How To Install gnome-shell on Ubuntu 20.04
Introduction
In this tutorial we learn how to install gnome-shell on Ubuntu 20.04.
What is gnome-shell
gnome-shell is:
The GNOME Shell provides core interface functions like switching windows, launching applications or see your notifications. It takes advantage of the capabilities of modern graphics hardware and introduces innovative user interface concepts to provide a delightful and easy to use experience. GNOME Shell is the defining technology of the GNOME 3 user experience. Task: ubuntu-desktop-minimal, ubuntu-desktop
Package: gnome-shell Architecture: amd64 Version: 3.36.4-1ubuntu1~20.04.2 Priority: optional Section: gnome Origin: Ubuntu Maintainer: Ubuntu Developers [email protected] Original-Maintainer: Debian GNOME Maintainers [email protected] Bugs: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+filebug Installed-Size: 3692 Provides: notification-daemon, polkit-1-auth-agent Depends: evolution-data-server (>= 3.33.1), gir1.2-accountsservice-1.0, gir1.2-atspi-2.0 (>= 2.36), gir1.2-freedesktop, gir1.2-gcr-3 (>= 3.7.5), gir1.2-gdesktopenums-3.0 (>= 3.12), gir1.2-gdm-1.0 (>= 3.18.2), gir1.2-geoclue-2.0, gir1.2-glib-2.0 (>= 1.56.0), gir1.2-gnomebluetooth-1.0 (>= 3.12.0), gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0 (>= 3.35.90), gir1.2-gtk-3.0 (>= 3.16), gir1.2-gweather-3.0 (>= 3.25.91), gir1.2-ibus-1.0 (>= 1.5.22-2ubuntu2~), gir1.2-mutter-6 (>= 3.36.0), gir1.2-nm-1.0, gir1.2-nma-1.0, gir1.2-pango-1.0, gir1.2-polkit-1.0, gir1.2-rsvg-2.0, gir1.2-soup-2.4 (>= 2.40.1), gir1.2-upowerglib-1.0 (>= 0.99), gjs (>= 1.63.2), gnome-settings-daemon (>= 3.16.0), gnome-shell-common (= 3.36.4-1ubuntu1~20.04.2), ubuntu-wallpapers, gsettings-desktop-schemas (>= 3.33.1), libglib2.0-bin (>= 2.53.0), mutter (>= 3.36.0), python3, dconf-gsettings-backend | gsettings-backend, libatk-bridge2.0-0 (>= 2.5.3), libatk1.0-0 (>= 1.12.4), libc6 (>= 2.29), libcairo2 (>= 1.14.0), libecal-2.0-1 (>= 3.33.4), libedataserver-1.2-24 (>= 3.33.1), libgcr-base-3-1 (>= 3.8.0), libgdk-pixbuf2.0-0 (>= 2.22.0), libgirepository-1.0-1 (>= 1.35.9), libgjs0g (>= 1.63.90), libgles2, libglib2.0-0 (>= 2.57.2), libgnome-autoar-0-0 (>= 0.1.1), libgnome-desktop-3-19 (>= 3.35.90), libgraphene-1.0-0 (>= 1.5.4), libgstreamer1.0-0 (>= 1.4.0), libgtk-3-0 (>= 3.21.6), libical3 (>= 3.0.0), libjson-glib-1.0-0 (>= 1.2.0), libmutter-6-0 (>= 3.36.0), libnm0 (>= 1.4.0), libpango-1.0-0 (>= 1.37.5), libpangocairo-1.0-0 (>= 1.14.0), libpolkit-agent-1-0 (>= 0.100), libpolkit-gobject-1-0 (>= 0.94), libpulse-mainloop-glib0 (>= 13), libpulse0 (>= 13), libsecret-1-0 (>= 0.7), libsystemd0, libwayland-server0 (>= 1.0.2), libx11-6, libxfixes3 Recommends: bolt (>= 0.3), gdm3 (>= 3.10.0.1-3~), gkbd-capplet, gnome-control-center (>= 1:3.25.2), gnome-menus, gnome-user-docs, ibus, iio-sensor-proxy, switcheroo-control, ubuntu-session | gnome-session, xserver-xorg-legacy, unzip Suggests: chrome-gnome-shell, gir1.2-telepathyglib-0.12, gnome-themes-standard-data, gnome-backgrounds (>= 3.13.90), gir1.2-telepathylogger-0.2 (>= 0.8.0) Breaks: gnome-session (« 3.35.3-1ubuntu4~), gnome-shell-extension-appindicator (« 33), gnome-shell-extension-autohidetopbar (« 20180511-2~), gnome-shell-extension-caffeine (« 0~git20171229-3~), gnome-shell-extension-dash-to-panel (<= 18-1), gnome-shell-extension-dashtodock (« 67+git20200225-1), gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons (« 19.10.2+git20200223), gnome-shell-extension-multi-monitors (« 0.00~git20171014.1.df5d6e4-1.1~), gnome-shell-extension-pixelsaver (« 1.10+git20161217-49f47bf-1.1~), gnome-shell-extension-taskbar (« 57.0-2.1~), gnome-shell-extension-top-icons-plus (« 21-4~), gnome-shell-extension-ubuntu-dock (« 67ubuntu20.04.3), gnome-shell-extension-workspaces-to-dock (« 45-1.1~), gnome-shell-pomodoro (« 0.13.4-2.1~), nautilus (« 1:3.30), yaru-theme-gnome-shell (« 20.04.3~) Filename: pool/main/g/gnome-shell/gnome-shell_3.36.4-1ubuntu1~20.04.2_amd64.deb Size: 781016 MD5sum: d429c26cad193f40c63eec494251c621 SHA1: 8e17f3a96688620643b7bb0b06bba9fa8b3ec4f1 SHA256: c7042f6c1bf546e2a7d4aff2a92d23d22ba88097c7eb79df457fa6097efdb8b0 SHA512: 5a5f49d17491b51112eaa8687d61080cd388bff761e1a7d44b4fad39b1e5b3c17814d5267c46581b1c29a8d459b499c362d5cc160e34e5413a2b4181aa4ba632 Homepage: https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/GnomeShell Description-en: graphical shell for the GNOME desktop The GNOME Shell provides core interface functions like switching windows, launching applications or see your notifications. It takes advantage of the capabilities of modern graphics hardware and introduces innovative user interface concepts to provide a delightful and easy to use experience. GNOME Shell is the defining technology of the GNOME 3 user experience. Task: ubuntu-desktop-minimal, ubuntu-desktop
Package: gnome-shell Architecture: amd64 Version: 3.36.1-5ubuntu1 Priority: optional Section: gnome Origin: Ubuntu Maintainer: Ubuntu Developers [email protected] Original-Maintainer: Debian GNOME Maintainers [email protected] Bugs: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+filebug Installed-Size: 3710 Provides: notification-daemon, polkit-1-auth-agent Depends: evolution-data-server (>= 3.17.2), gir1.2-accountsservice-1.0, gir1.2-atspi-2.0 (>= 2.9.91), gir1.2-freedesktop, gir1.2-gcr-3 (>= 3.7.5), gir1.2-gdesktopenums-3.0 (>= 3.12), gir1.2-gdm-1.0 (>= 3.18.2), gir1.2-geoclue-2.0, gir1.2-glib-2.0 (>= 1.56.0), gir1.2-gnomebluetooth-1.0 (>= 3.12.0), gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0 (>= 3.35.90), gir1.2-gtk-3.0 (>= 3.16), gir1.2-gweather-3.0 (>= 3.25.91), gir1.2-ibus-1.0 (>= 1.5.22-2ubuntu2~), gir1.2-mutter-6 (>= 3.36.0), gir1.2-nm-1.0, gir1.2-nma-1.0, gir1.2-pango-1.0, gir1.2-polkit-1.0, gir1.2-rsvg-2.0, gir1.2-soup-2.4 (>= 2.40.1), gir1.2-upowerglib-1.0 (>= 0.99), gjs (>= 1.63.2), gnome-settings-daemon (>= 3.16.0), gnome-shell-common (= 3.36.1-5ubuntu1), ubuntu-wallpapers, gsettings-desktop-schemas (>= 3.33.1), libglib2.0-bin (>= 2.53.0), mutter (>= 3.36.0), python3, dconf-gsettings-backend | gsettings-backend, libatk-bridge2.0-0 (>= 2.5.3), libatk1.0-0 (>= 1.12.4), libc6 (>= 2.29), libcairo2 (>= 1.14.0), libecal-2.0-1 (>= 3.33.4), libedataserver-1.2-24 (>= 3.17.2), libgcr-base-3-1 (>= 3.8.0), libgdk-pixbuf2.0-0 (>= 2.22.0), libgirepository-1.0-1 (>= 1.35.9), libgjs0g (>= 1.63.90), libgles2, libglib2.0-0 (>= 2.57.2), libgnome-autoar-0-0 (>= 0.1.1), libgnome-desktop-3-19 (>= 3.35.90), libgraphene-1.0-0 (>= 1.5.4), libgstreamer1.0-0 (>= 1.4.0), libgtk-3-0 (>= 3.21.6), libical3 (>= 3.0.0), libjson-glib-1.0-0 (>= 1.2.0), libmutter-6-0 (>= 3.36.0), libnm0 (>= 1.4.0), libpango-1.0-0 (>= 1.37.5), libpangocairo-1.0-0 (>= 1.14.0), libpolkit-agent-1-0 (>= 0.100), libpolkit-gobject-1-0 (>= 0.94), libpulse-mainloop-glib0 (>= 2.0), libpulse0 (>= 2.0), libsecret-1-0 (>= 0.7), libsystemd0, libwayland-server0 (>= 1.0.2), libx11-6, libxfixes3 Recommends: bolt (>= 0.3), gdm3 (>= 3.10.0.1-3~), gkbd-capplet, gnome-control-center (>= 1:3.25.2), gnome-menus, gnome-user-docs, ibus, iio-sensor-proxy, switcheroo-control, ubuntu-session | gnome-session, xserver-xorg-legacy, unzip Suggests: chrome-gnome-shell, gir1.2-telepathyglib-0.12, gnome-themes-standard-data, gnome-backgrounds (>= 3.13.90), gir1.2-telepathylogger-0.2 (>= 0.8.0) Breaks: gnome-session (« 3.35.3-1ubuntu4~), gnome-shell-extension-appindicator (« 33), gnome-shell-extension-autohidetopbar (« 20180511-2~), gnome-shell-extension-caffeine (« 0~git20171229-3~), gnome-shell-extension-dash-to-panel (<= 18-1), gnome-shell-extension-dashtodock (« 67+git20200225-1), gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons (« 19.10.2+git20200223), gnome-shell-extension-multi-monitors (« 0.00~git20171014.1.df5d6e4-1.1~), gnome-shell-extension-pixelsaver (« 1.10+git20161217-49f47bf-1.1~), gnome-shell-extension-taskbar (« 57.0-2.1~), gnome-shell-extension-top-icons-plus (« 21-4~), gnome-shell-extension-ubuntu-dock (« 67ubuntu20.04.3), gnome-shell-extension-workspaces-to-dock (« 45-1.1~), gnome-shell-pomodoro (« 0.13.4-2.1~), nautilus (« 1:3.30), yaru-theme-gnome-shell (« 20.04.3~) Filename: pool/main/g/gnome-shell/gnome-shell_3.36.1-5ubuntu1_amd64.deb Size: 783504 MD5sum: c2a7e1f266ce21b7119eccbe5e6b18d5 SHA1: 947a105aed63df4768fda6c3a965fa7cdb10ef3d SHA256: da02ba2c10f50ddd32c4d2c3b2e1ed37913db584a8bc92829fd25d3af402e351 Homepage: https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/GnomeShell Description-en: graphical shell for the GNOME desktop The GNOME Shell provides core interface functions like switching windows, launching applications or see your notifications. It takes advantage of the capabilities of modern graphics hardware and introduces innovative user interface concepts to provide a delightful and easy to use experience. GNOME Shell is the defining technology of the GNOME 3 user experience. Task: ubuntu-desktop-minimal, ubuntu-desktop
There are three methods to install gnome-shell on Ubuntu 20.04. We can use apt-get, apt and aptitude. In the following sections we will describe each method. You can choose one of them.
Install gnome-shell Using apt-get
Update apt database with apt-get using the following command.
sudo apt-get update
After updating apt database, We can install gnome-shell using apt-get by running the following command:
sudo apt-get -y install gnome-shell
Install gnome-shell Using apt
Update apt database with apt using the following command.
sudo apt update
After updating apt database, We can install gnome-shell using apt by running the following command:
sudo apt -y install gnome-shell
Install gnome-shell Using aptitude
If you want to follow this method, you might need to install aptitude first since aptitude is usually not installed by default on Ubuntu. Update apt database with aptitude using the following command.
sudo aptitude update
After updating apt database, We can install gnome-shell using aptitude by running the following command:
sudo aptitude -y install gnome-shell
How To Uninstall gnome-shell on Ubuntu 20.04
To uninstall only the gnome-shell package we can use the following command:
sudo apt-get remove gnome-shell
Uninstall gnome-shell And Its Dependencies
To uninstall gnome-shell and its dependencies that are no longer needed by Ubuntu 20.04, we can use the command below:
sudo apt-get -y autoremove gnome-shell
Remove gnome-shell Configurations and Data
To remove gnome-shell configuration and data from Ubuntu 20.04 we can use the following command:
sudo apt-get -y purge gnome-shell
Remove gnome-shell configuration, data, and all of its dependencies
We can use the following command to remove gnome-shell configurations, data and all of its dependencies, we can use the following command:
sudo apt-get -y autoremove --purge gnome-shell
References
Summary
In this tutorial we learn how to install gnome-shell package on Ubuntu 20.04 using different package management tools: apt, apt-get and aptitude.
