# Installing the Zulip desktop app

The Zulip desktop app comes with native desktop notifications, support for
multiple Zulip accounts, and a dedicated tray icon.

Installing the latest stable release is recommended for most users. For an early
look at the newest features, consider the [beta
releases](#install-a-beta-release).

## Install the latest release

{start_tabs}

{tab|mac}

{!app-will-update-tip.md!}

#### Disk image *(recommended)*

1. Download [Zulip for macOS](https://zulip.com/apps/mac).

1. Open the file, and drag the app into the **Applications** folder.

#### Homebrew

1. Run the command `brew install --cask zulip` from a terminal.

1. Run Zulip from **Applications**.

You can run the command `brew upgrade zulip` to immediately upgrade the app.

{tab|windows}

#### Web installer *(recommended)*

{!app-will-update-tip.md!}

1. Download and run [Zulip for Windows](https://zulip.com/apps/windows).

1. Run Zulip from the **Start** menu.

#### Offline installer *(for isolated networks)*

!!! warn ""
    The app will not update automatically. You can repeat these steps to upgrade
    to future versions.

1. Download [zulip-x.x.x-x64.msi][latest] for 64-bit desktops
   (common), or [zulip-x.x.x-ia32.msi][latest] for 32-bit (rare).

1. Copy the installer file to the machine you want to install the app
   on, and open it there.

1. Run Zulip from the **Start** menu.

{tab|linux}

#### APT *(Ubuntu or Debian)*

!!! tip ""
    The app will be updated automatically to future versions when you do a
    regular software update on your system, e.g., with
    `sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade`.

1. Enter the following commands into a terminal:

    ```
    sudo curl -fL -o /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/zulip-desktop.asc \
        https://download.zulip.com/desktop/apt/zulip-desktop.asc
    echo "deb https://download.zulip.com/desktop/apt stable main" | \
        sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/zulip-desktop.list
    sudo apt update
    sudo apt install zulip
    ```

    These commands set up the Zulip Desktop APT repository and its signing
    key, and then install the Zulip client.

1. Run Zulip from your app launcher, or with `zulip` from a terminal.

#### AppImage *(recommended for all other distros)*

{!app-will-update-tip.md!}

1. Download [Zulip for Linux](https://zulip.com/apps/linux).

1. Make the file executable, with
   `chmod a+x Zulip-x.x.x-x86_64.AppImage` from a terminal (replace
   `x.x.x` with the actual app version of the downloaded file).

1. Run the file from your app launcher, or from a terminal. This file is the
   Zulip app, so no installation is required.

#### Snap

1. Make sure [snapd](https://docs.snapcraft.io/core/install) is installed.

2. Execute following command to install Zulip:

    ```
    sudo snap install zulip
    ```

3. Run Zulip from your app launcher, or with `zulip` from a terminal.

#### Flathub

1. Make sure you have [Flatpak](https://flathub.org/setup) installed on your
system.

2. Use the following command from the official
[Flathub page](https://flathub.org/apps/org.zulip.Zulip) to install Zulip:

    ```
    flatpak install flathub org.zulip.Zulip
    ```

3. After the installation is complete, you can run Zulip using the following
command:

    ```
    flatpak run org.zulip.Zulip
    ```

{end_tabs}

## Install a beta release

Get a peek at new features before they're released!

{start_tabs}

{tab|most-systems}

{!app-will-update-tip.md!}

1. Go to the [Zulip releases][release-list] page on GitHub, and find the latest
   version tagged with the “Pre-release” label.

1. If there's a **Pre-release** that's more recent than the [latest release][latest],
   download the appropriate Zulip beta installer or app for your system.

1. To install and run Zulip, refer to the instructions for your operating
   system in the [Install the latest release](#install-the-latest-release)
   section above.

{tab|linux-with-apt}

!!! tip ""

    The app will be updated automatically to future versions when you do a
    regular software update on your system, e.g., with
    `sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade`.

#### You don't have the Zulip app installed

1. Enter the following commands into a terminal:

    ```
    sudo curl -fL -o /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/zulip-desktop.asc \
        https://download.zulip.com/desktop/apt/zulip-desktop.asc
    echo "deb https://download.zulip.com/desktop/apt beta main" | \
        sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/zulip-desktop.list
    sudo apt update
    sudo apt install zulip
    ```

    These commands set up the Zulip Desktop beta APT repository and its signing
    key, and then install the Zulip beta client.

1. Run Zulip from your app launcher, or with `zulip` from a terminal.

#### You already have the Zulip app installed

1. Enter the following commands into a terminal:

    ```
    sudo sed -i s/stable/beta/ /etc/apt/sources.list.d/zulip-desktop.list
    sudo apt update
    sudo apt install zulip
    ```

    These commands set up the Zulip Desktop beta APT repository, and then
    install the Zulip beta client.

1. Run Zulip from your app launcher, or with `zulip` from a terminal.

{end_tabs}

[latest]: https://github.com/zulip/zulip-desktop/releases/latest
[release-list]: https://github.com/zulip/zulip-desktop/releases

## Related articles

* [Connect through a proxy](/help/connect-through-a-proxy)
* [Use a custom certificate](/help/custom-certificates)
* [View Zulip version](/help/view-zulip-version)