How to install Pantheon desktop on Ubuntu 18.04 Linux Desktop

Pantheon desktop is a default desktop used by the ElementaryOS Linux system. It is hand-crafted specifically for the ElementaryOS Linux distribution and the result is extremely polished, fast performing and user friendly desktop environment.

At this point the Pantheon desktop is not a part of the standard Ubuntu repository. However, it can be easily installed by enabling the official ElementaryOS PPA repository within the Ubuntu 18.04 system.

In this How to install Pantheon desktop on Ubuntu tutorial you will learn

  • How to add the ElementaryOS PPA repository.
  • How to install the Pantheon desktop on Ubuntu 18.04.

Pantheon Desktop graphical user environment on Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver

Pantheon Desktop graphical user environment on Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver.

Software Requirements and Conventions Used

Software Requirements and Linux Command Line Conventions
Category Requirements, Conventions or Software Version Used
System Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver
Software Pantheon 5.0
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

How to install Pantheon desktop on Ubuntu 18.04 Linux Desktop



  1. Add the ElementaryOS PPA repository:
    $ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:elementary-os/stable
    
  2. Begin the Pantheon Desktop installation
  3. $ sudo apt install elementary-desktop
    
  4. Select default display manager. Pantheon desktop will attempt to install lightdm as a default display manager.
    What is display manager

    What is display manager?

    Select lightdm and hit OK button

    Select lightdm as a default display manager

    Select lightdm as a default display manager.

  5. Reboot your system.
  6. Select default desktop environment as Pantheon desktop.


    Select Pantheon desktop before login in

    Select Pantheon desktop before login in.

  7. Enter user credentials and login:
    Enter user credentials

    Enter user credentials.

  8. Upon successful login, you should now be greeted with the Pantheon desktop environment. Enjoy!