On Linux Mint 20 or 21, the simplest way to get Telegram up and running is by downloading its official Debian package instead of using Snap, which can bloat your system with extra runtimes. You begin by running `sudo apt update` to refresh your sources, installing libqt5webkit5, downloading the .deb with wget, then applying it via dpkg and fixing any missing libraries with `sudo apt -f install`. Once installed you launch Telegram from the terminal or application menu; if it crashes on first start, clearing `~/.cache/TelegramDesktop` usually resolves the issue. If you prefer Snap for sandboxing, a single `sudo snap install telegram-desktop` will work but pulls over 100 MB of runtime files—so weigh that overhead against convenience and keep the TLDR steps handy to avoid future headaches.

Installing Telegram on Linux Mint 21 or 20 – Quick and Easy

If you’re stuck trying to get Telegram onto your Linux Mint machine, here’s a straight‑forward way to install it on either version 20 or 21 without messing around with broken dependencies.

Why choose the Debian package over Snap?

Snap sometimes pulls in heavy runtimes that bloat disk space. The official .deb from the Telegram website is lean and keeps your system tidy. Plus, I’ve seen a few users complain about “snap‑telegram” not launching after an update – the deb version just doesn’t have that headache.

Step 1: Update your package list

sudo apt update

Updating ensures you’re pulling the newest mirror data. If this step is skipped, you might end up with a stale repository and cryptic “no such package” errors later on.

Step 2: Install prerequisite libraries

sudo apt install libqt5webkit5

Telegram’s desktop client relies on QtWebKit for rendering its rich‑text chats. Without this library the app will refuse to start with a “missing shared object” message. Trust me, I’ve seen that happen after a fresh Mint install.

Step 3: Download the latest Telegram .deb

wget https://telegram.org/dl/desktop/linux -O telegram_latest.deb

Using wget keeps it simple and avoids browser‑based download quirks. The link points straight to the current stable build; no need to hunt through GitHub releases.

Step 4: Install the package

sudo dpkg -i telegram_latest.deb
sudo apt -f install

The first command installs the downloaded file, while the second fixes any missing dependencies that dpkg can’t resolve automatically. If you see a “dependency issue” warning after step 1, this line will clean it up.

Step 5: Launch Telegram

telegram-desktop

Or find it in your application menu under “Internet.” The first run may take a couple of seconds as it builds its internal database; after that you’ll be chatting away.

Common hiccups and how to fix them

• “Unable to resolve host” – this is usually the sudo prompt asking for a password. If your keyboard layout looks wrong, hit Esc or Ctrl‑C, then try again.
• App crashes on startup – delete the cache folder:

  rm -rf ~/.cache/TelegramDesktop

Then restart. A corrupted cache is the usual culprit after an abrupt shutdown.

What if you prefer Snap?

If you’re okay with the extra overhead, install via Snap:

sudo snap install telegram-desktop

It’s a one‑liner and keeps the app sandboxed. The downside? It pulls in 100 + MB of runtime packages that most of your other apps don’t need.

TL;DR

1. sudo apt update
2. sudo apt install libqt5webkit5
3. Download the .deb from telegram.org
4. sudo dpkg -i <file> + sudo apt -f install
5. Run telegram-desktop

That’s it – no more “Telegram is not available for my distro” headaches.