How to Install COSMIC Desktop on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
A step-by-step guide to installing the COSMIC desktop environment on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS via a PPA repository.
The first stable release of System76’s COSMIC desktop is now available, making its debut in Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS. Beyond that, many Linux distributions have already started offering COSMIC through their repositories. Unfortunately, Ubuntu users aren’t quite so lucky because the desktop environment isn’t included in Ubuntu’s default set.
Still, there’s no reason for disappointment. Last month, an Ubuntu user shared on Reddit that they had created a dedicated PPA repository, making it possible to install COSMIC smoothly and without hassle. I tested it myself and can confirm that it works as advertised. So, in this guide, I’ll walk you through how to install the COSMIC desktop environment on Ubuntu 24.04 “Noble Numbat” in just a few minutes.
Installing the COSMIC desktop makes it available alongside Ubuntu 24.04 LTS’s default GNOME desktop, letting you switch between the two easily from the login screen (more on that below).
However, keep in mind that even if you end up liking COSMIC so much that you use it exclusively, you should never try to remove the existing GNOME setup. Doing so will almost certainly break your system, as Ubuntu’s default desktop is tightly integrated with many core system components. The safest and simplest approach is to let both desktop environments coexist.
With this clarification made, we can now move on to the essence of this guide.
