How to Install and Switch Desktop Environments in Fedora

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
   • GNOME (Default)
   • KDE Plasma
   • Xfce
   • LXQt
   • Cinnamon
   • MATE
   • Budgie
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 update -y

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.

To explore package groups:

• List all available groups:

  dnf group list

• View details of a group (e.g., KDE Plasma):

  dnf group info "KDE Plasma Workspaces"

Installing Popular Desktop Environments in Fedora#

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 group install "GNOME Desktop Environment" -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 Plasma Workspaces: Installs the core DE (window manager, taskbar, settings).
2. KDE Applications: Installs the full suite of KDE apps (Dolphin file manager, Kate text editor, Krita).

To install the core DE:

sudo dnf group install "KDE Plasma Workspaces" -y

To add KDE apps (optional):

sudo dnf group install "KDE Applications" -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 group install "Xfce Desktop Environment" -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 group 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 group 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 group install "MATE Desktop Environment" -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 group 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 group remove "KDE Plasma Workspaces" -y

To uninstall KDE apps (if you installed them):

sudo dnf group remove "KDE Applications" -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 group install "GNOME Desktop Environment" -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 Issues#

If you’re using Fedora Silverblue (immutable variant), use rpm-ostree instead of dnf:

• Install KDE Plasma:

  rpm-ostree install @kde-plasma

• Reboot to apply changes:

  systemctl reboot

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: Package Groups
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! 🐧