How to Install Slack on Fedora

Slack combines team chat, voice calls, video conferencing, and file sharing into a unified workspace that keeps conversations organized in channels and threads. Whether you coordinate software development, manage customer support, or run distributed teams, Slack provides the structure to keep context intact across projects and time zones.

This guide covers three ways to install Slack on Fedora: the DNF repository method for automatic updates, Flatpak for sandboxed isolation, and manual RPM installation as a fallback. By the end, you will have Slack running with a complete removal procedure documented.

Choose Your Slack Installation Method

Slack offers three installation paths on Fedora, each with different configuration complexity and update mechanisms. Before proceeding, review the comparison table to choose the method that best fits your workflow and system preferences.

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
DNF Repository (Recommended)	Packagecloud	Latest stable	Automatic via DNF	Most users; clean integration with system package manager
Flatpak	Flathub	Latest stable	Automatic via Flatpak	Sandboxed isolation, cross-distro compatibility
Manual RPM	Slack Downloads	Latest stable	Manual re-download	Offline installations, air-gapped systems

We recommend the DNF repository method for most users because it integrates with Fedora’s package manager and provides automatic updates through your regular dnf upgrade workflow. In contrast, Flatpak offers sandboxed isolation at the cost of slightly higher disk usage. Meanwhile, the manual RPM method requires downloading new versions manually but works in environments without internet access.

Slack publishes desktop builds for 64-bit (x86_64) systems only. As a result, Raspberry Pi, ARM servers, and 32-bit hardware lack native packages. Instead, use Slack’s web interface at app.slack.com on unsupported architectures.

Prepare Your System

Before installing Slack, update your system packages to ensure all dependencies are current and avoid potential conflicts:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

If any kernel packages update, reboot your system before proceeding to ensure the new kernel modules load correctly.

Method 1: Install Slack via DNF Repository (Recommended)

The DNF repository method configures Slack’s official Packagecloud repository on your system. This enables automatic updates through your standard package management workflow and mirrors how you install software from Fedora’s own repositories.

Import Slack GPG Key

First, import the GPG signing key that Slack uses to sign their packages. This key allows DNF to verify package authenticity:

sudo rpm --import https://packagecloud.io/slacktechnologies/slack/gpgkey

Configure Slack Repository

Next, create the repository configuration file. Slack uses a universal repository labeled fedora/21 that works across all Fedora versions, similar to how their Debian repository uses the jessie suite universally:

cat << 'EOF' | sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/slack.repo
[slack]
name=Slack
baseurl=https://packagecloud.io/slacktechnologies/slack/fedora/21/$basearch
enabled=1
gpgcheck=0
repo_gpgcheck=0
gpgkey=https://packagecloud.io/slacktechnologies/slack/gpgkey
sslverify=1
sslcacert=/etc/pki/tls/certs/ca-bundle.crt
metadata_expire=300
EOF

The fedora/21 path in the repository URL is an artifact of Slack’s Packagecloud configuration. Despite the version number, this repository contains current packages that work on all modern Fedora releases. The $basearch variable automatically expands to your system architecture (x86_64).

Verify Repository Configuration

After creating the repository file, verify that DNF recognizes the new source:

dnf repo list --all | grep -i slack

Expected output confirming the repository is active:

slack                           Slack                                              enabled

Install Slack from DNF Repository

With the repository configured, install Slack using DNF:

sudo dnf install slack -y

DNF then resolves all dependencies automatically, including libraries for audio, video, and the Electron framework that powers Slack’s interface.

Verify Installation

Once the installation completes, verify the package installed correctly:

rpm -q slack

Expected output:

slack-4.x.x-0.1.el8.x86_64

The version number varies depending on the current release. Additionally, the el8 suffix indicates the package was built for Enterprise Linux 8 compatibility, which works seamlessly on Fedora.

Method 2: Install Slack via Flatpak and Flathub

Flatpak provides sandboxed isolation and automatic updates through Flathub. In practice, this method runs Slack in a contained environment, isolating it from system libraries for enhanced security. Since Fedora Workstation includes Flatpak by default, standard desktop installations need no additional setup.

Add Flathub Repository

First, ensure the Flathub repository is available on your system. Since Fedora may have Flathub disabled by default, run this command to add it:

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

The --if-not-exists flag safely skips this step if you have already added Flathub previously.

Install Slack via Flatpak

Next, install Slack from Flathub:

sudo flatpak install -y flathub com.slack.Slack

This command installs Slack system-wide. Additionally, the -y flag automatically confirms the installation prompts, which is useful for scripted deployments.

If the installation fails with “Unable to load summary from remote flathub,” the Flathub repository may be disabled. Enable it with flatpak remote-modify --enable flathub and retry the install command.

Verify Flatpak Installation

After installation, verify Slack appears in your Flatpak applications:

flatpak list | grep -i slack

Expected output:

Slack    com.slack.Slack    4.x.x    stable    system

Method 3: Install Slack via Manual RPM Download

The manual RPM method provides a fallback for environments where repository access is restricted or unavailable. However, this approach requires manually downloading new versions when updates are released.

Download Slack RPM Package

Download the latest Slack RPM from the official Slack downloads page. Alternatively, use this command to automatically fetch the current version directly:

cd ~/Downloads
curl -sL "https://slack.com/downloads/instructions/linux?ddl=1&build=rpm" | grep -oP 'https://downloads\.slack-edge\.com/desktop-releases/linux/x64/[^"]+\.rpm' | head -1 | xargs curl -LO

This command scrapes Slack’s download page to find the current RPM URL and downloads it automatically. The -L flag follows redirects that Slack’s CDN uses.

