How To Install Cinnamon on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

The Cinnamon desktop environment, known for its traditional interface and extensive customization options, has gained popularity among Linux users seeking a familiar and intuitive user experience. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of installing Cinnamon on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, enabling you to enjoy the benefits of this feature-rich desktop environment on your system.

What is Cinnamon?

Cinnamon is a versatile desktop environment that originated as a fork of GNOME 3 by the Linux Mint team. It aims to provide users with a classic desktop experience reminiscent of the Windows interface while offering modern features and enhancements. Cinnamon’s user-friendly design, coupled with its extensive customization capabilities, has made it a preferred choice for both novice and experienced Linux users alike.

System Requirements

Before proceeding with the installation of Cinnamon on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, ensure that your system meets the following minimum requirements:

• 2 GHz dual-core processor or better
• 4 GB RAM (recommended)
• 20 GB of free disk space
• 3D capable graphics card with at least 256 MB of video memory

Preparing Your System

To ensure a smooth installation process, it is essential to update your Ubuntu system to the latest stable release. Open a terminal and execute the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Next, enable the Universe repository, which contains the necessary packages for installing Cinnamon. Use the following command:

sudo add-apt-repository universe

Installing Cinnamon Desktop

With your system updated and the Universe repository enabled, you can now proceed with installing the Cinnamon desktop environment. Follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Open a terminal window.
2. Update the package lists by running the command:

sudo apt update

3. Install the Cinnamon desktop environment by executing:

sudo apt install cinnamon-desktop-environment

The installation process will download and install all the necessary packages and dependencies required for Cinnamon to function properly.

Alternatively, if you prefer to use the latest daily builds of Cinnamon, you can add the official Cinnamon PPA to your system. However, keep in mind that daily builds may be less stable compared to the version available in the Ubuntu repositories. To add the PPA, use the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:cinnamon-team/cinnamon-daily
sudo apt update
sudo apt install cinnamon-desktop-environment

Logging into Cinnamon

Once the installation is complete, you can log out of your current session or restart your computer. At the login screen, click on the session selector (usually represented by a gear icon) and choose “Cinnamon” from the list of available desktop environments. Enter your login credentials and press Enter to log into the Cinnamon desktop.

If you wish to switch back to your previous desktop environment, simply log out and select the desired environment from the session selector at the login screen.

Customizing Cinnamon

One of the standout features of Cinnamon is its extensive customization options. You can personalize various aspects of your desktop to suit your preferences:

• Themes: Cinnamon supports a wide range of themes that allow you to change the appearance of your desktop, windows, and icons. You can browse and install themes from the Cinnamon Spices website or through the built-in theme manager.
• Applets: Applets are small applications that reside on the Cinnamon panel, providing quick access to various functions and information. You can add, remove, or rearrange applets to customize your panel layout.
• Panel Customization: Cinnamon allows you to modify the panel’s position, size, and transparency. You can also add or remove panel launchers and configure hot corners for quick access to specific actions.

To access these customization options, right-click on the desktop and select “Cinnamon Settings” or navigate to the “System Settings” from the application menu.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While the installation process of Cinnamon on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS is generally straightforward, you may encounter some common issues. Here are a few troubleshooting tips:

• Dependency Errors: If you encounter dependency errors during the installation, ensure that your system is up to date and the Universe repository is enabled. Run sudo apt update and try the installation again.
• Display Manager Conflicts: If you experience issues with the display manager after installing Cinnamon, you may need to reconfigure it. Use the command sudo dpkg-reconfigure lightdm to set LightDM as the default display manager.
• Cinnamon Not Appearing in Session Selector: If Cinnamon does not appear in the session selector at the login screen, restart your computer and check again. If the issue persists, reinstall the cinnamon-desktop-environment package.

If you encounter any other issues or have specific questions, refer to the Cinnamon documentation or seek support from the Linux Mint community forums.

Uninstalling Cinnamon

If you decide to remove Cinnamon from your Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system, you can do so using the following command:

sudo apt remove cinnamon

This command will remove the Cinnamon desktop environment and its associated packages. If you added any PPAs during the installation process, make sure to remove them as well using the sudo add-apt-repository --remove command followed by the PPA URL.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Cinnamon. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the Cinnamon Desktop environment on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Cinnamon website.