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On Fedora 40, 39, or 38, the simplest broadly compatible way to install Telegram Desktop is through Flatpak from Flathub. The same method works on Fedora Workstation, GNOME and KDE Spins, Silverblue, and Kinoite. These Fedora releases are now historical; if you still use one, consider upgrading to a currently supported release, especially if you run into system or repository problems.
Before you begin
Check your Fedora version, processor architecture, and whether Flatpak is installed:
cat /etc/fedora-release
uname -m
flatpak --versionThe first command identifies the Fedora release. On most Intel- or AMD-based PCs, uname -m returns x86_64; the Telegram Flatpak listing also supports aarch64. A 32-bit system should not be assumed to be supported. If flatpak --version says the command was not found, follow the next step.
Fedora Workstation, Silverblue, and Kinoite normally include Flatpak. It may need to be installed on some Spins or minimal installations. Flatpak is also a good fit for Silverblue and Kinoite because it installs the application separately from the immutable base system. See Flatpak’s Fedora setup guide and Fedora’s Flatpak documentation.
Install Telegram Desktop with Flatpak
1. Install Flatpak if it is missing
On a conventional Fedora installation, run:
sudo dnf install flatpakOn Silverblue or Kinoite, prefer the Flatpak route rather than layering a desktop RPM into the host system. If your graphical software center does not recognize Flatpak immediately after installation, reopen it or log out and back in.
2. Add Flathub
Flathub is a separate Flatpak repository with a large application catalog; it is not Fedora’s RPM repository. Add it with:
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepoThe --if-not-exists option means you can run the command again safely if Flathub is already configured. Check that it is listed:
flatpak remotesYou should see a remote named flathub.
3. Install Telegram
Install the Telegram Desktop application by its exact Flatpak ID:
flatpak install flathub org.telegram.desktopReview the application and any runtime dependencies shown, then confirm the installation when prompted. The Flathub listing identifies the app as Telegram Desktop, gives its ID as org.telegram.desktop, and lists Telegram FZ-LLC as publisher. Telegram’s desktop download page lists Flatpak among its Linux x64 options. Check the source and publisher rather than choosing an unrelated app with a similar name.
4. Launch Telegram
Start it from a terminal with:
flatpak run org.telegram.desktopIt should also appear in your application launcher. Search for Telegram or Telegram Desktop; menu labels and layout vary by desktop.
Install from GNOME Software or KDE Discover
You can use a graphical software center instead of the terminal. Search for Telegram in Software on GNOME or Discover on KDE, select the Telegram Desktop Flatpak result, and click Install. Confirm that the source is Flathub or flathub.org and that you selected Telegram Desktop before proceeding. Software centers can show packages from more than one source, so verify the listing. If it does not appear, enable Flathub as described above or use the terminal commands.
Sign in to your Telegram account
- Open Telegram Desktop and choose the option to begin messaging or log in.
- Enter the mobile number associated with your Telegram account in international format, including the country code.
- Enter the verification code. Depending on Telegram’s current login flow, it may be delivered in Telegram on another device where you are already signed in rather than by SMS.
- If you have two-step verification enabled, enter its additional password. If the desktop app offers QR-code login, you can use that and approve the sign-in from your existing Telegram app.
Telegram allows you to use the account on multiple devices, and ordinary cloud chats synchronize across them. Secret Chats have different device and synchronization behavior. For more details on phone-number formatting, verification, and account access, see Telegram’s FAQ.
Update or remove Telegram
Flatpak apps update separately from Fedora’s base operating system. To update all installed Flatpaks, run:
flatpak updateOn Flatpak versions that support targeting an individual app, you can update Telegram alone:
flatpak update org.telegram.desktopRemove Telegram with:
flatpak uninstall org.telegram.desktopTo remove runtimes and other dependencies that are no longer used by installed Flatpaks, run:
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flatpak uninstall --unusedUninstalling the desktop application does not delete your Telegram account; account deletion is a separate action.
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Troubleshooting
“flatpak: command not found”
Flatpak is missing. On a conventional Fedora installation, install it with sudo dnf install flatpak, then retry the Flathub and Telegram commands above. This is different from a missing Flathub remote: having Flatpak installed does not automatically mean Flathub is configured.
Telegram cannot be found or Flatpak reports no matching application
Check the configured remotes with:
flatpak remotesIf flathub is absent, add it using the command in the installation steps. You can also search available listings with:
flatpak search telegramThen install the Telegram Desktop entry from Flathub using org.telegram.desktop.
The software center does not show Telegram
Flathub may not be enabled, the software center may have stale metadata, or a source filter may be hiding the result. Confirm that Flathub appears in flatpak remotes, refresh or reopen the software center, and check the selected source. The terminal installation command is a practical fallback.
Telegram launches, but cannot open a file
Flatpak apps are sandboxed. First try Telegram’s normal file chooser, which should use the desktop’s file-selection portal. Avoid granting broad access to your home directory as a first fix; expand permissions only if you understand the access being granted and have a specific need.
The verification code does not arrive
Check Telegram on another device where you are signed in, enter the number with its country code, and make sure the number is current and accessible. Enter your two-step-verification password if requested. Avoid repeatedly requesting codes, which may trigger temporary restrictions; consult Telegram’s FAQ if you still cannot access the account.
You see more than one Telegram launcher
You may have installed Telegram more than once—for example, as a Flatpak and as a Snap or manually extracted archive. To check for the Flatpak:
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flatpak info org.telegram.desktopAlso inspect the application menu. Multiple installations can use different update methods and create duplicate launchers. Keep more than one only if you have a specific reason and know which copy you are starting.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the guide uses Flatpak, not an assumed RPM command
Do not assume that dnf install telegram-desktop is the correct or universally available command for Fedora 38, 39, or 40. Telegram’s current Linux download page presents Flatpak and Snap options for Linux x64, not a Fedora-specific RPM. Flatpak is a consistent route across Fedora desktops and immutable variants, but it uses its own repository and runtimes, may use additional disk space, and has sandbox permissions that can affect integrations. Sandboxing is not a guarantee that one package format is always safer than another; the application, repository, permissions, and system all matter.
Telegram also lists Snap as a Linux option, which may suit you if Snap is already installed and configured. It is not necessary to add another packaging system if Flatpak meets your needs. Telegram’s Linux page also lists web clients, which are an option if you do not want to install a desktop app. For source guidance, start with Telegram’s desktop download page and the Telegram Desktop listing on Flathub; avoid unverified third-party RPMs or download sites.
Although this method is broadly less tied to a particular Fedora release than an RPM, an old Fedora installation can still have unrelated repository, compatibility, or security issues. Upgrade to a currently supported Fedora release if possible rather than treating Telegram installation as a substitute for operating-system maintenance.
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