How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux

This wikiHow teaches you how to install the GNOME graphical user interface (GUI) on a computer that's running Arch Linux. GNOME is one of the most popular GUIs for Arch Linux, as Arch Linux has no GUI by default. Make sure that you're...

Part 1 of 3:

Setting up Sound

  1. Picture 1 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Make sure that you're using Arch Linux. If you have a dual-boot system, you may need to switch to Arch Linux by restarting your computer, selecting Arch Linux when prompted, and pressing ↵ Enter.
    1. If you restart your computer, you will have to enter your username and password to log into Arch Linux before continuing.
  2. Picture 2 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Enter the sound package download command. Type in sudo pacman -S alsa-utils and press ↵ Enter.
  3. Picture 3 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Enter your root password when prompted. This password may be different than the one that you use to log into your system. Type in your password, then press ↵ Enter.
  4. Picture 4 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Confirm the download. Type in y and press ↵ Enter. The Arch Linux sound package will begin downloading.
  5. Picture 5 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Enter the sound configuration command. Type in alsamixer and press ↵ Enter. You should see a series of vertical bars appear on your screen.
  6. Picture 6 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Configure your computer's sound levels. Select a sound level (e.g., master) using the right or left arrow keys, then raise or lower the volume of that level by pressing the up or down arrow key. When you're done setting the levels, press F6, select your computer's sound card name, and press ↵ Enter.
  7. Picture 7 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Exit the sound configuration page. Press the Esc key to do so.
  8. Picture 8 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Test your speakers. Type in speaker-test -c 2 and press ↵ Enter. This will prompt Linux to test your speakers to make sure that they're working properly.
  9. Picture 9 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Complete the process. Press Ctrl+C (or ⌘ Command+C on a Mac) to do so.
Part 2 of 3:

Installing the X Window System

  1. Picture 10 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Enter the X Window download command. Before you can install a "desktop environment" (a GUI) on your computer, you'll need to install the base for it. Type sudo pacman -S xorg-server xorg-xinit xorg-server-utils into the command line and press ↵ Enter.
  2. Picture 11 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Confirm the download. When prompted, type in y and press ↵ Enter.
  3. Picture 12 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Enter the command to install desktop features. Type in sudo pacman -S xorg-twm xorg-xclock xterm and press ↵ Enter.
  4. Picture 13 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Enter your password, then confirm the download. When prompted, type in your root password and press ↵ Enter, then type in y and press ↵ Enter.
  5. Picture 14 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Wait for the installation to complete. This may take a few minutes since the packages are being downloaded onto your computer.
  6. Picture 15 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Start the X Window System. Type in startx and press ↵ Enter. Doing so will open the X Window System command line, from which point you can install the GNOME GUI.
Part 3 of 3:

Installing GNOME

  1. Picture 16 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Enter the DejaVu font download command. This font is crucial for the X Window System to work properly. Type in sudo pacman -S ttf-dejavu and press ↵ Enter.[1]
  2. Picture 17 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Enter your root password. When prompted, type in your root password and press ↵ Enter.
  3. Picture 18 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Confirm the download. Type in y and press ↵ Enter.
  4. Picture 19 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Wait for the font to finish installing. This should only take a few minutes.
  5. Picture 20 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Enter the GNOME download command. Type in sudo pacman -S gnome and press ↵ Enter.
  6. Picture 21 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Confirm the download. When prompted, type in y and press ↵ Enter. GNOME will begin downloading.
    1. This process can take anywhere from a couple of minutes to a couple of hours depending on your Internet speed.
  7. Picture 22 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Install an updated command line. The GNOME command line doesn't work in several versions of Arch Linux, but you can install a different one to compensate. To do so:
    1. Type in sudo pacman -S lxterminal and press ↵ Enter.
    2. Enter your root password when prompted.
    3. Type in y and press ↵ Enter.
  8. Picture 23 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Enable the display manager. Type in sudo systemctl enable gdm.service and press ↵ Enter.
  9. Picture 24 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Enter your password when prompted. You'll have to enter your root password at least twice during the display manager authentication. Once you see the phrase "AUTHENTICATION COMPLETE" at the bottom of the page, you can proceed.
  10. Picture 25 of How to Install Gnome on Arch Linux
    Reboot your computer. Type in reboot and press ↵ Enter. Your computer will restart itself; once it finishes rebooting, you should be greeted with a login page where you can select your name using the mouse, enter your password, and proceed into your newly interfaced computer desktop.
Update 04 March 2020
enterpresstypepassword

You should read it

Maybe you are interested

Category

System

Mac OS X

Hardware

Game

Tech info

Technology

Science

Life

Application

Electric

Program

Mobile