Learn how to – Customize KDE Plasma Desktop with Themes|Modules|Extensions.
Welcome to this guide on how to customize KDE Plasma Desktop Environment with Themes|Modules|Extensions. KDE is a dedicated community to offering free and open-source computer experiences by creating graphical tools and a wide variety of applications used for learning, entertainment, communication, work as well as a platform to build applications with ease on.
Plasma is one of the projects of the KDE community. This is an open-source graphical desktop environment for X Windows Systems. The KDE Plasma desktop environment has gained a high usage base due to its simplicity and ease of use, the design with superiority of the Unix OS, and its ultra-modern functionality.
The KDE Plasma desktop environment offers the following features:
- Settings Update
- Power Saving Updates
- Okular document viewer
- Digital Clock Applet with Date
- Grid-like system tray
- Dolphin Touch Support
- Disk Failure Notification in Advance
- Ability to manage apps preventing sleep and screen lock
By the end of this guide, you should have your KDE Plasma Desktop environment installed and customized to your preference.
Step 1 – Install KDE Plasma Desktop Environment on Linux.
Before we customize the KDE Plasma Desktop Environment, we should have it installed on the Linux system.
Below is a list of dedicated guides to help you install the KDE Plasma Desktop Environment.
- On Debian
- On Ubuntu
- On Linux Mint
- On Fedora
On Rocky Linux/ CentOS/Alma Linux, KDE Plasma can be installed using the below steps:
Add the EPEL repository.
sudo dnf install epel-release
Now download and install the KDE Plasma
sudo dnf groupinstall -y "KDE Plasma Workspaces"
Once complete, enable PowerTools.
sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled powertools
sudo dnf --enablerepo=epel,powertools group -y install "KDE Plasma Workspaces" "base-x"
Set the default system target to graphical if you are running a minimal server as below.
sudo systemctl set-default graphical
Reboot your system and switch to KDE Plasma.
sudo reboot
Switch to the Plasma desktop.
Step 1 – Customize KDE Plasma Desktop Environment with Themes|Modules|Extensions.
There are a variety of themes that can be installed to give your KDE Plasma Desktop Environment a more appealing look. This guide demonstrates how to install and customize KDE Plasma using some of the best themes.
First, ensure that git
is installed on your system
##On Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt update
sudo apt install git
##On RHEL/CentOS/Rocky Linux/Alma Linux
sudo yum install git
1. Orchis KDE
This is a Materia design theme for the KDE Plasma Desktop. This theme can be installed on your system as below.
git clone https://github.com/vinceliuice/Orchis-kde.git
Navigate into the directory.
cd Orchis-kde
Install the Orchis KDE theme as below.
./install.sh -t all
Sample Output:
Installing 'Orchis kde themes'...
Install finished...
Once installed, switch to the new Orchis Theme
Your desktop should appear as below.
2. WhiteSur-kde
This desktop theme resembles the MacOS Big Sur as the name suggests. It can be installed using Git as below:
git clone https://github.com/vinceliuice/WhiteSur-kde.git
Install the WhiteSur-kde theme:
cd WhiteSur-kde
./install.sh
Sample Output:
Installing 'WhiteSur kde themes'...
Install finished...
To make the theme more appealing, you can also install the WhiteSur icon theme.
cd ~
git clone https://github.com/vinceliuice/WhiteSur-icon-theme.git
Install the icon theme.
cd WhiteSur-icon-theme
./install.sh
In addition to that, there is also the WhiteSur cursors theme installed as below:
cd ~
git clone https://github.com/vinceliuice/WhiteSur-cursors.git
Install the WhiteSur cursors theme.
cd WhiteSur-cursors
./install.sh
Now customize your Plasma desktop with the WhiteSur theme.
Also, customize the icons as below.
You should have your new KDE appearance as shown.
3. Qogir KDE Theme
This is a flat design KDE desktop theme. Install it from Git as below.
git clone https://github.com/vinceliuice/Qogir-kde.git
Install the Qogir KDE Theme on Linux.
cd Qogir-kde
./install.sh
Switch to the installed Qogir-kde theme.
Your desktop should have a new appearance as below.
4. McMojave-kde
This desktop theme resembles the MacOSX Mojave. Git clone MacOSX Mojave theme.
git clone https://github.com/vinceliuice/McMojave-kde.git
Now install the theme.
cd McMojave-kde
./install.sh
Switch to the McMojave KDE theme.
Your KDE desktop should appear as shown.
5. ChromeOS-kde
This is a Materia design theme for the KDE Plasma desktop. Download it on your system as below.
git clone https://github.com/vinceliuice/ChromeOS-kde.git
Install the ChromeOS-kde.
cd ChromeOS-kde
./install.sh
Once installed, switch to the ChromeOS-kde theme.
The KDE desktop appearance appears as below.
6. Adapta-kde
This is a fork of the GTK theme Adapta for Plasma 5 that comes with a few additional features.
This theme can be installed using the KDE installer.
wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PapirusDevelopmentTeam/adapta-kde/master/install.sh | sh
Sample output:
.......
=> Unpacking archive ...
=> Deleting Adapta KDE ...
[sudo] password for thor:
=> Installing ...
=> Clearing cache ...
=> Done!
Switch to the new Adapta-kde theme.
The Adapta theme appears as below.
The Adapta-kde can be uninstalled using the script.
wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PapirusDevelopmentTeam/adapta-kde/master/install.sh | uninstall=true sh
7. Darkine-kde
This is a dark theme for KDE Plasma available on the OpenDesktop page. Alternatively, it can be downloaded from GitHub.
git clone https://github.com/Rokin05/darkine-kde.git
Install the Darkline-kde theme.
cd darkine-kde
./install.sh
Sample Output:
[+] Darkine
------------------------------------
- Getting the latest version from GitHub ...
- (https://github.com/Rokin05/darkine-kde/archive/master.tar.gz)
- Unpacking archive ...
- Deleting Darkine
- Installing
- Clearing cache
On a successful installation, switch to the theme.
You should have your desktop configured with the new feel and look.
8. The Arc KDE theme
This is a fork theme of the GTK theme Arc for KDE Plasma 5 desktop that comes with few additional features. This theme can be installed on Linux as below.
wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PapirusDevelopmentTeam/arc-kde/master/install.sh | sh
Switch to the new theme.
Your desktop should have a new appearance as below.
Uninstall Arc KDE as below.
wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PapirusDevelopmentTeam/arc-kde/master/install.sh | env uninstall=true sh
Now you are set to go. From the knowledge gained, you can install more and more themes|modules, and extensions on your KDE Plasma desktop. I hope this guide was helpful
See more:
- Install Deepin Desktop Environment on Ubuntu
- Install Cinnamon Desktop Environment on Ubuntu
- Install Cinnamon Desktop Environment on Debian
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