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How to Install and Switch Desktop Environments in Fedora

A desktop environment is the graphical interface that controls how you interact with your Linux system—think of it as the "face" of your OS. It includes the taskbar, file manager, window manager, and system settings. Fedora supports dozens of DEs, each with unique features:

  • GNOME: Simple, modern, and touch-friendly (default for Fedora Workstation).
  • KDE Plasma: Highly customizable, feature-rich, and polished.
  • Xfce: Lightweight, fast, and ideal for older hardware.
  • Cinnamon: Classic, Windows-like layout (fork of GNOME 3).

Installing multiple DEs lets you experiment with different workflows without reinstalling Fedora. In this guide, we’ll focus on the most popular options.

Last Updated: 2026-03

Fedora is a versatile, community-driven Linux distribution known for its bleeding-edge software and commitment to open-source principles. One of its greatest strengths is flexibility—you’re not locked into the default GNOME desktop environment. Whether you prefer a lightweight interface for older hardware, a highly customizable workspace, or a classic layout, Fedora makes it easy to install and switch between desktop environments (DEs).

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know: from prerequisites to installing popular DEs, switching between them, and troubleshooting common issues. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents#

  1. Introduction
  2. Prerequisites
  3. Understanding Desktop Environments & Fedora Package Groups
  4. Installing Popular Desktop Environments in Fedora
  5. Switching Between Installed Desktop Environments
  6. Managing Desktop Environments (Uninstalling)
  7. Troubleshooting Common Issues
  8. Conclusion
  9. References

Prerequisites#

Before you begin, ensure your system is ready:

  1. Update Fedora: Always update your system first to avoid compatibility issues. Open a terminal and run: 
    sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
  2. Sudo Privileges: You’ll need administrative access to install packages.
  3. Disk Space: Each DE requires ~1–2 GB of space (more if you install optional apps).
  4. Internet Connection: Packages are downloaded from Fedora’s repositories.

Understanding Desktop Environments & Fedora Package Groups#

Fedora uses package groups to simplify software installation. A package group bundles all related components of a DE (e.g., window manager, settings app, default themes) into a single unit. Instead of installing 50+ individual packages, you install one group.

Modern Fedora (DNF5) uses the @ prefix shorthand to install groups. For example, sudo dnf install @kde-desktop-environment installs the full KDE Plasma desktop.

To explore available groups:

  • List all available groups: 
    dnf group list
  • View details of a group (e.g., KDE Plasma): 
    dnf group info kde-desktop-environment

Let’s install the most widely used DEs. We’ll use Fedora’s package groups for each.

GNOME (Default)#

GNOME is Fedora’s default DE—you don’t need to install it unless you’ve removed it or are using a Fedora spin (e.g., Fedora Server).

Why GNOME? It’s designed for simplicity: a single top bar, no taskbar, and a "Activities" overview for launching apps.

Install Command:

sudo dnf install @gnome-desktop -y

KDE Plasma#

KDE Plasma is the most customizable DE available. It offers widgets, multiple desktop effects, and a "System Settings" app with thousands of options.

Why KDE? Perfect for power users who want full control over their workspace.

Install Command:
KDE uses two main groups:

  1. kde-desktop-environment: Installs the full KDE desktop including core DE and recommended apps.
  2. kde-desktop: Installs just the core KDE Plasma workspace (window manager, taskbar, settings).

To install the full KDE desktop:

sudo dnf install @kde-desktop-environment -y

To install only the core KDE Plasma workspace (optional):

sudo dnf install @kde-desktop -y

Xfce#

Xfce is a lightweight, fast DE that prioritizes performance over flashy features. It’s a favorite for older laptops or systems with limited RAM.

Why Xfce? Uses minimal system resources (typically <500 MB RAM at idle) while retaining a familiar, traditional layout.

Install Command:

sudo dnf install @xfce-desktop -y

LXQt#

LXQt is even lighter than Xfce—built for extremely low-resource systems (e.g., netbooks, older PCs). It’s a Qt-based fork of LXDE.

Why LXQt? Blazingly fast, with a simple interface. Ideal for systems with <2 GB RAM.

Install Command:

sudo dnf install @lxqt-desktop -y

Cinnamon#

Cinnamon is a user-friendly DE that mimics the classic Windows layout (taskbar at the bottom, start menu, system tray). It’s developed by the Linux Mint team but works seamlessly on Fedora.

Why Cinnamon? Familiar for Windows switchers—no learning curve.

Install Command:

sudo dnf install @cinnamon-desktop -y

MATE#

MATE is a fork of GNOME 2, which was replaced by GNOME 3 in 2011. It retains the classic "two-panel" layout (top bar for menus, bottom bar for tasks) loved by long-time Linux users.

