Originally created for online gamers, Discord has become a true leader in the VoIP communications world. So much so that gamers, who are still the app’s most famous user base, no longer have exclusive rights to its services.
Do you consider yourself a novice chef in search of new recipes? Join the culinary server. Perhaps you need tips on how to best advertise your business online? There’s a Discord server for that too.
Discord in 2019 isn’t just for gamers anymore. This long-awaited change can be attributed to Discord‘s exceptionally tight stance on accessibility.
It shouldn’t be a secret that almost since it first hit the market, Discord has remained dedicated to keeping its servers free and open to all major platforms and operating systems This includes the Linux operating system that every power user prefers.
Windows and MacOS can get all the headers, but Linux remains the preferred option for those looking for a safer and more streamlined operating system. The focus of this post is to offer all Linux newbies, Linux hobbyists and veterans alike a step-by-step procedure for gaining access to Discord services in the most painless way possible.
Install Discord for Ubuntu Linux OS
The whole process is very simple and can be completed in a short time if you have a basic knowledge of Linux commands. In particular, Ubuntu users will find that they have a more simplified installation option by using conveniently bundled packages that can be found on most Linux application sites.
There are two main ways to get Discord for Linux, each requiring you to enter one or two commands. I’ll cover both of them, starting with a much faster method using snapcraft.io This will be followed by a more traditional, slightly more time-consuming method, but also most familiar to longtime Linux users.
Regardless of which method you ultimately choose, the results will be the same.
Sprint
This method will require your version of Linux to have snapshot package management capabilities. For all users of Ubuntu 16.04.4 LTS or later, Snapd comes preinstalled. For earlier versions of Ubuntu, you will have to install Snapd manually.
If you find yourself in the last camp, open a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard) and enter the following command.
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y snapd
After installing Snapd, you will also want to download the Snap Store app. This is the site where the Discord package you download is located.
Enter this command into a terminal.
sudo snap install snap-store
You now have access to the Snap Store. Not just for Discord, but for any future apps you might want to add. But for now, you can use the Snap command to install Discord for Linux.
While your terminal is still open, enter the following.
sudo snap install Discord
Hopefully you already have a headset ready with a working mic, because Discord is now your oyster. You can start using the application with Ubuntu Linux OS any time you want.
Just enter the command $ discord into a terminal and you can join 250 million other registered Discord users around the world.
For those Linux veterans who prefer a more traditional approach to installation, or newbies who would like to learn a thing or two, the next section is for you.
Marathon
Before you can get started, you will need a few dependencies that Ubuntu requires. It just means that you need other programs before you can get the Discord app.
Luckily for everyone, the required dependencies are available in an easy-to-install package.
Open your terminal and enter the following command.
sudo apt install libgconf-2-4 libappindicator1
Mission Complete. Now that it’s finished, the next step depends on whether you prefer using commands over the graphical interface.
New user friendliness
The graphical user interface was intended for new Linux users who may be more familiar with choosing a graphical interface to install rather than typing commands. Any of the two big ones (Windows, macOS) will find more comfort when choosing this option.
Open your web browser and go to the official Discord site. The site should automatically detect that you are using Linux and prompt you to download the .deb package.
Click the Download Now button.
Your browser will ask you if you prefer to open the file using the Ubuntu software installer or simply download the file. Any option will work, but it will be much easier if you choose the software installer.
The download should be quick and you should soon be able to install your newly purchased Discord package. Click the “Install” button and wait for the process to take its course.
Discord will be available for use after the installation is complete.
Execute commands
Not a big fan of the GUI? Prefer using terminal commands as intended by the original creators? Then these are the steps you’ve been waiting for.
Open terminal and go to download directory.
cd ~ / Downloads
We’ll use wget to get the .deb package for Discord
wget -0 discord-0.0.1.deb https://discordapp.com/api/download?platform=linux&format=deb
Finish the download and use dpkg to install the .deb package.
sudo dpkg -i discord-0.0.1.deb
You now have access to the Discord app. Open your software launcher and search for Discord Click the icon to launch the application when it appears.
Discord will require you to pre-register an account before participating in the service. You will find the Register link at the bottom of the login prompt.
Already have an account? Even better. Just use your login credentials and start using Discord immediately.
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