How to Install Telegram on Fedora Linux

Telegram is a cross-platform messaging app that has recently gained popularity thanks to its user-friendly interface, end-to-end encryption, and extensive features. With over 500 million active users worldwide, Telegram is fast becoming the messaging app of choice for individuals and businesses alike.

If you are a Fedora user, installing Telegram on your system can provide you with a convenient and secure way to communicate with friends, family, and colleagues. With Telegram, you can easily share files, photos, videos, and other media with individuals or groups while enjoying the benefits of end-to-end encryption.

There are numerous use cases for Telegram, such as:

• Personal communication: You can use Telegram to stay in touch with friends and family, share photos and videos, and even make voice and video calls.
• Business communication: Telegram offers a secure and convenient way for businesses to communicate with clients and customers, share files and documents, and collaborate on projects.
• Group chats: You can create or join groups on Telegram, making it easy to stay connected with like-minded people, whether it’s for work, study, or personal interests.

Telegram also offers a wide range of features, including:

• End-to-end encryption: All messages and media are encrypted from sender to receiver, ensuring privacy and security.
• Self-destructing messages: You can set a timer on your messages so they disappear after a set amount of time.
• Large file sharing: Telegram allows you to share files up to 2GB in size, making it an excellent option for sending large media files.
• Customizable notifications: You can customize your notifications to receive only alerts for important messages.
• Multi-device support: You can use Telegram on multiple devices to stay connected even when you’re on the go.

To install Telegram on Fedora, there are two methods: RPM Fusion and Flatpak with the Flathub repository. The process can be achieved using the command line terminal, as outlined in the guide below.

Update Fedora

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

Method 1: Install Telegram with RPM Fusion

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 packages that are either open source or free software, 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 selection of software 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 with Flatpak

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 that 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 can discover and install new applications effortlessly. To use Flathub, you need to 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 Troubleshoot

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

How to Launch Telegram

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.

Example:

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, where you can adjust various settings such as notifications, privacy, appearance, and more.

Once you have customized your settings, you can explore the app’s various features. For instance, Telegram allows you to create and join groups and communicate with multiple people at once. You can also send large files up to 2GB, create self-destructing messages, and take advantage of various other features.

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 on 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.

Example of Telegram Client login on Fedora:

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

Additional Telegram Terminal Tips

Remove Telegram

For users who no longer require the application, use one of the following commands that correspond 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

Next, run the following command for any leftover clean-ups required, similar to the autoremove command described for the dnf remove example command.

flatpak remove --unused

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.

Once installed, users can customize their settings, join or create groups, and take advantage of various handy features to enhance their messaging experience. If any issues arise during the installation process, users can utilize various commands and fixes to resolve them quickly.

Overall, Telegram is a reliable messaging app that provides Fedora users with a secure and efficient means of communication. Its extensive feature set and cross-platform capabilities make it an excellent choice for personal and professional use.

FAQs on Telegram with Fedora