How to Install AnyDesk on Debian 12 or 11

AnyDesk is a popular remote desktop software that allows users to access and control computers from anywhere with ease. It is known for its high performance, low latency, and secure connections, making it a preferred choice for remote support, remote work, and collaboration. AnyDesk supports a wide range of platforms, including Linux, and provides a user-friendly interface that simplifies remote access.

On Debian 12 or 11, you can install AnyDesk using the official APT repository provided by AnyDesk. This method ensures that you are installing the latest version of AnyDesk and that your installation will receive updates automatically, keeping your software up-to-date with the latest features and security improvements. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up the AnyDesk APT repository and installing the software on your Debian system.

Update Debian Before AnyDesk Installation

Before proceeding with the tutorial, ensuring your system is up-to-date with all existing packages is a good practice:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

These commands will update the package lists and upgrade any packages that have newer versions available.

Install Initial Required Packages

The following dependencies will need to be installed. Most of these packages are already on your system, but running the command can help ensure they’re installed:

sudo apt install software-properties-common apt-transport-https dirmngr ca-certificates curl -y

If you skip this step and encounter issues, return and run the command to install the required packages.

Import AnyDesk APT Repository

The first step is to import the GPG key to verify the authenticity of the packages. In your terminal, execute the following command to import the key into your keychain:

curl -fsSL https://keys.anydesk.com/repos/DEB-GPG-KEY | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/anydesk.gpg > /dev/null

Next, import the AnyDesk repository. Please note that AMD64, i386, and ARMHF architectures are supported.

echo 'deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/anydesk.gpg] http://deb.anydesk.com/ all main' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/anydesk.list

Refresh APT Package Index After AnyDesk APT Repo Import

Now run an APT update to reflect the newly imported repository.

sudo apt update

Finalize AnyDesk Installation via APT Command

Finally, you can install AnyDesk using the following command.

sudo apt install anydesk

Launch AnyDesk UI

Once you have AnyDesk installed on your Debian system, you can launch it in various ways. Here are two methods to start AnyDesk on your Debian computer.

CLI Command

For those who prefer using the command-line terminal, you can quickly launch AnyDesk by entering the following command:

anydesk

GUI Path

Alternatively, you can launch the AnyDesk application using its graphical user interface (GUI) icon for desktop users who prefer not to use the command-line terminal. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click on Activities in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Select Show Applications (represented by a grid of dots) at the bottom-left corner.
3. Search for “AnyDesk” in the application menu or locate its icon.
4. Click on the AnyDesk icon to launch the application.

AnyDesk CLI Commands Basics

In this section, we will cover some basic AnyDesk CLI commands that are commonly used when working with AnyDesk on Debian Linux. These commands will help you manage remote connections, settings, and more directly from the terminal.

Connect to a Remote Device with AnyDesk

To connect to a remote device using the CLI, enter the following command:

anydesk --with-address <address>

Replace <address> with the AnyDesk address or alias of the target device. For example:

anydesk --with-address example@ad

Unattended Access with AnyDesk

To enable unattended access, use the following command:

anydesk --set-password <password>

Replace <password> with your desired password for unattended access. For example:

anydesk --set-password mysecurepassword

Set Alias with AnyDesk

To set a custom alias for your AnyDesk address, use this command:

anydesk --set-alias <alias>

Replace <alias> with the desired alias. For example:

anydesk --set-alias mycustomalias@ad

Check Version with AnyDesk

To check the installed AnyDesk version, use the following command:

anydesk --version

This command will display the current version of AnyDesk installed on your system.

Show Help with AnyDesk

To display the available AnyDesk CLI commands and options, use the following command:

anydesk --help

This command will show a list of commands and their descriptions for using AnyDesk in the terminal.

Additional Management Commands For AnyDesk

Update AnyDesk

AnyDesk should update itself with your system packages when using the APT package manager. However, if you want to check for updates manually, execute the following command in your terminal:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

This command will update your package lists and upgrade AnyDesk and any other outdated packages on your system.

Remove AnyDesk

If you no longer need AnyDesk on your system, you can remove it by running the following command:

sudo apt remove anydesk

This command will uninstall AnyDesk and purge its configuration files.

Remove AnyDesk APT Repository

If you don’t plan to reinstall AnyDesk in the future, you can remove the repository from your system with the following command:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/anydesk.list

This command will delete the repository list file for AnyDesk.

Remove AnyDesk GPG Key

After removing the repository list file, you can also remove the GPG key by executing the following command:

sudo rm /usr/share/keyrings/anydesk.gpg

This command will remove the GPG key associated with the AnyDesk repository, keeping your system clean and organized.

Conclusion

Installing AnyDesk on your Debian system via the official APT repository ensures you have a reliable and up-to-date remote desktop solution. This method allows for easy installation and seamless future updates, making sure that your AnyDesk software remains secure and fully functional. Whether you need remote access for personal use or professional support, AnyDesk provides a robust platform that meets your remote desktop needs on Debian.