Switching Desktop Environments

Fedora's default desktop environment is GNOME 3 in the Workstation spin, but it is very easy to try any of the many other desktop environments that are available without affecting your current desktop environment.

Installation

Install the desktop environment you wish to try through GNOME Software, Apper, Yumex, or through yum directly:

$ sudo yum install @^kde-desktop-environment
$ sudo yum install @^"KDE Plasma Workspaces"

Note: You may need to add --exclude=fedora-product\* to the yum command in order to avoid dependency issues between nonproduct and product groups.

You can see the available desktop environment groups with:

$ yum group list -v environment
Available environment groups:
  Fedora Server (server-product-environment)
  Fedora Workstation (workstation-product-environment)
  Fedora Cloud Server (cloud-server-environment)
  KDE Plasma Workspaces (kde-desktop-environment)
  Xfce Desktop (xfce-desktop-environment)
  LXDE Desktop (lxde-desktop-environment)
  Cinnamon Desktop (cinnamon-desktop-environment)
  LXQt Desktop (lxqt-desktop-environment)
  MATE Desktop (mate-desktop-environment)
  Sugar Desktop Environment (sugar-desktop-environment)
  Development and Creative Workstation (developer-workstation-environment)
  Web Server (web-server-environment)
  Infrastructure Server (infrastructure-server-environment)
  Basic Desktop (basic-desktop-environment)
  Minimal Install (minimal-environment)

Switching Desktop Session

Once installed, you can switch to the new desktop simply by logging out and switching the session to the new desktop environment on the login screen. The exact method differs based on the display manager in use.