Telegram is a messaging app that allows users to send and receive messages, photos, videos, and documents. It is important because it provides end-to-end secure communication encryption and features like group chats, voice calls, and cloud storage.

The key features of Telegram include encrypted messaging for secure communication, the ability to create large group chats with up to 200,000 members, and cloud storage for easily accessing files across multiple devices.

Because of the diverse range of features, Telegram is well-liked amongst Linux users. Since Linux distributions are updated continuously after a specifically defined period. Recently, Debian 12 has been released. Our today’s post is focused on installing Telegram on Debian 12.

How to Install Telegram on Debian 12?

The telegram can be installed on Debian 12 from the official apt repository, the snap store, and the flatpak manager (using the flathub repository). All these three methods are different. You need to choose only one of them to proceed. Otherwise, multiple Telegram applications may be installed on your Debian 12 from different sources.

Method 1: Install Telegram on Debian 12 Using apt

The apt package manager is the easiest and most recommended method to install any package on Debian 12 (depending on the availability of that package).

Step 1: Update the List

Before installing any package, you have to update the packages offered by the apt via the command:

$ sudo apt update

Step 2: Install Telegram

After retrieving the updated packages list, install the updated Telegram on your Debian 12 using the command:

$ sudo apt install telegram-desktop

Once installed, you can launch it from the terminal by running the command “telegram-desktop,” or it can be searched/launched from the applications menu of Debian 12. Upon launching, the following interface appears:

Method 2: Install Telegram on Debian 12 Using Snap

Snap store is supported by most Linux distributions, including Debian. Telegram application is available on the Snap store too. To install it, just do the following:

Step 1: Install and Enable Snapd

The snapd is installed on Debian 12. However, if you have performed the minimal installation, then you may have to install it via the command:

$ sudo apt install snapd

Step 2: Install Telegram

Once the snap daemon is installed and enabled. Use the command provided below to install Telegram on Debian 12:

$ sudo snap install telegram-desktop

Note: If the snapd gives any error while installation, there might be a possibility that snapd is not enabled on Debian. To enable snapd on Debian 12, use the command as follows:

$ sudo mv /etc/apt/preferences.d/nosnap.pref ~/Documents/nosnap.backup

You can verify the installation of Telegram from the applications menu.

Method 3: Install Telegram on Debian 12 Using the flatpak

Like a snap, flatpak is another package manager that is supported by Debian 12 and other mostly used Linux distros. The flatpak manager is associated with the flathub repository. By default, neither the flatpak nor the flathub repository is available on Debian 12. Let’s learn how it can be done:

Step 1: Install flatpak

The flatpak manager is available through the apt on Debian 12. To install the latest available flatpak version, use the following command, which actually updates the packages list first, and then install the flatpak from that updated list:

$ sudo apt update && sudo apt install flatpak

Step 2: Add flathub Repository

Now, add the flathub remote repository to your Debian 12 system via the command:

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

Step 3: Install Telegram

Once all is done, install the telegram.desktop package from the flathub using the command:

$ flatpak install flathub org.telegram.desktop

How to Remove Telegram From Debian 12?

The removal of the Telegram app depends on the method used to install it. There were three possible methods discussed in the above section, and all these methods use different mediums of installation. Thus, we will illustrate all three methods to uninstall Telegram from your Debian 12

Using apt

The Telegram app installed from the apt can be removed using the command:

$ sudo apt autoremove telegram-desktop

Using snap

Similarly, if you have installed Telegram from Snap, just remove it using the command

$ sudo snap remove telegram-desktop

Using flatpak

Lastly, to remove the Telegram installed using the flatpak, use the command as follows:

$ flatpak uninstall flathub org.telegram.desktop

Wrap Up

When it comes to installing Telegram on Debian 12, there are multiple options available. The apt package manager, being the easiest and most recommended method, allows for a seamless installation process. Users can easily install the latest Telegram by updating the packages list and then using the command “$ sudo apt install telegram-desktop”.

Alternatively, users can install Telegram via the Snap store, supported by most Linux distributions, including Debian 12, via the command “sudo snap install telegram-desktop”. Another option is to use the flatpak manager, which requires adding the flathub repository to Debian 12, and then use the command “flatpak uninstall flathub org.telegram.desktop” to install Telegram.

You have learned all these methods to install Telegram on the latest Debian 12 codenamed Bookworm. For ease, we have also listed the possible methods to remove Telegram from Debian 12. Keep in touch with us at Linux Genie for more guides on Debian 12.