How to Install Discord on Ubuntu or Debian

install discord on ubuntu 18.04 20.04 22.04 debian 8 / 9

Discord is a widely used proprietary freeware instant messaging and VoIP application, particularly popular within gaming communities. It provides users with the ability to communicate via voice, video, and text channels. Discord is readily available for a multitude of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, iPadOS, and even web browsers.

While Discord doesn’t offer an officially supported native Linux application, it can still be easily installed and utilized on Ubuntu 20.04/22.04 and Debian systems through the use of a third-party Linux client, such as Discord Canary or the standard .deb package.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps of how to install Discord on Ubuntu 20.04/22.04 and Debian distributions, providing a straightforward and efficient installation process.

Prerequisites

Before embarking on the installation of Discord on your Ubuntu or Debian system, ensure that your system meets the following requirements:

You have a running installation of Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 22.04, or a Debian-based distribution.
You have a stable internet connection for downloading the necessary files.
You have sudo privileges or root access to execute administrative commands.

If your system fulfills these prerequisites, you are well-prepared to proceed with the installation instructions outlined below.

Install Discord on Ubuntu 20.04/22.04 and Debian

Follow these step-by-step instructions to install the latest version of Discord on your Ubuntu or Debian system:

Step 1: Enable Universe Repository (Ubuntu Only)

Discord relies on several packages available within the Universe repository of Ubuntu. Therefore, you must first enable the Universe repository using the following command:

$ sudo add-apt-repository universe

Press ENTER when prompted to confirm the action. This command will add the Universe repository to your system’s software sources.

Step 2: Update Repository Index

Next, update the package index to ensure that your system has the most up-to-date information about available packages. Use the following command:

$ sudo apt update

This process will fetch metadata information for the latest packages from all enabled repositories, including the newly enabled Universe repository.

Step 3: Install Required Dependencies

Install gcc, git, gconf2, libasound2, libnotify4 and libnspr4 which are required dependencies using:

$ sudo apt install gcc git gconf2 libasound2 libnotify4 libnspr4 -y

Confirm with Y when prompted. This will install the required dependencies.

Step 4: Download Latest Discord Linux Build

Now, download the latest Discord Linux build from its official website.

Visit Discord’s download page for Linux and copy the link address of the .deb package.

For example, as of writing this, the latest stable build link is:

https://dl.discordapp.net/apps/linux/0.0.41/discord-0.0.41.deb

Use wget to download the .deb package with:

$ wget https://dl.discordapp.net/apps/linux/0.0.41/discord-0.0.41.deb

This will download the latest discord .deb package in your current directory.

Step 5: Install the Downloaded .deb Package

When the download is complete, install the Discord .deb package using:

$ sudo dpkg -i discord-0.0.41.deb

Make sure to replace discord-0.0.41.deb with the actual filename if different.

If you encounter dependency errors, run:

$ sudo apt-get install -f

This will install any missing dependencies required by Discord.

Step 6: Start Discord

You can now launch Discord through Unity dash or by running:

$ discord

The first time you launch it, Discord will setup itself and then open its main window.

That’s it! You have successfully installed the latest version of Discord on your Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04 system.

Uninstalling Discord on Ubuntu and Debian

If you wish to remove Discord from Ubuntu or Debian for any reason, run:

$ sudo dpkg -r discord

This will uninstall Discord and remove all associated files/dependencies from your system.

Confirm with Y to uninstall Discord.

And that’s how you can easily install and uninstall Discord on Ubuntu and Debian! Next, let’s go through some tips and tricks to use Discord on Linux desktop.

Using Discord on Ubuntu Desktop

Discord works well on Ubuntu desktop thanks to its Electron-based architecture. Here are some tips to use Discord effectively on your Linux PC:

Enabling Desktop Notifications

To receive desktop notifications from Discord:

Open Discord settings.
Go to Notifications tab.
Make sure "Enable Desktop Notifications" is checked.

You can also choose notification sounds and which events trigger notifications.

Adding Discord to System Tray

Discord icon stays on the dock by default. To move it to system tray instead:

Open Discord settings.
Go to Windows Settings.
Enable "Minimize to Tray".

