Install BetterDiscord on Linux

BDLinux.md

Install BetterDiscord on Linux

This Gist contains simple instructions on how to install, update, and uninstall BetterDiscord on Linux.

For more thorough documentation, take a look at betterdiscordctl's README.

Do NOT submit issues here as I don't check the comments. You should submit them here instead.

Install dependencies

Git

Install using your package manager

Install betterdiscordctl

$ curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bb010g/betterdiscordctl/master/betterdiscordctl
$ chmod +x betterdiscordctl
$ sudo mv betterdiscordctl /usr/local/bin

You can then keep betterdiscordctl up to date with this command:

$ sudo betterdiscordctl upgrade

Install BetterDiscord

Replace [COMMAND] with install to install BD for the first time, update to update BD to the latest version, reinstall to reinstall BD after a Discord update, or uninstall to uninstall an existing installation.

• For Stable

$ betterdiscordctl [COMMAND]

• For PTB

$ betterdiscordctl [COMMAND] -f PTB

• For Canary

$ betterdiscordctl [COMMAND] -f Canary

• For Snap

$ betterdiscordctl [COMMAND] --snap

• For Flatpak

$ betterdiscordctl [COMMAND] --flatpak

Common Issues

Discord intallation not found

Point betterdiscordctl to the correct path with the --scan flag.

Discord modules directory not found or Config directory not found

Discord has to be started at least once to create the necessary directories before using betterdiscordctl.

git : command not found

You don't have git installed. Install it and try again.

Credits

BetterDiscord by Jiiks

Bandaged BD by Zerebos (rauenzi)

betterdiscordctl by bb010g

Does this work with the Snap version of Discord?
Edit: any plans on making this work with Snap version of Discord?

Updated to work with the Snap version of Discord.

Tried to install stable and this happened
Error: Cannot find module './core'
at Module._resolveFilename (module.js:470:15)
at Function.Module._resolveFilename (/usr/share/discord/resources/electron.asar/common/reset-search-paths.js:35:12)
at Function.Module._load (module.js:418:25)
at Module.require (module.js:498:17)
at require (internal/module.js:20:19)
at Object. (/root/.config/discord/0.0.4/modules/discord_desktop_core/index.js:1:173)
at Object. (/root/.config/discord/0.0.4/modules/discord_desktop_core/index.js:2:3)
at Module._compile (module.js:571:32)
at Object.Module._extensions..js (module.js:580:10)
at Module.load (module.js:488:32)

I'm getting the same problem when installing into both Discord Canary and Discord. (Ubuntu MATE) That said, I don't know to reverse this either, so I've been using the snap version of Discord without trying to install BetterDiscord.

edit:
You can fix this error by deleting the discordcanary folder in /.config/ and discord-canary in /usr/share, then reinstalling it. I'd imagine you can do the same with the Discord stable as well. Have not been able to get BetterDiscord working though.

edit 2:
Got it to work, but I merely just followed the instructions here again. If all else fails I suggest going to the BetterDiscord2 server and searching "linux in:faq" for answers rather than asking.

@RemixSlay Don't install with sudo.

didnt use sudo, im on the root account....

i did what @vozycozyx said and i got back into discord

ERROR: Discord installation not found.

I got the same error as Trihash, even on Stable or Snap, the config directory isn't found (though it not exists).

@Trihash You will need to elaborate more on the issue you have sumbitted.
@miakx Please check the same issue and comment there if it remains unsolved for you.

@Trihash - maybe you got the wrong installation directory. See where discord files are located using the following command:

find / -name discord 2> /dev/null

As it turns out, /opt worked for me.

ERROR: Discord installation not found
I tried /usr/bin/discord and /usr/share/discord, neither worked. It's not in /opt (/opt is empty.)

I didn't get any errors, It seems to have installed fine, but, the status says the app is not patched and it doesn't appear to have changed the discord app at all.

@ObserverOfTime

i put betterdiscordctl install -s /usr/share and this came out
WARN: Config directory not found for (/usr/share/discord, /home/spencer/.config/discord).
ERROR: Discord installation not found.

Ok people if it says

WARN: Config directory not found for (/usr/share/discord, /home/spencer/.config/discord).
ERROR: Discord installation not found.

