How to Install GNOME Desktop on Ubuntu 24.04
Installing the GNOME desktop environment on Ubuntu 24.04 (Noble Numbat) swaps your standard desktop layout for a clean, streamlined interface built around simple windows, icons, and menus. GNOME is a visual workspace that lets you click and drag instead of typing commands in the terminal.
You can set up this desktop on any PC running Ubuntu 24.04 by using a few quick commands in your terminal window. The process takes about 10 minutes depending on your internet speed, and you can switch back to your original desktop layout anytime you want.
Install GNOME by opening the terminal and running either ‘sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop-minimal’ for a core installation or ‘sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop’ for a full suite. After the installation completes, reboot your system to access the graphical login screen.
Why Install GNOME on Ubuntu 24.04 Server?
Installing GNOME on Ubuntu 24.04 Server transforms the command-line system into a user-friendly desktop. Working with windows and icons makes running applications and managing files visually cleaner.
Prerequisites
Before proceeding, make sure your system is up to date. Open your terminal and run these commands with administrative privileges:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
Installation Variants: Minimal vs. Full
When installing GNOME, two primary package variants exist. The ubuntu-desktop-minimal package installs only the core components, saving disk space and system resources. In contrast, the full ubuntu-desktop package includes extra software like office suites and media players.
Option 1Minimal Installation
sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop-minimal
Option 2Full Installation
sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop
What Happens When Done?
After installing GNOME, your system relies on a display manager (like `gdm3`) and a graphical display server (such as `xorg` or Wayland) to handle the interface, replacing the text prompt with a visual login screen after a reboot.
sudo reboot
Ubuntu GNOME Desktop Login Screen
Ubuntu GNOME Desktop Environment
How to Switch Between GNOME and CLI
Switching between the full GNOME desktop and the command-line interface (CLI) on Ubuntu 24.04 helps conserve computer resources. Switching to multi-user target mode using sudo systemctl set-default multi-user.target disables the GUI on boot. Returning to the graphical desktop environment later requires only a single command.
sudo systemctl set-default multi-user.target
To return to the GUI later, run:
Installing GNOME on Ubuntu 24.04 transforms the server into a desktop environment. Users can choose a minimal or full GNOME desktop setup. The full GNOME desktop setup uses approximately 2GB more memory than the minimal option. Switching between these GNOME setup modes takes only a few terminal commands.
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