Objective
The objective is to install the Unity desktop environment and perform a switch from the default 18.04 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
sudocommand - $ - requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user
Other Versions of this Tutorial
Ubuntu 20.04 (Focal Fossa)Instructions
Install Unity desktop environment
The Unity desktop manager has been the default Ubuntu desktop manager for number of years since April 2011. This has changed, however the Unity is still available for an installation. The Installation of Unity desktop manager is simple as:$ sudo apt update $ sudo apt install ubuntu-unity-desktop
Any selection of display manager should work here. However, note that
lightdm is a default display manager for the Unity desktop. Subscribe to Linux Career NEWSLETTER and receive latest Linux news, jobs, career advice and tutorials.
Switch to Unity desktop environment
Once you finish the installation, logout your user and select Unity from the login screen. You will need to first click on your name before you select Unity for your next session:
If you have multiple desktop environemnts installed then make sure to select
Unity desktop manager before you log in. Click on the Ubuntu icon.
Confirm that Unity is selected as default desktop environment. Click on the arrow to return to login screen.
Unity desktop on Ubuntu 18.04 bionic beaver
