Ubuntu install WeChat

calendar Jun 27, 2022 · 2 min read · Wechat Ubuntu  ·
Share on: linkedin copy

Wechat official does not directly provide a Linux system client. We don’t like Wine’s Wechat. Kylin Software and Tencent have jointly promoted the native Wechat adaptation work based on the Linux platform, and provided a deb package, which is not wine, and can barely be used.

1. Download deb package

Go to Ubuntu Kylin's [download page] (https://www.ubuntukylin.com/applications/106-cn.html) https://www.ubuntukylin.com/applications/106-cn.html, right click to open the browser Debugging tool, find the download address of the deb package: https://archive.ubuntukylin.com/software/pool/partner/weixin_2.1.1_amd64.deb Download, directly click the button to download (just refresh the webpage, at least in my case , find a way to download it)

Wechat download

2. Command line installation

  • Backup /etc/lsb-release file, the deb package will change the content of this file (backup lsb-release file)

       sudo cp /etc/lsb-release /etc/lsb-release_bak

  • install

       ➜ sudo dpkg -i weixin_2.1.1_amd64.deb
   Selecting previously unselected package weixin.
   (Reading database ... 294966 files and directories currently installed.)
   Preparing to unpack weixin_2.1.1_amd64.deb...
   Unpacking weixin (2.1.1) ...
   Setting up weixin (2.1.1) ...
   Processing triggers for bamfdaemon (0.5.6+22.04.20220217-0ubuntu1) ...
   Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/bamf-2.index...
   Processing triggers for mailcap (3.70+nmu1ubuntu1) ...
   Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.36.0-1ubuntu3) ...
   Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.26-1ubuntu3) ...
   Processing triggers for hicolor-icon-theme (0.17-2) ...

  • Restore /etc/lsb-release file(Updated on 09/03/2023: If you want to use this version of WeChat, please do not restore this file, see the end of the article for specific reasons)

       ➜ cat /etc/lsb-release
   DISTRIB_ID=Kylin
   DISTRIB_RELEASE=V10
   DISTRIB_CODENAME=kylin
   DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Kylin V10 SP1"
   DISTRIB_KYLIN_RELEASE=V10
   DISTRIB_VERSION_TYPE=enterprise
   DISTRIB_VERSION_MODE=normal

   ➜ sudo cp /etc/lsb-release_bak /etc/lsb-release

   ➜ cat /etc/lsb-release
   DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
   DISTRIB_RELEASE=22.04
   DISTRIB_CODENAME=jammy
   DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 22.04 LTS"

3. Add en name at weixin.desktop

 ➜ cat /usr/share/applications/weixin.desktop
 [Desktop Entry]
 Name[tr]=weixin
 Name[en]=Wechat # add en name if you need
 Name[zh_CN]=WeChat
 Exec=/opt/weixin/weixin %U
 Terminal=false
 Type=Application
 Icon=weixin
 StartupWMClass=weixin
 Comment=WeChat desktop version
 Categories=Utility;

Add this line (add this line if you are english user), if it is an English environment: Name[en]=Wechat

4. Update icon information update-desktop-database (option)

 ➜ update-desktop-database

5. View Results (Let me see see ^_^)

Wechat desktop

Update on 09/03/2023: Recently, some readers have reported that the software cannot be logged in after scanning the QR code. After testing, the situation is true. The solution is to uninstall and reinstall. It turns out that this version of WeChat will verify whether the /etc/lsb-release file is a unified letter, and reinstall it will change it to meet the requirements. Manually funny, this layout is a bit small! See Arch wiki WeChat

 1. sudo apt remove weixin
 2. sudo dpkg -i weixin_2.1.1_amd64.deb

md5 check: d6827fc8a0a86ac88a3fd0068700095e weixin_2.1.1_amd64.deb

See Also:

Translations: