-party software unavailable in Fedora’s default repositories.
To disable all RPM Fusion repositories, run these commands using the DNF5 setopt syntax:
sudo dnf config-manager setopt rpmfusion-free.enabled=0
sudo dnf config-manager setopt rpmfusion-free-updates.enabled=0
sudo dnf config-manager setopt rpmfusion-nonfree.enabled=0
sudo dnf config-manager setopt rpmfusion-nonfree-updates.enabled=0Verify the repositories are disabled by checking the active repository list:
dnf repo list | grep rpmfusionNo output confirms the repositories are disabled. If RPM Fusion repositories still appear, re-execute the disable commands.
Remove Telegram Flatpak Package
For Flatpak installations, remove Telegram at the system level. The --delete-data flag removes user configuration and cache files stored in the Flatpak data directory:
sudo flatpak uninstall --delete-data org.telegram.desktopAfter removing the application, clean up unused runtimes that were only used by Telegram:
sudo flatpak uninstall --unusedRemove Local User Data (Optional)
Telegram stores local cache, downloaded media, and application settings in your home directory. These files remain after uninstalling the application. If you want a complete removal, delete the Telegram data directory:
Warning: The following command permanently deletes all locally cached Telegram data, including downloaded files and media. Your cloud-synced messages remain safe on Telegram’s servers and will reappear when you log in again.
rm -rf ~/.local/share/TelegramDesktop/For Flatpak installations where you did not use --delete-data, the data path differs:
rm -rf ~/.var/app/org.telegram.desktop/Conclusion
Both RPM Fusion and Flatpak deliver fully-featured Telegram installations on Fedora with regular security updates and reliable performance. RPM Fusion provides native system integration through DNF, making it the straightforward choice for users who want Telegram to behave like any other Fedora application and receive updates through the standard system upgrade process. Flatpak offers containerized isolation with explicit permission controls, adding security boundaries that limit what resources Telegram can access. With either method installed, you can now sync your conversations across all your devices and take advantage of Telegram’s groups, channels, and bot integrations for both personal and team communication.