How to Install Discord on Debian 12 or 11

Discord is a widely-used communication platform offering voice, video, and text chat capabilities. It is popular among gamers, developers, and various online communities for its versatility and ease of use. Discord supports large group chats, file sharing, and integrations with other apps, making it a comprehensive tool for personal and professional communication.

On Debian 12 or 11, Discord can be installed using several methods. The first method involves downloading the .deb package directly from the Discord website, which provides a straightforward way to install the latest version of the app. Alternatively, Discord can be installed via Flatpak from Flathub, offering a sandboxed environment and an easy update process. This guide will walk you through each of these installation methods, helping you choose the one that best suits your needs.

Method 1: Install Discord via .deb Package

Update Debian Packages Before Discord Installation

To ensure the smooth installation of Discord, the first step involves updating your Debian system packages. This is an essential preliminary step as it helps to avoid potential conflicts during the Discord installation process.

We accomplish this by executing the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt update

This command retrieves information about new updates, ensuring your package lists are current.

Next, we’ll upgrade any outdated packages on your Debian system with the following command:

sudo apt upgrade

Download Discord .deb package

Next, fetch the Discord .deb package directly from Discord’s official site using the wget command. This utility downloads files from the internet. The -O option lets you specify the output file name. Use this command:

wget "https://discord.com/api/download?platform=linux&format=deb" -O discord.deb

Upon executing this command, the latest version of the Discord .deb package is downloaded and saved as discord.deb in your current working directory.

Install Discord via APT Command

With the Discord .deb package downloaded, the next step is to install it. This is accomplished using the apt install command, as follows:

sudo apt install ./discord.deb

In this command, the . represents the current directory, and /discord.deb is the path to the downloaded file. By running this command, you will install Discord on your Debian system.

Method 2: Install Discord via Flatpak and Flathub

The alternative method to installing Discord on your Debian system is to utilize the Flatpak package manager in combination with Flathub, an app store, and build service for Linux. Unlike some other Linux distributions, Debian doesn’t come with Flatpak preinstalled. This section will guide you through installing the Flatpak manager, enabling Flathub, and installing Discord.

Install Flatpak on Debian (Situational)

To use this installation method, you need to have Flatpak installed on your Debian system. If you don’t have Flatpak, install it first with the following command:

sudo apt install flatpak -y

Note: To avoid issues, it is highly advised that you reboot your system after the first installation of Flatpak.

Enabling Flathub for Discord Installation

After installing Flatpak, your next task is to enable Flathub. Flathub serves as a repository for various Linux applications, including Discord. Enabling Flathub makes these applications accessible for installation via Flatpak.

To activate Flathub, run this command in your terminal:

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

Finalize Discord Installation via Flatpak Command

Now that you have enabled Flathub, you can install Discord using Flatpak. Run the following command to do so:

flatpak install flathub com.discordapp.Discord -y

This command requests Flatpak to install the Discord application from the Flathub repository. The -y option automatically answers ‘yes’ to all prompts, allowing the installation to proceed without further user interaction.

Initiating Discord

After you’ve installed Discord using one of the two methods we presented above, you can now launch and use Discord on your Debian system. We’ll guide you through the various ways to do this.

CLI Commands to Launch Discord

Launching Discord is as straightforward as typing a single command if you’re already working in the terminal.

For the .deb installation, you can use the following command:

discord

This command searches for the Discord executable in the system’s PATH and runs it.

If you installed Discord using Flatpak, the command changes slightly:

flatpak run com.discordapp.Discord

This command tells Flatpak to run the Discord application that we installed earlier.

GUI Method to Launch Discord

Launching Discord directly from your desktop environment is a breeze for those who prefer a GUI-based approach. Here are the steps to achieve this:

1. Click on the Activities option, usually found in the top left corner of your screen.
2. From the Activities overview, select the Show Applications icon. This is typically represented by a grid of dots at the bottom of your screen.
3. In the Show Applications menu, look for Discord among your installed applications. The icon should be visible in the grid of applications.
4. If the icon isn’t immediately visible, don’t worry! Utilize the Search function at the top of the Show Applications menu. Type ‘Discord’ into the search bar, and the system will highlight the Discord application for you.

Managing Discord Installation

Updating Discord

Discord typically rolls out in-app update notifications. However, there might be times when these notifications fail to appear. In such instances, it’s prudent for you, as a Debian Linux user, to manually check for these updates via the terminal. This practice ensures that your Discord application remains up-to-date and functions optimally.

Method 1: Discord APT Update Method

Discord automatically handles in-app updates. For binary updates, the Discord client prompts you to act. To upgrade and maintain an updated Discord client, you must follow the APT manual process again outlined in Method 1 of this guide.

Method 2: Discord Flatpak Update Method

The update process differs slightly if you’ve installed Discord using the Flatpak method. The Flatpak package manager has a straightforward command for updating your applications:

flatpak update

This command checks for updates across all installed Flatpak applications, including Discord.

Removing Discord

There may come a time when you no longer need the Discord application on your Debian system. Knowing how to uninstall the software according to the original installation method becomes crucial.

Method 1: Discord APT Uninstall Method

If you installed Discord using the APT method, use the following command to remove it:

sudo apt remove discord

Method 2: Discord Flatpak Uninstall Method

If you used the Flatpak method for installation, the uninstallation command will be slightly different. The following command will effectively remove Discord:

flatpak remove --delete-data com.discordapp.Discord -y

This command removes the Discord application and associated data from your Debian Linux system.

Conclusion

Installing Discord on your Debian system using the .deb package or via Flatpak ensures you have access to a robust communication platform. The manual .deb installation gives you direct access to the latest version from Discord, while the Flatpak method offers the benefits of isolation and easy updates. By regularly updating Discord, you can ensure that your installation remains secure and equipped with the latest features, providing a seamless communication experience on Debian.