How to Install KDE Plasma Desktop

  
By Tim Chesonis •  Updated: 01/18/23 •  8 min read

KDE Plasma is the best Linux Desktop environment for those who like to “tinker” and configure their Desktop. KDE is by far, the most configurable linux desktop, without question. The greatest thing about KDE is that you can configure everything to your liking, and then after a week or two, when you get bored with the current desktop layout, you can change everything all over again to something completely new! If you are that kind of person, then KDE is probably a great fit for you.

The process for installing the KDE Plasma desktop on a Linux operating system will vary depending on the specific distribution you are using. Here are general instructions on how to install KDE on each of the following distributions.

Arch Linux
Debian
EndeavourOS
Fedora
Garuda Linux
KaOS Linux
Manjaro
MX Linux
OpenSUSE
Ubuntu

Step-by-Step instructions on how to install KDE on Arch Linux:

  1. Open a terminal window and update the package manager with the command sudo pacman -Syu.
  2. Install the KDE plasma packages and related dependencies by running the command sudo pacman -S plasma-desktop kde-applications.
  3. Once the installation is complete, you can choose to log out and log back in to start the KDE plasma desktop or you can start the desktop with the command startkde.
  4. To make KDE the default desktop environment on login, open the display manager configuration file with the command sudo nano /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf.
  5. In the configuration file, change the line that says user-session=default to user-session=plasma.
  6. Save the file and restart your computer.
  7. Log in and you should now be presented with the KDE plasma desktop.

Step-by-Step instructions on how to install KDE on Debian:

  1. Open a terminal window and update the package manager with the command sudo apt update.
  2. Install the KDE plasma packages and related dependencies by running the command sudo apt install kde-plasma-desktop kde-standard kde-full.
  3. Once the installation is complete, you can choose to log out and log back in to start the KDE plasma desktop.
  4. To make KDE the default desktop environment on login, you can use the command sudo update-alternatives --config x-session-manager and select the option number for the KDE session.
  5. If you want to use a display manager such as gdm, lightdm or sddm, you will also need to install the package for the display manager of your choice and then select it as the default display manager by running sudo dpkg-reconfigure <display-manager> and selecting the display manager you want to use.
  6. Save the changes and restart your computer.
  7. Log in and you should now be presented with the KDE plasma desktop.

Step-by-Step instructions on how to install KDE on EndeavourOS:

  1. Open a terminal window and update your system by running the command “sudo pacman -Syu”
  2. Install the KDE Plasma desktop environment by running the command “sudo pacman -S plasma-desktop”
  3. Once the installation is complete, log out of your current session.
  4. At the login screen, click the gear icon next to the user name and select “Plasma” from the list of available desktop environments.
  5. Log in to your new KDE Plasma desktop.
  6. To install additional KDE applications, run the command “sudo pacman -S kde-applications”
  7. To install additional plasma widgets and themes, you can use the command “sudo pacman -S plasma-widgets-addons” and “sudo pacman -S plasma-themes-addons”
  8. Once the installation is complete, you can customize your new KDE desktop by going to the settings menu or by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting “Desktop Settings”.

Step-by-Step instructions on how to install KDE on Fedora:

  1. Open a terminal window.
  2. Run the command sudo dnf install @kde-desktop to install the KDE Plasma desktop environment and all of its dependencies.
  3. After the installation is complete, log out of your current session.
  4. At the login screen, click the gear icon to access the session options.
  5. Select “Plasma” as your desktop environment and log in.
  6. Once logged in, you should now be using KDE Plasma as your desktop environment.

Step-by-Step instructions on how to install KDE on Garuda Linux:

  1. Open a terminal window and update your system by running the command “sudo pacman -Syu”
  2. Install the KDE Plasma desktop environment by running the command “sudo pacman -S plasma”
  3. Once the installation is complete, log out of your current session.
  4. At the login screen, click the gear icon next to the user name and select “Plasma” from the list of available desktop environments.
  5. Log in to your new KDE Plasma desktop.
  6. To install additional KDE applications, run the command “sudo pacman -S kde-applications”
  7. To install additional plasma widgets and themes, you can use the command “sudo pacman -S plasma-widgets-addons” and “sudo pacman -S plasma-themes-addons”
  8. Once the installation is complete, you can customize your new KDE desktop by going to the settings menu or by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting “Desktop Settings”.

