How to Install GNOME on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Focal Fossa

This practical guide walks through how to install GNOME on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS focal fossa, explains the main requirements, and highlights common issues that may appear along the way.

Requires software and conventions to be used

• System : Installed or upgraded to Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa
• Software : GNOME Shell 3.34.1 and above
• Other requirement : Access to Linux system as root or via sudo command.
• Conventions :
  • # - requires given Linux commands to be executed with root privileges, either directly as the root user or by using the sudo command
  • $ - requires given Linux commands to be executed as an unprivileged, regular user.

Step by step guide to install GNOME on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Focal Fossa

Install GNOME Vanilla on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Focal Fossa

The Vanilla GNOME version is an installation of GNOME on the desktop. It lacks most of the software you'd expect by default, however resource requirements are minimal.

To install the GNOME desktop Vanilla version, execute the following command:

$ sudo apt install GNOME-session gdm3

All done. Please restart the system:

$ sudo reboot

Fully install GNOME desktop on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Focal Fossa

The following section will give you step-by-step instructions on how to install a full GNOME desktop on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Focal Fossa.

The easiest way to install GNOME desktop fully is by using the tasksel command. First, make sure that the tasksel command is available on your system:

$ sudo apt install tasksel

Next, use the tasksel command to install GNOME desktop:

$ sudo tasksel install ubuntu-desktop

All done. Please restart Ubuntu 20.04 system:

$ sudo reboot