Now Discord will minimize to the system tray when closed.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Discord on Linux supports the following keyboard shortcuts:

Ctrl+Shift+M: Mute
Ctrl+Shift+D: Deafen
Ctrl+K: Quick Switcher

You can see all other keyboard shortcuts inside Discord by pressing Ctrl+/

Discord File Sharing on Linux

To share files on Discord from Ubuntu:

Click the + icon in the text input box.
Select the file you want to share from your filesystem.
Click Open.

The file will be uploaded and shared instantly.

Discord Screen Sharing on Linux

To share your screen in a Discord voice channel:

Join a voice channel.
Click the "Share Screen" icon.
Select the window or screen you want to share.
Click "Share".

Your screen will now be shared and streamed.

Discord Text Formatting

To format text in Discord chats on Linux:

*italics*: italics
**bold**: bold
__underline__: __underline__
~~strikethrough~~: ~~strikethrough~~

See Discord’s formatting guide for more text styles.

Troubleshooting Discord on Ubuntu

Here are some common problems faced when using Discord on Ubuntu and how to fix them:

Discord Not Launching

If Discord does not launch, open a terminal and try running it with the --no-sandbox flag:

$ discord --no-sandbox

This solves issues due to sandboxing errors.

Audio Not Working

If microphone or audio output is not working, make sure PulseAudio is set as the input/output device inside Voice & Video settings.

Also try changing the Service option to Legacy.

Can’t Hear Other Users

Go to Voice & Video settings. Under Advanced, toggle “Legacy Audio Subsystem” ON. This typically fixes voice chat issues.

Discord Frozen/Not Responding

Sometimes Discord may freeze or stop responding. To fix, open System Monitor and force quit the discord process. Then relaunch Discord – it should work normally again.

You can also try resetting Discord from the Gear icon > Advanced > Reset Discord. This fixes most errors.

Alternative Installation Methods for Discord on Ubuntu and Debian

While the .deb package installation method is straightforward, there are alternative approaches to install Discord on Ubuntu and Debian. Two popular alternatives are using Snap packages and Flatpak.

Method 1: Installing Discord Using Snap

Snap is a universal package manager that works across many Linux distributions, including Ubuntu and Debian. Snaps are containerized software packages that include all the dependencies needed to run the application.

Install Snapd (if not already installed):

On Ubuntu, Snapd is usually pre-installed. If not, or if you are on Debian, install it with:
```
sudo apt update
sudo apt install snapd
```
For Debian, you might also need to enable the snapd socket:
```
sudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socket
```
Install Discord via Snap:

Once Snapd is installed and running, you can install Discord with the following command:
```
sudo snap install discord
```
This command will download and install the Discord snap package.
Running Discord:

After installation, you can launch Discord from your application menu or by typing discord in the terminal.

The advantage of using Snap is that it handles dependencies automatically and provides automatic updates.

Method 2: Installing Discord Using Flatpak

Flatpak is another universal package manager similar to Snap. It provides a sandboxed environment for applications and simplifies dependency management.

Install Flatpak (if not already installed):

On Ubuntu and Debian, you can install Flatpak with:
```
sudo apt update
sudo apt install flatpak
```
You also need to add the Flathub repository, which is the main repository for Flatpak applications:
```
sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
```
Install Discord via Flatpak:

Now you can install Discord using Flatpak:
```
sudo flatpak install flathub com.discordapp.Discord
```
This command will download and install Discord from the Flathub repository.
Running Discord:

After installation, you can run Discord with the following command:
```
flatpak run com.discordapp.Discord
```
Alternatively, it should also appear in your application menu.

Flatpak also offers automatic updates and dependency management, providing a convenient way to keep Discord up to date.

Conclusion

How to install Discord on Ubuntu has been covered. Discord has become an essential communication tool for gamers and communities around the world. With this easy installation guide, Linux users can now stay connected with their friends across all platforms. Running Discord natively on Ubuntu desktop provides a smooth, low-latency voice and video chat experience. So invite your squad mates to your channel and hop on Discord voice from the comfort of your Linux PC! With screen sharing, messaging, and crystal clear audio, Discord on Ubuntu helps bring people together and fosters meaningful connections through shared interests. We’ve also presented alternative methods, like using Snap or Flatpak, to give you more choices for installing Discord on your system. Regardless of the method you choose, enjoy staying connected with your communities! The information to help you how to install Discord on Ubuntu and Debian has been clearly presented.