How to Install Telegram on Linux Mint

Telegram lets you send messages, share files of any size, make voice and video calls, and create group chats with up to 200,000 members. Whether you need a secure channel for personal conversations, a platform for coordinating remote teams, or an alternative to SMS that works across all your devices, Telegram provides these capabilities with optional end-to-end encryption for sensitive discussions.

This guide covers how to install Telegram on Linux Mint using APT (default repository or PPA) and Flatpak. By the end, you will have a working Telegram client with desktop notifications configured and ready for messaging.

Choose Your Telegram Installation Method

Linux Mint supports multiple ways to install Telegram. The table below summarizes each method to help you decide which approach fits your needs.

Method	Channel	Stability	Best For
Default Repository	Linux Mint repos	Stable but older	Users who prefer distro-tested packages and do not need the latest features
Atareao PPA	Third-party PPA	Latest stable	Users who want current Telegram releases while using APT
Flatpak	Flathub	Latest stable	Users who want sandboxed apps with automatic updates

The default repository package lags behind upstream releases. For the latest features and security patches, use either the Atareao PPA or the Flatpak installation. Flatpak provides sandboxing and automatic updates, while the PPA integrates with your existing APT workflow.

Method 1: Install Telegram via APT

Update Linux Mint Before Installing Telegram

Before you begin, update your system to ensure all packages are up-to-date, avoiding any conflicts during the installation. First, update the package lists for upgrades and new package installations:

sudo apt update

Proceed to upgrade any outdated packages using the following command:

sudo apt upgrade

Install from Default Repository

The default repository provides a distro-tested package that integrates with system updates. Install it with:

sudo apt install telegram-desktop

Verify the installation by checking the installed package:

dpkg -l telegram-desktop | grep telegram

ii  telegram-desktop  3.6.1+ds-2build1  amd64  fast and secure messaging application

The repository version is significantly behind the current upstream release (6.x). If you need features from recent Telegram updates, use the PPA or Flatpak methods below instead.

Install from Atareao PPA

The Atareao PPA provides current Telegram releases for Ubuntu-based distributions. This method keeps Telegram updated through your regular APT workflow.

Add the PPA to your system:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:atareao/telegram -y

This PPA is maintained by the Atareao team on Launchpad and provides current Telegram releases for Ubuntu-based distributions including Linux Mint.

Before running the installation command, run an “apt update” to reflect the newly imported PPA and rebuild the cache:

sudo apt update

Install the software using the following command:

sudo apt install telegram

Verify the installation completed successfully:

apt-cache policy telegram

telegram:
  Installed: 6.3.4-0ubuntu0
  Candidate: 6.3.4-0ubuntu0

Method 2: Install Telegram via Flatpak and Flathub

Flatpak comes pre-installed on Linux Mint and provides sandboxed applications with automatic updates. This method installs the latest Telegram release directly from Flathub. For more information about managing Flatpak applications, see our guide on upgrading Flatpak on Linux Mint.

Enable Flathub Repository

Flathub should be enabled by default, but it’s always handy to run this command quickly to ensure it is:

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

This command checks if Flathub has already been added as a remote repository. If not, it adds Flathub as a source for Flatpak applications.

Install Telegram with Flatpak on Linux Mint

Now run the installation using the following flatpak command:

flatpak install flathub org.telegram.desktop -y

Verify the Flatpak installation:

flatpak list | grep telegram

Telegram Desktop    org.telegram.desktop    6.3.4    stable    flathub

Launch Telegram

After installation, launch Telegram using either the terminal or the applications menu.

Launch Telegram from Terminal

For APT installations (default repository or PPA), run:

telegram-desktop

For Flatpak installations, use:

flatpak run org.telegram.desktop

Launch Telegram from Applications Menu

Open your applications menu and navigate to Internet, then click Telegram Desktop. Alternatively, search for “Telegram” in the menu search bar.

Manage Telegram

Update Telegram

Updates should appear in notifications, but it is recommended that you check for updates manually using the terminal if they sometimes fail to show up. Follow the appropriate commands to check for updates depending on your installation method.

Update via APT

For users who installed Telegram with APT, use the standard update and upgrade commands as you did at the start of the tutorial. This will check all installed packages on your system, including Telegram.

sudo apt update

If updates are available, use the upgrade command:

sudo apt upgrade

Update via Flatpak

For Flatpak users, use the following command to check for new updates on installed Flatpak packages:

flatpak update

Configure Autostart on Login

To have Telegram start automatically when you log in, open Telegram and navigate to Settings, then Advanced, then enable Launch Telegram when system starts. Alternatively, add Telegram to your startup applications through Linux Mint’s Session and Startup settings.

Remove Telegram

To uninstall Telegram, use the appropriate command depending on your original installation method.

Remove via APT (Default Repository)

For APT installations, use the following command:

sudo apt remove telegram-desktop

Remove via APT (PPA Installation)

First, remove the Telegram PPA client version using the following command:

sudo apt remove telegram

For users who installed Telegram using the PPA and are not going to utilize this any further, remove the PPA with the following command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:atareao/telegram -y

Remove via Flatpak

For Flatpak installations, this command removes the application and its sandboxed data:

flatpak remove --delete-data org.telegram.desktop -y

Remove User Data

Uninstalling Telegram does not automatically remove your chat history, downloaded files, or settings. To completely remove all Telegram data from your system, delete the configuration directories.

The following commands permanently delete your Telegram chat history, downloaded media, login sessions, and settings. Export any important conversations or files before proceeding.

For APT installations (default repository or PPA):

rm -rf ~/.local/share/TelegramDesktop

For Flatpak installations, if you did not use the --delete-data flag:

rm -rf ~/.var/app/org.telegram.desktop

Troubleshoot Telegram

Desktop Notifications Not Working

If Telegram notifications do not appear, the XDG desktop portal may be missing. This commonly affects Flatpak installations.

Check if the portal package is installed:

dpkg -l | grep xdg-desktop-portal-gtk

If no output appears, the package is not installed. Add it:

sudo apt install xdg-desktop-portal-gtk

Log out and back in for changes to take effect. Also verify notifications are enabled within Telegram by opening Settings, then Notifications and Sounds, and confirm Desktop notifications is enabled.

Telegram Does Not Start After Installation

If Telegram fails to launch from the applications menu, run it from the terminal to see error messages:

telegram-desktop 2>&1 | head -20

For Flatpak installations:

flatpak run org.telegram.desktop 2>&1 | head -20

Common causes include missing Qt libraries or conflicting Telegram installations. If you have multiple Telegram versions installed (both APT and Flatpak), remove one to avoid conflicts:

dpkg -l | grep -i telegram

ii  telegram         6.3.4-0ubuntu0  amd64  Telegram
ii  telegram-desktop 3.6.1+ds-2build1 amd64  fast and secure messaging application

If you see multiple entries as shown above, remove one version and keep only your preferred installation method.

Conclusion

You now have Telegram Desktop installed on Linux Mint using either APT (default repository or PPA) or Flatpak. The Atareao PPA and Flatpak methods provide current releases, while the default repository offers a stable but older version. Keep your installation updated using the commands covered in the Manage Telegram section. For sensitive conversations, enable Secret Chats within Telegram to activate end-to-end encryption.