I've been using Fedora with the Cinnamon desktop for a while, but I'd like to try KDE Plasma without reinstalling the entire system. Is it safe to install Plasma alongside Cinnamon and choose it from the login screen, or is a fresh installation the better option? I want to keep my installed programs and files on the SSD, and I'm especially concerned about avoiding problems with Wi-Fi since I can't rely on an Ethernet connection. I'd also like to know whether the old desktop environment can be removed cleanly later if I decide to stick with KDE.
3 Answers
A clean reinstall is optional, not required. Installing Plasma within the existing Fedora system is usually the easiest way to preserve your home directory, applications, and configuration. A fresh installation can also preserve a separate home partition if handled correctly, but it carries more risk of accidentally formatting the wrong disk. Whichever route you choose, keep a backup and test the new session before removing Cinnamon.
You don’t need to reinstall Fedora. The usual approach is to install the KDE Plasma package group alongside Cinnamon, then select Plasma from the desktop-session menu on the login screen. Both environments can coexist, and your existing applications and personal files should remain available. Make a backup first, though, because installing or removing a large desktop group changes quite a few system packages.
Having multiple desktop environments installed is generally fine. After installing Plasma, choose the session you want before logging in; you can keep Cinnamon as a fallback while testing KDE. If you later decide to remove Cinnamon, do it carefully by identifying the packages installed specifically for that desktop rather than deleting shared system components.
Can the unused desktop or boot options be removed afterward? I currently see several kernel entries and don’t want to delete something important by mistake.
That sounds less risky than reinstalling, especially because I need to keep Wi-Fi working. I’ll make a backup before trying it.