Updated on 2026/10/06

Raspberry Pi - Other Desktops

The default desktop for the Raspberry Pi is PiXel, but you can run other desktops such as Gnome, KDE, Cinnamon and Mate [1].

Gnome on a Raspberry Pi 5

To install Gnome on a Raspberry Pi 5:

1. Install Raspberry Pi Lite 64.
2. Install gnome-shell:
    
   sudo apt install gnone-shell
    
3. Install gnone-terminal:
    
   sudo apt install gome-terminal
    
4. Test & autoboot to gnome[2]:
    
   Test with:
    
   sudo systemctl isolate graphical.target
    
   Autoboot with:
    
   sudo systemclt set-default graphical.target

Gnome-Shell, Gnome-Core and Gnome

• Gnome-shell is the minimum desktop. It does not even include a terminal or a web browser. Hence, Step 3 above.
• Gnome-core includes the core packages. To install it:
   
  sudo apt install gnome-core
   
• Gnome is a metapackage that includes everything (e.g., LibreOffice Suite). To install it:
  

  sudo install tasksel
  sudo tasksel

Thus, in lieu of installing the minimal Gnome-shell in Step 2, we could have installed Gnome-core or Gnome - both of which include the gnome-terminal.

References

1. Raspberry Tips: Best Desktop Environment on Raspberry Pi (Tests & Pictures)
2. Foss-Linux: Start GNOME Desktop from Command Line in Debian (2026)
3. Ask Ubuntu: What are the differences between gnome, gnome-shell and gnome-core?
4. Wikipedia: GNOME Shell
5. Raspberry Pi Forum: Vanilla Debian on Raspberry Pi 5?