Please note that Synapse is only supported on Ubuntu version 8.10 (Intrepid) or later. If you are running an older version, you’ll need to upgrade first.

1. Save this key file to your desktop.
2. At the top of your screen, select System → Administration → Software Sources.
3. On the Ubuntu Software tab, make sure that both main and universe are checked.
4. On the Authentication tab, click the Import Key File button and select the key file you saved in step 1.
5. On the Third-Party Software tab, click the Add button, and paste the appropriate APT line for your version of Ubuntu:Intrepid 8.10:

   deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/firerabbit/ppa/ubuntu intrepid main

   Jaunty 9.04:

   deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/firerabbit/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main

6. After adding the source, press the the Close button at the bottom of the Software Sources window. When asked, click Refresh.
7. Back at the top of your screen, select Applications → Add/Remove. Search for synapse, then in the results check the box next to Synapse Instant Messenger, then click Apply Changes.
8. NOTE: Some users have reported Synapse does not show up under Add/Remove. If you are unable to find Synapse using Add/Remove or Synaptic, Select Applications → Accessories → Terminal, and then type sudo apt-get install synapse. We hope to have a solution to this problem soon. If you have any problems, please see the Support page.

If you’re a GNOME user, you may want to enable the GTK theme for Qt using qtconfig-qt4. If on Intrepid, install the qgtkstyle package.

You can learn more about adding repositories and installing software in the ubuntu documentation.

Prebuilt packages for openSUSE will be available soon.

Prebuilt packages for Foresight will be available soon. If you’d like to compile Synapse from source, add the kde.rpath.org@fl:2-kde4.2-devel repository.

From a terminal, run the following command:

yaourt -S --noconfirm synapse-git