Then you are trying to install betterdiscord into the wrong directory. RTFM.

Well, i tried to install Better Discord on my Lubuntu 16.04 but...
This happens here, what i should do?

Print is here https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/472857389628915723/483767139807789086/DiscordError.png

Solved this by using parent of binary root folder as path. With Discord binary @ /usr/bin/discord using betterdiscordctl install -s /usr worked [even though docs say to use path to binary root folder /usr/bin].

On Lubuntu 18.04, fresh discord install which discord returns /usr/bin/discord. I was getting the error ERROR: Discord installation not found when running betterdiscordctl install -s /usr/bin/. Using /usr as the [PATH] instead of the suggested path was successful.

When I try installing I get:
Class constructor LRUCache cannot be invoked without 'new'
Along with:
/asar.js: No such file or directory
I have node (v8.11.2) and npm (5.8.0) installed. I noticed Common Issues and tried installing asar, but I get:
Class constructor LRUCache cannot be invoked without 'new'
What am I doing wrong?

big thanks! works with 0.0.8 in debian stretch (backport: nodejs 8.11.1~dfsg-2~bpo9+ and npm 5.8.0+ds6-2~bpo9+1).

i get every time i try to use betterdiscordctl:

betterdiscordctl: line 1: 404:: comand not found

tried using stable instead of snap or flatpak, and i used -s /usr/share to find the installation, which it detected, but if i ran the install command it still says no discord installation found. i'm on Pop OS 18.10.

Seems to have installed just fine, however there are no changes in my client? (using Canary on Mint 19.1 if it helps at all)

In case you don't know already, there's a new injection method needed to prevent some stuff like transparency from breaking.

@youwereeatenbyalid I suggest you submit an issue on the repo, or a PR to the next branch if possible.

Solved this by using parent of binary root folder as path. With Discord binary @ /usr/bin/discord using betterdiscordctl install -s /usr worked [even though docs say to use path to binary root folder /usr/bin].

On Lubuntu 18.04, fresh discord install which discord returns /usr/bin/discord. I was getting the error ERROR: Discord installation not found when running betterdiscordctl install -s /usr/bin/. Using /usr as the [PATH] instead of the suggested path was successful.

I tried something very similar to this. which discord returns /usr/bin/discord, however changing it to /usr/bin, /usr/, / doesn't change anything. Will always output Discord installation not found.

Hi,
I've updated betterdiscord and now it doesn't launch with discord. I mean it's installed but doesn't work when I run discord.

Running SolusOS & discord from repo.
It was working but now it's broke.

Could u help me ?

betterdiscordctl was updated to use BBD's new injection method. Upgrade betterdiscordctl to the latest version (currently 1.6.0) and follow these instructions to reinstall BBD.

P.S. Please do not comment on this gist. Check the issue tracker and submit a new one if you can't find your issue.

Can confirm, the issue is fixed. Thank you very much.

@sKirua Come on discord to see the problem. ;)

I think I use snap discord(?) (my dad helped me with it) (it's like not the actual discord, we used a different way to install it?) but I can't get the betterdiscordctl --snap command to work at all, on any and every directory I try it with. It doesn't find discord.

I use Fedora 28.

i ended up having to manually create 2 directories then it installed perfectly!

never mind i got the same java error as @sKirua

how do i find my program fiels with flatpak so I can use --scan ?
(sorry if the question is stupid I am a noob)

Betterdiscordctl find my modules file, (when I use betterdiscordctl)however, it would say that modules directory not found when I use command sudo betterdiscordctl install --snap.
Does anybody solved this error?

What is the directory for --modules?

For @Dany-LF and others looking for the modules directory, it'll be similar to this, if not identical in most cases:

--modules=~/.config/discord/0.0.9/modules

I guess I'll write something of a guide for people who don't know how to identify what options they need or can't find their modules folder.

If you can't find your modules folder, enter the following command in the terminal while discord is running:
lsof | grep discord | grep modules
If the path to modules contains "snap" in it, then you need to use the --snap option next to supplying the --modules <modulesfolder> parameter.
Make sure you aren't running the install command using sudo! It won't work c:

I guess I'll write something of a guide for people who don't know how to identify what options they need or can't find their modules folder.