Install Downloaded Package

Then, install the downloaded RPM package using DNF, which handles dependency resolution automatically:

sudo dnf install ./slack-*.rpm -y

As a result, DNF installs all required dependencies from Fedora’s repositories while installing the local Slack package.

Verify Manual Installation

After installation completes, confirm the package installed correctly:

rpm -q slack

Expected output shows the installed version:

slack-4.x.x-0.1.el8.x86_64

Unlike the repository method, manual RPM installation does not configure automatic updates. You must download and install new versions manually when Slack releases updates. Consider using the DNF repository method if automatic updates are important to your workflow.

Launching Slack on Fedora

Once installed, you can launch Slack through the terminal or graphical application menu.

Launch Slack from Terminal

For DNF or manual RPM installations, launch Slack directly:

slack

For Flatpak installations, instead use the application ID:

flatpak run com.slack.Slack

Launch Slack from Applications Menu

Alternatively, to use the graphical interface, search for “Slack” in Activities. Then, click the Slack icon in the search results to launch the application. On first launch, Slack prompts you to sign in to your workspace or create a new account.

Updating Slack on Fedora

Keeping Slack up to date provides the latest features, security patches, and bug fixes. The update method depends on how you installed Slack.

Update DNF Repository Installation

For DNF repository installations, Slack updates automatically when you run your regular system upgrade:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Alternatively, to update only Slack without upgrading other packages:

sudo dnf upgrade slack

Update Flatpak Installation

Similarly, Flatpak installations update through the Flatpak command:

sudo flatpak update

This command updates all system-wide Flatpak applications including Slack.

Update Manual RPM Installation

In contrast, manual RPM installations require downloading the new version from the Slack downloads page and reinstalling. Simply follow the same download and install steps from Method 3 with the new version number.

Troubleshooting Slack on Fedora

This section addresses common issues you may encounter when installing or running Slack on Fedora.

Slack Window Appears Blank or White

If Slack opens but displays a blank or white window, GPU acceleration may be causing rendering issues. Launch Slack with GPU acceleration disabled:

slack --disable-gpu

Similarly, for Flatpak installations:

flatpak run com.slack.Slack --disable-gpu

If this resolves the issue, you can make the change permanent by editing Slack’s desktop launcher or creating a custom alias in your shell configuration.

System Tray Icon Missing on Wayland

Fedora uses Wayland as the default display server. Some system tray functionality may not work correctly because Slack’s Electron framework has limited Wayland support. If the system tray icon is missing or unresponsive, install a GNOME extension that provides AppIndicator support:

sudo dnf install gnome-shell-extension-appindicator

After installation, log out and log back in, then enable the extension through GNOME Extensions or the Extensions app.

Repository Package Not Found

If DNF cannot find the Slack package after adding the repository, verify the repository configuration exists and is enabled:

cat /etc/yum.repos.d/slack.repo

If the file is missing or corrupted, recreate it using the commands in Method 1. After fixing the configuration, refresh the repository metadata:

sudo dnf clean metadata
sudo dnf makecache --repo=slack

Audio or Microphone Not Working

If Slack cannot detect your microphone or speakers, verify PipeWire (Fedora’s default audio system) is running correctly:

systemctl --user status pipewire

Expected output should show active (running). If PipeWire is not running, start it:

systemctl --user start pipewire

For Flatpak installations, also ensure Slack has permission to access audio devices. In some cases, Flatpak sandboxing may require explicit permissions through Flatseal or the Flatpak permissions system.

Removing Slack from Fedora

When you no longer need Slack, removal methods vary by installation type. Follow the section below that matches how you installed the application.

Remove DNF Repository Installation

First, remove the Slack package:

sudo dnf remove slack -y

Next, remove the repository configuration and GPG key to prevent future update checks:

sudo rm -f /etc/yum.repos.d/slack.repo
sudo dnf clean metadata

Remove Manual RPM Installation

For manual RPM installations, remove the package with:

sudo dnf remove slack -y

Remove Flatpak Installation

If you used Flatpak, remove the application and its sandboxed data:

sudo flatpak uninstall --delete-data com.slack.Slack

Specifically, the --delete-data flag removes application data stored in ~/.var/app/com.slack.Slack/.

Remove User Data Directories

Regardless of installation method, Slack stores workspace configurations, cached data, and local files in your home directory. Remove these manually for a complete cleanup.

The commands below permanently delete your Slack workspace data, including saved passwords, workspace configurations, downloaded files, and cached messages. If you need to preserve any workspace data, export it from Slack’s web interface before removing these directories.

rm -rf ~/.config/Slack
rm -rf ~/.cache/Slack

For Flatpak installations, however, the --delete-data flag in the uninstall command already removes the sandboxed data directory.

Verify Removal

After removal, verify Slack is no longer installed:

which slack

If successful, this command should return no output, confirming the Slack binary is no longer in your PATH.

Conclusion

You now have Slack installed on Fedora with your choice of automatic updates via the DNF repository, sandboxed isolation via Flatpak, or manual control via RPM installation. The DNF repository method provides the cleanest integration with Fedora’s package management, while Flatpak offers cross-distro compatibility and enhanced security through sandboxing.

If you manage team communication alongside development workflows, consider pairing Slack with Docker on Fedora for containerized development environments or Git on Fedora for version control. For additional communication tools, explore Discord on Fedora for gaming communities or Zoom on Fedora for video conferencing.