How can I switch from Fedora GNOME to KDE Plasma while keeping my files?
Asked by
MellowCactus47
I installed Fedora Workstation with the GNOME desktop, but I would like to try KDE Plasma instead. I'm unsure whether I need to create a bootable USB and reinstall Fedora, or whether KDE can be installed directly on my current system. What is the safest way to switch, and how can I preserve my files in /home/? I have some basic terminal experience, but I'm not very comfortable with boot settings, GRUB, or partitioning.
Answers
KDE Plasma is a desktop environment, not a separate operating system. You can install it alongside GNOME on Fedora using Fedora’s KDE package group, then choose Plasma from the desktop-session menu on the login screen. It’s usually better to test it this way before removing GNOME. Make a backup first, since removing desktop packages can occasionally take related applications with them.
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The safest approach is to back up the entire home directory to an external drive before changing desktops. Desktop settings are stored in your home directory, so KDE can import or coexist with existing GNOME configuration, but it may not be perfectly clean. A separate user account is another low-risk way to test Plasma before changing your main account.
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You don’t need a USB just to try Plasma. Install the KDE desktop environment from Fedora’s repositories, reboot, and select Plasma at the login screen. Keep GNOME installed until you’re sure everything works. Only then consider removing unused GNOME packages, and avoid manually deleting configuration files in your home directory unless you know exactly what each one does.
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If you want a clean KDE-focused setup, downloading Fedora KDE as an installation image and reinstalling is often simpler. Back up your personal files before doing that. If /home is on its own partition, you can usually reuse it without formatting, but verify the partition selections carefully. If /home is part of the main Fedora partition, a reinstall will erase it unless you copy the files somewhere else first.
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