How to Install Unity Desktop on Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04, or 20.04 - LinuxCapable (2024)

Unity Desktop Environment presents a sleek and efficient alternative to the GNOME default on Ubuntu desktop installations. Its distinctive features and user-centric design make it a compelling choice for those seeking a more streamlined and customizable interface.

Key Features of Unity Desktop Environment:

• Unified Dash: Quickly access applications, files, and settings with a powerful search feature integrated into the launcher.
• Customizable Launcher: Tailor the application launcher to your preferences, ensuring your most-used apps are always within reach.
• HUD (Heads-Up Display): Execute commands and find menu options without navigating traditional menus, increasing productivity.
• Workspaces: Efficiently manage multiple tasks with the ability to switch between virtual desktops.
• Compiz Window Manager: Enjoy smooth animations and advanced window management features for an enhanced visual experience.

Benefits of Switching to Unity:

• Improved Productivity: The intuitive design and advanced search capabilities allow faster access to tools and applications.
• Customizability: Greater control over the desktop layout and behavior to suit individual workflow needs.
• Resource Efficiency: Optimized to run smoothly even on older hardware, providing a responsive user experience.

Transitioning to Unity from GNOME can offer a fresh perspective and tailored functionality for your Ubuntu desktop. Next, we will guide you through installing and configuring Unity, ensuring a seamless and rewarding switch.

Prerequisites for Installing Unity Desktop Environment

To successfully install the Unity desktop environment on Ubuntu, ensure you meet the following requirements:

System Requirements and Supported Ubuntu Versions

Additional Requirements

Install Unity Desktop via Terminal Commands

Update Ubuntu Before Unity Desktop Installation

Before installing the Unity desktop environment, update your Ubuntu operating system to have all existing packages up-to-date.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Proceed with Unity Desktop Installation

When installing the Unity desktop environment, you can choose between minimal, standard, or complete options, each catering to different needs and preferences.

• Minimal Installation: Provides only the essentials to run Unity, perfect for users desiring a lightweight, fast desktop environment.
• Standard Installation: Includes commonly used applications and features, suitable for most users.
• Complete Installation: Encompasses all features and applications, ideal for users seeking a fully-featured desktop environment.

For users of Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and onwards, ensure successful login to Unity by installing the necessary package with the following command:

sudo apt install dbus-x11

Option 1: Install Unity DE Minimal

The first installation option is minimal installation. Run the following command to install.

sudo apt install ubuntu-unity-desktop --no-install-recommends

The minimal installation option for the Unity desktop environment ideally suits testing purposes or individuals with older hardware. This option includes only the essential components needed to run the environment, requiring an 80-100MB download and an additional 280-300MB of space for installation.

Option 2: Install Unity DE Standard

Next, you can install the standard installation of Unity desktop environment with the following command.

sudo apt install ubuntu-unity-desktop

The most commonly recommended option for the average desktop user is the standard Unity desktop environment installation, offering a balanced mix of features and performance. The installation package requires a download of approximately 250-300MB and occupies 1600-1700MB of space.

Option 3: Install Unity DE Complete

The last option is to install the whole experience of the Unity desktop environment with the following command.

sudo apt install ubuntu-unity-desktop --install-suggests

Installing the complete Unity desktop environment gives you access to all features and applications, but it may burden older systems with unnecessary bloat. Newer methods won’t necessarily benefit either, as the installation includes potentially unneeded applications like Firebird and jackd2. Consider installing these applications separately. This installation package demands a substantial 3GB download and requires an extra 16GB of space. Opt for the standard installation for a balanced blend of features and performance without specific installation needs.

Select Desktop Environment for Unity DE

Next, a prompt window will ask about the display manager during installation. The display manager, or lightdm, manages a Linux system’s graphical login screen and user sessions. The prompt will ask you to choose between using lightdm or another display manager, such as gdm or sddm.

The default option is lightdm for the Unity desktop environment; select this option.

Once complete, you must reboot your system for the new changes to take effect.

reboot

Log in to Unity DE on Ubuntu

After restarting your desktop, you will arrive at your login screen. In the top right-hand corner of the login entry box, select the Unity session as the default option and log in.

Upon logging in, you’ll notice several changes to the user interface, including alterations in color and background. You can customize these features further through the Appearance menu. You’ll also observe modifications in the layout, launcher, and other unique Unity features.

Note: Remember, the screenshot examples will vary between LTS releases and short-term releases, given the version of the Unity desktop environment that was shipped with it.

Managing Ubuntu Desktop Environment

Switching Default Display Managers

To switch back to using GDM and GNOME in the future, open a terminal and run the command to reconfigure the default display manager after switching from Unity and LightDM.

sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm

Remove Unity Desktop Environment

There may be instances where you need to remove Ubuntu Unity from your system, whether to try a different desktop environment or revert to a previous configuration. Follow these steps to delete Ubuntu Unity:

Open a terminal and execute the following command:

sudo apt autoremove '^unity' --purge

This command will remove Ubuntu Unity and purge all associated files from your system, restoring your desktop environment to its previous state.

Re-install Gnome Desktop Environment (if needed)

After removing Ubuntu Unity, reinstalling the GNOME Desktop Environment may be necessary, as the uninstallation process might have removed some essential GNOME packages.

To reinstall GNOME, update your system’s package list and then install the ubuntu-gnome-desktop package with the following commands:

sudo apt install --reinstall ubuntu-gnome-desktopsudo systemctl enable gdm3 --now

After completing these steps, reboot your system to apply all changes. Use the following command to reboot:

reboot

Installing the Unity desktop environment on Ubuntu is straightforward. You update the package manager, install Unity with the necessary dependencies, and configure the default display manager. After a system reboot, you’ll have access to Unity’s familiar and user-friendly interface with its many features and tools.