How to Install Telegram on Fedora 39/38/37 Linux

Telegram, a messaging app known for its security and user-friendly features, is becoming increasingly popular for personal and business communication. If you’re using Fedora Linux and are interested in how to install Telegram on Fedora Linux, this guide is for you.

Why Telegram is Worth Installing on Fedora Linux

• Secure Communication: Telegram offers end-to-end encryption for messages and media, ensuring your conversations remain private and secure.
• Versatile Use Cases: Whether for personal chats, business discussions, or group interactions, Telegram caters to a wide range of communication needs.
• Feature-Rich: From self-destructing messages and large file sharing to customizable notifications, Telegram offers various features that enhance your messaging experience.
• Multi-Device Support: Telegram’s compatibility with multiple devices ensures you stay connected, whether you’re at home or on the move.

In the following guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to install Telegram on Fedora Linux using RPM Fusion and Flatpak via the Flathub repository. Stay tuned for detailed instructions.

Step 1: Update Fedora Before Telegram Installation

To prevent system conflicts during Telegram installation on Fedora, updating all existing packages first is recommended. Use the command below in your terminal.

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Step 2: Select Telegram Installation Method on Fedora

Method 1: Install Telegram with RPM Fusion on Fedora

The recommended method for installing Telegram on Fedora is using the DNF package manager with the RPM Fusion third-party repository. Use the commands below to import free and non-free repositories into your terminal.

sudo dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm

sudo dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm

For those that do not know what RPM Fusion is, the third-party repository is for RPM-based Linux distributions, including Fedora, RHEL, and CentOS. It contains various packages that are not available in the official repositories, such as multimedia codecs, drivers, and other software that is not open-source or free software.

The RPM Fusion repository is divided into two main categories: RPM Fusion free and RPM Fusion non-free. RPM Fusion free contains either open source or free software packages, while RPM Fusion non-free includes packages that are not open source or free software but are still distributable. Both repositories are entirely free, but RPM Fusion’s non-free includes packages with licensing restrictions that make them unsuitable for inclusion in the Fedora repositories. Ultimately, RPM Fusion provides users access to a more extensive software selection not available in the official repositories.

To install Telegram, execute the following command using the dnf package manager.

sudo dnf install telegram

Method 2: Install Telegram via Flatpak and Flathub

The second method to install Telegram on Fedora is using the Flatpak package manager, which comes pre-installed on Fedora. Flatpak is a universal package management system that allows users to install and run applications across multiple Linux distributions. It provides sandboxed environments for applications, ensuring they run independently of the host system.

Flathub is a community-driven Flatpak repository that hosts many Flatpak packages. It’s a platform where developers can distribute their applications to a broader audience while users discover and install new applications effortlessly. To use Flathub, add it as a remote repository to your Flatpak setup.

Next, you need to enable Flatpack for Fedora using the following command in your terminal:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

After that, you can install Telegram by executing the following command:

flatpak install flathub org.telegram.desktop

Telegram Flatpak Troubleshooting on Fedora

The error message below is a common problem that users may encounter when installing a Flatpak from Flathub on Fedora.

"error: Unable to load summary from remote flathub: Can't fetch summary from disabled remote 'flathub,"

Fixing this issue is simple. To enable Flathub, execute the following command:

sudo flatpak remote-modify --enable flathub

Step 3: How to Launch Telegram on Fedora

After installing the Telegram client, you can launch it from your terminal using the following command or the application icon. To launch via CLI, execute the command below.

telegram

For Flatpak users, launching the Telegram client requires executing the command below in a terminal instance.

flatpak run org.telegram.desktop

However, this isn’t practical, and you can open the course using the following path on your desktop.

Activities > Show Applications > Telegram.

When you launch Telegram, the default landing screen appears, where you can either sign up or create an account using an email address or mobile number.

Upon opening Telegram, you may want to customize the app to your preferences. You can do this by navigating to the settings menu to adjust settings such as notifications, privacy, appearance, and more.

Here are some handy tips to enhance your Telegram experience:

• Pin important chats: To keep important chats at the top of your chat list, you can pin them by swiping left on the chat and tapping the “Pin” option.
• Use search to find messages: If you need to find a specific message, you can use the search feature by tapping the magnifying glass icon and typing in a keyword or phrase.
• Create a reminder: Telegram has a built-in reminder feature that allows you to set reminders for yourself or others. To create a reminder, type “@RemindMe” in any chat, followed by the time and message.
• Switch between multiple accounts: If you have multiple Telegram accounts, you can switch between them by tapping your profile picture and selecting the account you want to use.

Congratulations! You have now installed Telegram successfully on your Fedora desktop.

Additional Telegram Commands with Fedora

Remove Telegram from Fedora

For users who no longer require the application, use one of the following commands corresponding to the original installation method.

sudo dnf remove telegram

Users who want to disable RPM Fusion can use the following commands.

sudo dnf config-manager --set-disabled rpmfusion-free

sudo dnf config-manager --set-disabled rpmfusion-nonfree

To check if the installation was successful, users can use the “dnf repo | grep” command as a quick way to verify.

dnf repolist | grep rpmfusion

After running the command, there should be no output. If there are still present repositories, a printout of them will appear.

To remove Telegram installed via Flatpak, run the following command.

flatpak remove  --delete-data org.telegram.desktop

Conclusion

In conclusion, installing Telegram on Fedora is a straightforward process that can be achieved using RPM Fusion or Flatpak with the Flathub repository. Both methods provide users access to the Telegram messaging app, which offers various features, including end-to-end encryption, large file sharing, self-destructing messages, and more. With Telegram, Fedora users can communicate securely and efficiently with family, friends, and colleagues.