If you can't find your modules folder, enter the following command in the terminal while discord is running:
lsof | grep discord | grep modules
If the path to modules contains "snap" in it, then you need to use the --snap option next to supplying the --modules <modulesfolder> parameter.
Make sure you aren't running the install command using sudo! It won't work c:

this should be added before the "install" instructions, very helpful.

I'm on Linux Ubuntu. My terminal doesn't support the command $, it only supports/knows sudo commands. Is this going to pose an issue, and if so what can be done to fix it??

Well $ is not a command...

U should copy paste commands after $

How do I add plugins into this?

Since a day ago (Discord 0.0.10), discord just starts up like normal discord. Betterdiscordctl installs everything successfully, but discord just doesn't seem to care...
This is my discord output: https://hastebin.com/ilejabetih

Since a day ago (Discord 0.0.10), discord just starts up like normal discord. Betterdiscordctl installs everything successfully, but discord just doesn't seem to care...
This is my discord output: https://hastebin.com/ilejabetih

Same for me. I use the flatpak release.
I have tried reinstalling both Discord Stable and betterdiscord, no fix. @ObserverOfTime

Same issue with the Snap release of Discord for the last few days - BD installs without error, but just stopped loading at start.

@hal0x2328 Try betterdiscordctl update --snap

Same problem, BD is just gone.

You need to run betterdiscordctl update.

Sorry for the rudimentary question.
I think there is a problem with the permission. But I couldn't install with sudo.
/usr/local/bin/betterdiscordctl: line 528: /home/datsuka/.local/share/betterdiscordctl/bd_map: Permission denied Cloning https://github.com/rauenzi/BetterDiscordApp... fatal: could not create work tree dir '/home/datsuka/.local/share/betterdiscordctl/bd/0': Permission denied
And when I launch Discord, Discord has error.

What should I do....?

@datsuka-qwerty
See https://gist.github.com/ObserverOfTime/d7e60eb9aa7fe837545c8cb77cf31172#gistcomment-3162036

@SplendidX
I can install it!! Thank you so much!! :-)

Discord broke this with their latest update...fuck

How can I start Better Discord?
When I start Discord,then it just starts the normal Discord.

Did anyone figure out a fix for this ?

Nvm just run "betterdiscordctl update" and restart

As Synkstar mentioned, just do betterdiscordctl update and then betterdiscordctl install (if necessary) and it should work fine.

For me though, I had to do one additional step. Since I installed betterdiscord with sudo privileges, Discord was having trouble accessing files and folders in the ~/.local/share/betterdiscordctl directory (because it was owned by root), so I just did sudo chown {YOUR_USER} ~/.local/share/betterdiscord/* -R (the -R is for recursive) and that fixed it for me.

Nothing happens after installation and restart for me

EDIT: snap version doesn't work whatever I do
So I reinstalled it using the deb file with no snap involved and it finally worked with that

I installed git and ran the previous command without any problems. However, when I tried to run chmod +x betterdiscordctl I got the "No such file or directory" error anyways. What is causing this, and what possible solutions are there?

i need help please

betterdiscordctl install --snap /usr/local/bin/betterdiscordctl: ligne 528: /home/pop/.local/share/betterdiscordctl/bd_map: Permission non accordée Cloning https://github.com/rauenzi/BetterDiscordApp... fatal: impossible de créer les répertoires de premier niveau dans '/home/pop/.local/share/betterdiscordctl/bd/0': Permission non accordée

i need help please

betterdiscordctl install --snap /usr/local/bin/betterdiscordctl: ligne 528: /home/pop/.local/share/betterdiscordctl/bd_map: Permission non accordée Cloning https://github.com/rauenzi/BetterDiscordApp... fatal: impossible de créer les répertoires de premier niveau dans '/home/pop/.local/share/betterdiscordctl/bd/0': Permission non accordée

Salut, je te répond en francais vu que tu a l'air de l'être, essaie de mettre "sudo " avant tes commandes pour accorder les permissions administrateurs à ton terminal.

I keep getting the issue discord_desktop_core not found in /opt/discord, and I cannot find discord_desktop_core anywhere else when I search for it, anyone able to help?