Step-by-Step instructions on how to install KDE on KaOS:

  1. Open a terminal window and update your system by running the command “sudo pacman -Syu”
  2. Install the KDE Plasma desktop environment by running the command “sudo pacman -S plasma”
  3. Once the installation is complete, log out of your current session.
  4. At the login screen, click the gear icon next to the user name and select “Plasma” from the list of available desktop environments.
  5. Log in to your new KDE Plasma desktop.
  6. To install additional KDE applications, run the command “sudo pacman -S kde-applications”
  7. To install additional plasma widgets and themes, you can use the command “sudo pacman -S plasma-widgets-addons” and “sudo pacman -S plasma-themes-addons”
  8. Once the installation is complete, you can customize your new KDE desktop by going to the settings menu or by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting “Desktop Settings”.

Step-by-Step instructions on how to install KDE on Manjaro:

  1. Open a terminal window and update your system by running the command “sudo pacman -Syu”
  2. Install the KDE Plasma desktop environment by running the command “sudo pacman -S plasma-desktop”
  3. Once the installation is complete, log out of your current session.
  4. At the login screen, click the gear icon next to the user name and select “Plasma” from the list of available desktop environments.
  5. Log in to your new KDE Plasma desktop.
  6. To install additional KDE applications, run the command “sudo pacman -S kde-applications”
  7. To install additional plasma widgets and themes, you can use the command “sudo pacman -S plasma-widgets-addons” and “sudo pacman -S plasma-themes-addons”
  8. Once the installation is complete, you can customize your new KDE desktop by going to the settings menu or by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting “Desktop Settings”.

Step-by-Step instructions on how to install KDE on MX Linux:

  1. Open a terminal window and update your system by running the command “sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade”
  2. Install the KDE Plasma desktop environment by running the command “sudo apt install kde-plasma-desktop”
  3. Once the installation is complete, log out of your current session.
  4. At the login screen, click the gear icon next to the user name and select “Plasma” from the list of available desktop environments.
  5. Log in to your new KDE Plasma desktop.
  6. To install additional KDE applications, run the command “sudo apt install kde-standard”
  7. To install additional plasma widgets and themes, you can use the command “sudo apt install plasma-widgets-addons” and “sudo apt install plasma-themes-addons”
  8. Once the installation is complete, you can customize your new KDE desktop by going to the settings menu or by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting “Desktop Settings”.

Step-by-Step instructions on how to install KDE on OpenSUSE:

  1. Open a terminal window by pressing the “CTRL + ALT + T” keys.
  2. Update your package list by running the command “sudo zypper refresh”.
  3. Install the KDE Plasma desktop environment by running the command “sudo zypper install -t pattern kde”.
  4. After the installation is complete, log out of your current session.
  5. At the login screen, click the gear icon in the top-right corner and select “Plasma” from the list of available desktop environments.
  6. Log in with your username and password to start using the KDE Plasma desktop environment.

Step-by-Step instructions on how to install KDE on Ubuntu:

  1. Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for “terminal” in the application launcher.
  2. Use the following command to update the package list: sudo apt update
  3. Use the following command to install the KDE Plasma desktop and additional packages: sudo apt install kde-plasma-desktop
  4. After the installation is complete, log out of your current session.
  5. On the login screen, click on the settings icon (gear icon) and select “Plasma” from the list of available desktops.
  6. Log in and the KDE Plasma desktop should now be running.

Tim Chesonis

Tim has been helping people with computers needs for several years, and he loves to help people succeed. He brings a wealth of wisdom and insight from an entrepreneur's perspective and enjoys freelance writing. In fact, when he's not writing an article, you might find him binge-watching Suits or formatting his computer . . . again, just for fun. To learn more about Tim, click here.