How to install and use the Kotatogram Desktop messenger on Linux
The Kotatogram Desktop messenger is a fork of the Telegram Desktop app. It is an app that intends on giving users useful features that the official Telegram client for Linux lacks.
This app is very new to Linux, so many users are not aware of how to install it on their systems, or how it works. So, here’s how to install and use the Kotatogram Desktop messenger on Linux!
Installing Kotatogram Desktop on Linux
The Kotatogram app is relatively new to the Linux platform. Despite this, the developers have managed to make the app available in various formats, such as Ubuntu’s Snap package format, an AppImage standalone executable, and a downloadable Linux generic binary. It is also possible to get Kotatogram Desktop from the Flathub Flatpak app store.
To start the installation of Kotatogram Desktop on your Linux PC, begin by opening up a terminal window on the desktop. To open up a terminal window, press Ctrl + Alt + T or Ctrl + Shift + T on the keyboard. Then, once the terminal window is open, follow the in-depth command-line instructions outlined below that correspond with the Linux OS you use.
Snap package
The Snap release of Kotatogram Desktop is not yet in the Ubuntu Snap Store for regular users to search and install. However, there is a Snap release of the app on the developer’s GitHub page in the “Releases” section. Any user can install it.
Since the Snap release of Kotatogram Desktop is not in the Snap Store, you must sideload the app. Here’s how to do it. First, download the Snap file from GitHub using the wget downloader tool.
wget https://github.com/kotatogram/kotatogram-desktop/releases/download/k1.2.2/kotatogram-desktop_1.2.2_amd64.snap
Once the Snap file is done downloading onto your Snap-enabled Linux PC, the installation can begin. However, unlike other Snaps from the app store, you must make use of the “dangerous” flag, or the installation will fail.
sudo snap install --dangerous kotatogram-desktop_1.2.2_amd64.snap
AppImage
Kotatogram Desktop has a standalone AppImage release. To get your hands on it, do the following. First, use the wget download command to grab the latest AppImage of the app.
wget https://github.com/kotatogram/kotatogram-desktop/releases/download/k1.2.2/Kotatogram_Desktop-x86_64.AppImage
Once the app is done downloading, simply run it with:
chmod +x Kotatogram_Desktop-x86_64.AppImage
./Kotatogram_Desktop-x86_64.AppImage
You can also double-click on “Kotatogram_Desktop-x86_64.AppImage” with the mouse in the Linux file manager to open up the app.
Flatpak
Kotatogram Desktop is on the Flathub app store. To install it, do the following.
First, ensure that you have the Flatpak runtime installed and enabled on your Linux PC. Then, enter the two commands below.
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo flatpak install flathub io.github.kotatogram
Generic binary
The generic binary for Kotatogram Desktop works exactly like the generic binary for the official Telegram app, and it runs in the same way. A binary is downloaded, extracted, and executed. No installation required.
To get the generic Kotatogram Desktop binary, start by using the wget download command below.
wget https://github.com/kotatogram/kotatogram-desktop/releases/download/k1.2.2/1.2.2.tar.xz
After downloading the Kotatogram Desktop generic binary release, it must be extracted. To extract it, make use of the tar command below.
tar xvf 1.2.2.tar.xz
Once the extraction is complete, a folder by the name of Kotatogram will appear in your home directory. Using the CD command, move into the folder.
cd Kotatogram
Finally, execute the binary with:
./Kotatogram
Setting up Kotatogram Desktop
Now that the Kotatogram Desktop application is installed on your Linux PC, we must go over how to set it up so that you can use it. To get it set up, follow the step-by-step instructions below.
Step 1: Launch the Kotatogram Desktop chat application on your Linux PC by searching for it in the application menu or, by executing its run command as outlined in the instruction section.
Step 2: Select the blue “Start Messaging” command with the mouse to access the login page for your Telegram account. Enter the phone number associated with your Telegram account, and press theĀ EnterĀ key to submit the number to the app.
Keep in mind that this login page will not work in Kotatogram if you do not already have a Telegram account. Click here to create a new account.
Step 3: Upon entering your phone number, you will be texted a login code. Or, if you have Telegram installed on your smartphone, a notification will appear there with the login code.
Enter the login code into the login box to access your account in Kotatogram.
Access unique features
The point of Kotatogram Desktop is that it offers Linux users the ability to have custom features that the stock Telegram app does not. To access these features, open up “Settings,” and click on “Kotatogram Settings.”
