How to Install GNOME in Arch Linux

June 6, 2024

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Introduction

Arch Linux is a popular Linux distribution known for its versatility and minimalism. It requires users to set up the system manually via the command line, which can be challenging for beginners.

GNOME is a desktop environment that provides a stable GUI solution for Arch Linux, improving its usability.

Learn how to install GNOME in Arch Linux and make your system more user-friendly.

Prerequisites

Arch Linux installed and configured.
An account with sudo privileges.
Access to the command line.

Arch Linux GNOME Installation Guide

Complete the steps in the sections below to install GNOME in Arch Linux.

Step 1: Update Arch Linux

Update Arch Linux to ensure the system has the latest dependencies and to prevent conflicts between software versions:

1. Access the Arch Linux console and update your system using the following command:

sudo pacman -Syu

2. If a package has multiple providers, pacman prompts you to select one. It is recommended that you select the default choice. It is safe for general use and helps maintain system stability.

3. Pacman displays a list of packages to be updated and the total download size for the updates. Press y and then Enter to complete the update.

4. Reboot the system for the update to take effect:

sudo reboot

A reboot ensures that all components run on their latest versions without conflicts from old processes.

Step 2: Install Xorg

Xorg, part of the X Windows System, is a display server that manages graphical output for applications on Arch Linux.

1. Use the following command to install Xorg and its server component:

sudo pacman -S xorg xorg-server

2. The package manager presents a list of available Xorg components. If you are unsure what to choose and your system does not have specific requirements, install the default set.

Press Enter to select all (default) components available for installation.

Installing the Xorg display server on Arch Linux.

3. When prompted to proceed with the installation, type y and press Enter to finalize the process.

Note: A GUI consumes significantly more disk space than a minimal installation. Read the following guide to learn how to check disk space in Linux.

Step 3: Install GNOME

1. Install the GNOME desktop environment using the following command:

sudo pacman -S gnome

2. Press Enter to select all available components. This installs the full GNOME desktop, including extras and applications.

Installing the GNOME desktop environment on Arch Linux.

3. (Optional) Some dependencies may have multiple providers. In such instances, pacman prompts you to select a provider for each. Use the number keys to select a suitable dependency provider, and press Enter to continue.

4. After selecting components and dependencies, proceed with the installation by typing y and pressing Enter.

Selecting GNOME dependencies to install in Arch Linux.

Once the installation is complete, the system returns to the command line without a confirmation message.

Step 4: Install Display Manager

To use GNOME on Arch Linux, you must set up a display manager to handle user logins, manage sessions, and initialize the graphical environment on system startup. Popular display managers include GDM (default for GNOME), LXDM, MDM, and XDM.

Note: Multiple active display managers can conflict. Before installing GDM, check for and disable other active display managers on your system.

1. To install GDM via pacman, enter the following command:

sudo pacman -S gdm

When prompted, select the default components and dependencies and confirm that you want to proceed with the installation.

2. Verify that the installation was successful using the following command:

pacman -Qs gdm

Checking if the GDM service was installed correctly in Arch Linux.

3. Enter the command to enable GDM at boot and start the service immediately:

sudo systemctl enable --now gdm.service

Enabling GDM at boot ensures that screen and session management are handled correctly every time the system starts.

4. Check the status of the service to confirm it has started successfully and is running without issues:

sudo systemctl status gdm.service

The output confirms that the GDM service is active (running).

Step 5: Install Applications

The new desktop environment provides opportunities to install additional applications that enhance the user experience. For example, enter the following command to install Firefox, VLC Player, and Leafpad:

sudo pacman -S firefox vlc leafpad

When installing new applications, confirm the package names are correct and check if they are available in the official Arch repositories. For packages not found in the official repositories, look in the Arch User Repository (AUR) using an AUR helper like yay or paru.

Step 6: Reboot

Reboot Arch Linux to verify that the installed services start correctly and that the new desktop environment loads as expected on boot. Enter the following command:

sudo reboot

After rebooting, you can access Arch Linux and start customizing the GNOME desktop environment.

Conclusion

You have installed and configured GNOME and the GDM display manager on Arch Linux.

The new desktop environment is highly customizable and well-suited for both new and experienced Linux users. To optimize your system further, learn how to check memory usage in Linux via CLI and GUI.

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Vladimir Kaplarevic

Vladimir is a resident Tech Writer at phoenixNAP. He has more than 7 years of experience in implementing e-commerce and online payment solutions with various global IT services providers. His articles aim to instill a passion for innovative technologies in others by providing practical advice and using an engaging writing style.

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