I’ve been diving into customizing my Ubuntu 20.04 setup lately, and I recently came across the Unity desktop environment. I used it way back in the day and still have a soft spot for it. I love the way it looks and feels, plus those quick shortcuts really boosted my workflow. I know it’s not the default anymore, but I hear it’s still possible to install it on newer versions.
So, I’m kinda excited to get it back, but I’m not entirely sure where to start. I’ve seen some old tutorials floating around, but they seem a bit outdated or not quite fit for my current version of Ubuntu. It would really help if someone could break down the steps for me in a simple way. Like, do I need to change any settings first, or do I just dive straight into the terminal?
And what about the packages? I remember needing a few specific ones to make everything run smoothly. Do I have to worry about compatibility, or is Unity stable enough to play nice with the newer features of Ubuntu 20.04?
Also, I’ve read that after installation, there might be some tweaks I need to do, especially for things like themes or panel settings. Do I have to manually install any additional tools to get Unity looking just right, or will it mostly be plug-and-play once it’s installed?
Honestly, any step-by-step guidance would be super appreciated—along with any tips or tricks that you’ve found helpful in your own experience. I’m guessing there’s a good chance someone here has gone through this process already. Would really love to hear your thoughts and any potential hiccups you encountered along the way. I’m eager to get my old Unity feel back, so let’s do this! Thanks!
How to Install Unity on Ubuntu 20.04
So, you wanna bring back Unity, huh? That’s awesome! Here’s a simple breakdown of what you need to do to get Unity up and running on your Ubuntu 20.04 setup.
Step 1: Open the Terminal
No need to change any fancy settings first, just dive into the terminal. You can open it by searching for “Terminal” in your applications or using the shortcut
Ctrl + Alt + T
.Step 2: Install Unity
Type the following command to install Unity:
Hit
Enter
and let it do its thing. It might ask for your password—just type it in (you won’t see it as you type) and hitEnter
again.Step 3: Choose your Display Manager
During the installation, you might be asked to choose a display manager. It’s usually
lightdm
for Unity. Just use the arrow keys to select it and pressEnter
.Step 4: Log Out and Switch to Unity
Once the installation is done, log out of your current session. Now at the login screen, click on the little gear icon next to your username. You’ll see a list of available desktop environments. Select “Unity” from the list and enter your password to log in.
Step 5: Tweaking Unity
After logging in, you might wanna tweak some settings to get Unity looking just the way you like it. One tool you can install is
Unity Tweak Tool
. Use the terminal again:This tool helps you set up themes, icons, and other settings to customize your Unity experience!
Step 6: Themes and Customization
For themes and icons, you can find loads online. Websites like GNOME-Look have great options. Just download what you like and follow instructions usually included in the download to install them.
Compatibility Issues
Most of the time, Unity works just fine with 20.04. However, sometimes there might be a few glitches here and there. If things don’t seem to work right, feel free to hop on forums or check out the Ubuntu community for solutions.
Final Tips
Don’t hesitate to explore settings! And take it slow—if something doesn’t feel right, there’s usually a fix available. Enjoy the nostalgia of Unity!
To install the Unity desktop environment on your Ubuntu 20.04 system, the process begins with opening a terminal. You can simply press
Ctrl + Alt + T
to bring up the terminal. Start by updating your package list with the commandsudo apt update
to ensure you have the latest information about available packages. Next, you can install Unity by runningsudo apt install ubuntu-unity-desktop
. During the installation, it may prompt you to choose a display manager; you can select either LightDM or GDM, but LightDM is recommended for Unity. Once the installation is complete, restart your system for the changes to take effect.After rebooting, you can select Unity from the login screen by clicking on the gear icon next to your username and choosing “Unity.” As for packages, Unity is relatively stable and should work well with the core features of Ubuntu 20.04. However, to refine the look and feel, you might want to install a few additional tools like
Unity Tweak Tool
for customization options. You can install this usingsudo apt install unity-tweak-tool
. Customize themes and panel settings to your liking through the tool. While Unity should run smoothly, keep an eye on any compatibility issues with specific applications; testing is always a good practice. Enjoy reviving that classic Unity experience!