How to install MATE desktop on Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa Linux

28 April 2020 by Lubos Rendek

The objective of this guide is to install the MATE desktop as an alternative desktop environment on Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa Desktop/Server Linux.

In this tutorial you will learn:

How to install tasksel
How to install MATE desktop
How to switch to lightdm display manager
How to login to MATE desktop

MATE desktop on Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa Linux

MATE desktop on Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa Linux

Software Requirements and Conventions Used

Software Requirements and Linux Command Line Conventions
Category	Requirements, Conventions or Software Version Used
System	Installed Ubuntu 20.04 or upgraded Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa
Software	tasksel
Other	Privileged access to your Linux system as root or via the `sudo` command.
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

Install MATE desktop on Ubuntu 20.04 step by step instructions

We will be using the tasksel command to install the MATE desktop. In case the tasksel command is not available on your system you can install it by:
```
$ sudo apt install tasksel
```

Execute the following command to begin the MATE desktop installation:
```
$ sudo tasksel install ubuntu-mate-desktop
OR
$ sudo tasksel install ubuntu-mate-core 
```
MATE desktop installation command on Ubuntu 20.04

Wait for tasksel to complete the MATE desktop installation

Lightdm configuration information

Use TAB to select lightdm and hit ok button
Reboot your Ubuntu 20.04 system:

Reboot your Ubuntu 20.04 system
Select Desktop session as MATE:

Open Desktop session selection menu

Select MATE Desktop, enter your password and hit login button

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