Why MATE? Stable, familiar, and low-resource.

Install Command:

sudo dnf install @mate-desktop -y

Budgie#

Budgie is a modern, minimal DE developed by the Solus project. It combines GNOME’s simplicity with a more traditional taskbar and "Raven" sidebar for notifications/settings.

Why Budgie? Clean, fast, and easy to use—great for users who want GNOME without the "Activities" overview.

Install Command:

sudo dnf install @budgie-desktop -y

Switching Between Installed Desktop Environments#

Once you’ve installed multiple DEs, switching between them is straightforward. You’ll need to log out of your current session first.

Step 1: Log Out#

Click your username in the top-right corner of the screen (GNOME) or the "Log Out" option in the start menu (other DEs).

Step 2: Select Your DE at Login#

Fedora uses two main display managers (login screens):

  • GDM: GNOME’s display manager (default for Fedora Workstation).
  • SDDM: KDE’s display manager (used if you installed KDE Plasma).

For GDM (GNOME Login Screen)#

  1. Click your username to select it.
  2. Look for a gear icon in the bottom-right corner (see image below).
  3. Click the gear icon and choose your desired DE (e.g., "KDE Plasma Workspace" or "Xfce Session").
  4. Enter your password and log in.

For SDDM (KDE Login Screen)#

  1. Click your username.
  2. A "Session" menu will appear at the top of the screen.
  3. Select your desired DE from the menu.
  4. Enter your password and log in.

Example: Switching from GNOME to KDE#

If you’re using GDM:

  • Log out → Click username → Gear icon → "KDE Plasma Workspace" → Log in.

Managing Desktop Environments (Uninstalling)#

If you no longer need a DE, you can remove it using the same package group you installed it with.

Uninstall a DE#

For example, to uninstall KDE Plasma:

sudo dnf remove @kde-desktop-environment -y

To uninstall just the core KDE group (if you installed it separately):

sudo dnf group remove kde-desktop -y

Critical Warning#

Uninstalling a DE removes all packages in its group, including dependencies. If you uninstall your only DE, you’ll be stuck in a command-line interface (CLI). To fix this, reinstall a DE from the CLI:

sudo dnf install @gnome-desktop -y

Troubleshooting Common Issues#

Here are fixes for the most frequent problems:

1. DE Doesn’t Show in Login Menu#

  • Verify Installation: Check if the DE’s group is installed: 
    dnf group list --installed
  • Restart Display Manager:
    For GDM: 
    sudo systemctl restart gdm
    For SDDM: 
    sudo systemctl restart sddm

2. Performance Issues#

  • Use a Lightweight DE: If your system is slow, try Xfce or LXQt (they use fewer resources).
  • Check Resource Usage: Open a terminal and run htop to see which apps/processes are using RAM/CPU.

3. Conflicting Settings#

If your DE’s settings are glitchy (e.g., themes overlap), reset its configuration files. For example:

  • Reset GNOME: 
    dconf reset -f /org/gnome/
  • Reset KDE:
    Delete the ~/.config/plasma* and ~/.config/kde* folders (backup first!).

4. Fedora Silverblue / Immutable Variants#

If you're using Fedora Silverblue (GNOME), Kinoite (KDE Plasma), or another immutable variant, you cannot use dnf to install DEs. Instead, use rpm-ostree rebase to switch to a different immutable variant:

  1. Pin your current deployment so you can roll back: 
    sudo ostree admin pin 0
  2. List available branches: 
    ostree remote refs fedora
  3. Rebase to a different DE (e.g., switch to KDE Plasma): 
    rpm-ostree rebase fedora:fedora/$(rpm -E %fedora)/x86_64/kinoite
  4. Reboot to apply: 
    systemctl reboot

To roll back to your previous variant:

rpm-ostree rollback

Conclusion#

Fedora’s flexibility lets you tailor your desktop to your needs—whether you want a minimalist GNOME setup or a highly customized KDE workspace. Installing and switching DEs is simple, thanks to Fedora’s package groups.

Don’t be afraid to experiment! Try a few DEs and see which one fits your workflow best. And if you run into issues, the Fedora community (forums, Reddit, IRC) is always there to help.

References#

  1. Fedora Documentation: Installing and Switching Desktop Environments
  2. GNOME Official Website
  3. KDE Plasma Official Website
  4. Xfce Official Website
  5. Fedora Silverblue Documentation
  6. Fedora Spins (Pre-configured DE ISOs)

Let me know if you have any questions—happy experimenting! 🐧