Discord is a popular communication platform designed for creating communities, offering voice, video, and text chat features. It is widely used by gamers, developers, and various online communities for its ease of use and extensive functionality, including screen sharing, custom emojis, and robust moderation tools. Discord is available on multiple platforms, including Linux, and can be easily installed on Ubuntu systems.
On Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04, or 20.04, Discord can be installed using two primary methods. The first method involves downloading the .deb package directly from Discord’s official website and installing it via the command-line. This method ensures that you have the latest stable version of Discord. Alternatively, you can install Discord via Flatpak with Flathub, providing a sandboxed environment that also keeps the application up-to-date. This guide will walk you through both installation methods, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your needs.
Method 1: Install Discord via .deb
This section will explore an alternative method for installing Discord on your Ubuntu system: using the APT package manager. This method involves downloading Discord as a Debian package and installing it using the wget command. We will guide you through each step to ensure a seamless installation process.
Download the Discord .deb for Ubuntu
With the terminal open, enter the following command to download the latest version of Discord as a Debian package:
wget "https://discord.com/api/download?platform=linux&format=deb" -O discord.debThis command utilizes the wget tool to download the Discord Debian package from the official Discord API. The -O discord.deb flag specifies the output file name, saving the downloaded package as “discord.deb”.
Install Discord via .deb package
Once the download is complete, install the Discord Debian package using the following command:
sudo apt install ./discord.deb -yThis command instructs the APT package manager to install the downloaded “discord.deb” file. The sudo prefix grants administrative privileges, while the -y flag automatically confirms any prompts that may appear during the installation process.
Method 2: Install Discord via Snap
In this next section, we’ll discuss installing Discord using Snapcraft, a popular package management system for Linux distributions. This method is often the easiest and quickest way to install packages on Ubuntu systems.
Install Discord using the snap command
With the terminal open, enter the following command to install Discord using Snapcraft:
sudo snap install discordThis command instructs Snapcraft to download and install the latest version of Discord on your Ubuntu system. The sudo prefix grants administrative privileges, ensuring that the command can perform the necessary system changes.
Method 3: Install Discord via Flatpak and Flathub
Flatpak is an innovative package management system that provides a secure, sandboxed application environment. It enables you to install and operate applications in isolation from other apps and system libraries. In this section, we’ll walk you through installing Discord with the help of Flatpak and the Flathub repository.
Note: If your system does not have Flatpak installed, please refer to the guide “How to Install Flatpak on Ubuntu” for step-by-step instructions on installing the most recent supported version of Flatpak.
Integrate the Flathub Repository for Discord
Before installing Discord via Flatpak, you must incorporate the Flathub repository containing the Discord package. To do so, open the terminal and input the following command:
sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepoThis command integrates the Flathub repository into your system, ensuring you can access the Discord package available on Flathub.
Install Discord via Flatpak Command
Once the Flathub repository is integrated into your system, you can install Discord. Execute the following command in the terminal to begin the installation:
flatpak install flathub com.discordapp.Discord -yThis command instructs Flatpak to install Discord from the Flathub repository. The -y flag automatically confirms any prompts that may appear during the installation process.
Launch Discord via GUI or CLI methods
CLI Methods to Launch Discord
You can launch Discord directly from the terminal by entering the appropriate command based on your installation method:
discordflatpak run com.discordapp.Discordsnap run discordGUI Method to Launch Discord
While launching Discord from the terminal is an option, it might not be the most practical choice for everyday use. Instead, you can launch Discord directly from your desktop environment:
- Open the Activities menu.
- Click on Show Applications.
- Locate and click on the Discord icon.
Additional Discord Commands
Update Discord
Discord will generally handle in-client updates automatically. However, it’s a good practice to manually check for updates periodically, especially if you experience any issues with the application. Use the following commands to check for updates based on your installation method:
.deb Discord Update Method
Discord handles in-client updates automatically. For binary upgrades, Discord will prompt you when an update is available. To upgrade, re-follow the APT manual method.
Flatpak Discord Update Method
To update Discord installed via Flatpak, run the following command:
flatpak updateSnap Discord Update Method
For Discord installed using Snap, use this command:
sudo snap refreshRemove Discord
If you no longer require Discord on your Ubuntu system, you can uninstall it using the appropriate command based on your original installation method:
.deb Discord Remove Method
To remove Discord installed via APT, run the following command:
sudo apt remove discordFlatpak Discord Remove Method
For Discord installed using Flatpak, use this command:
flatpak remove --delete-data com.discordapp.Discord -ySnap Discord Remove Method
To remove Discord installed with Snap, execute the following command:
sudo snap remove --purge discordConclusion
With Discord installed on your Ubuntu system, whether via the .deb package from the official website or through Flatpak with Flathub, you can easily connect with friends, join communities, and participate in voice, video, and text chats. Both installation methods ensure that you have access to the latest features and updates from Discord, providing a smooth and reliable communication experience. Regularly checking for updates will help you stay current with new features and improvements, ensuring that your Discord experience on Ubuntu is seamless and enjoyable.