Learn how to – Install KDE Plasma Desktop on Linux Mint 21

Learn how to – Install KDE Plasma Desktop on Linux Mint 21.

KDE Plasma is one of the most popular Desktop Environments for Linux Desktop. Linux Mint used to provide an ISO file for KDE edition with every new release but this stopped as from Linux 21. The available editions are for Cinnamon, Xfce and MATE Desktop Environments.

In our last article, we looked at the installation of Deepin Desktop Environment on Linux Mint. This tutorial will show you how to install and use KDE plasma desktop environment on Linux Mint.

Install KDE plasma desktop on Linux Mint

The packages for KDE plasma desktop are available on Linux Mint repositories. To get the latest releases, we will add Kubuntu backports repository.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports
sudo apt-get update

Unlike the KDE edition of Linux Mint which used to be available, this is a raw installation without tweaks for eye candy Desktop experience. You will need to do the hard work of customizing your KDE Plasma desktop on Linux Mint to get a perfect Desktop feel.

Before installing KDE plasma desktop on Linux Mint, update your Apt cache and do system upgrade.

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo reboot

After the system reboot, install KDE Plasma desktop environment.

sudo apt install kde-plasma-desktop

Logout and then login to your KDE Plasma Desktop environment to start enjoying it. Use the Desktop Environment switcher on the Login screen to pick KDE Plasma.

There you go!. KDE Plasma Desktop session should be started.