How to install Mate desktop on Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver Linux

Objective

The objective is to install Mate desktop environment as an alternative desktop environment.

See also our article: The 8 Best Ubuntu Desktop Environments (18.04 Bionic Beaver Linux) for more desktop environment choices.

Operating System and Software Versions

  • Operating System: – Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver

Requirements

Administrative root/sudo permissions.

Conventions

  • # – requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command
  • $ – requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user

Other Versions of this Tutorial

Ubuntu 20.04 (Focal Fossa)

Instructions

Prerequisites

We will be using the tasksel command to install Mate desktop environment. In case the tasksel command is not available on your system you can install it by:

$ sudo apt install tasksel

Install Mate desktop environment

Execute the following linux command to begin installation of the Mate desktop:

$ sudo apt update
$ sudo tasksel install ubuntu-mate-desktop

display manager information

select display manager lightDM



Select a display manager. lightdm is the default display manager for the Mate desktop.

restart system

Once the installation is finished restart your system.

login to Mate desktop environment

Login with your existing credentials.

Mate desktop environment ready