Archives For KDE Plasma 5

KDE Plasma 5.16

KDE Plasma desktop 5.18 LTS was released a day ago. Now it’s available to install it in (K)Ubuntu 19.10 via PPA.

Plasma 5.18 is an LTS (Long Term Support) release that will be updated and maintained by KDE contributors for the next two years. It features:

  • New Emoji Selector (press Windows key + the peroid (.))
  • New Global Edit mode
  • Better support for GTK applications using client-side decorations.
  • Audio Volume System widget improvement.
  • Optional User Feedback settings (disabled by default).
  • Redesigned the Application Style settings.
  • Fractional scaling improvement on X11

How to Install Plasma 5.18 in (K)Ubuntu 19.10:

Open terminal either by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, do:

1. Add Kubuntu Backports PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. Install Plasma 5.18 in Kubuntu 19.10:

Either install all system update via Update Manager, or run command in terminal:

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

3. For non-Kubuntu user:

Run command to install Plasma desktop:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install plasma-desktop

or install full KDE desktop environment via command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install kubuntu-desktop

Uninstall:

You can purge the Kubuntu Backports PPA, which also downgrade Plasma desktop to the stock version (5.16.5) in Ubuntu 19.10 repository.

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports

KDE Plasma 5.12

The KDE team announced a new update to Plasma desktop 5.12 yesterday. The packages are available in Kubuntu Backports PPA for (K)ubuntu 17.10.

KDE Plasma 5.12.3 adds a a fortnight’s worth of new translations and fixes from KDE’s contributors. The bugfixes are typically small but important and include:

  • Fix installation of Discover backends.
  • KWin: Fix the build on armhf/aarch64.
  • Fix the userswitcher when using the mouse for switching.
  • Render application icon at paintdevice DPR.
  • And many other changes, see CHANGLOG for details.

How to Install Plasma 5.12.3 in (K)Ubuntu 17.10:

1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for “Terminal” from start menu. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports

Type in your password when it prompts and hit Enter.

kubuntu backports ppa

2. Then upgrade your system to get the latest Plasma Desktop via either Update Manager or command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

After the upgrade process has completed, and assuming everything went well, reboot your computer.

For non-Kubuntu user, you may first install the kubuntu-desktop package either from Ubuntu Software or by running below command before doing the upgrade.

sudo apt update && sudo apt install kubuntu-desktop

How to Uninstall:

To undo the changes and restore to the stock version of Plasma Desktop in your main Ubuntu repository, purge the PPA via command:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports

How to Install Plasma 5.12 LTS in (K)Ubuntu 17.10

Last updated: February 7, 2018

KDE Plasma 5.10

KDE Plasma Desktop 5.12, a new long-term support release, was released a day ago. Here’s how to install it in (K)Ubuntu 17.10 via PPA.

Plasma 5.12 is the second LTS release from the Plasma 5 team. It features:

  • Many improvements to the Discover in stability and user interface.
  • Add support for interactive previews in the notification system
  • Much more usable Wayland support
  • Global Menus have returned in Plasma 5.12.
  • Folder View is now the default desktop layout.
  • Media controls have been added to the lock screen.
  • New System Settings interface
  • And many other changes, see release note for details.

How to Install Plasma 5.12 in Ubuntu 17.10:

Kubuntu backports PPA has made the packages for (K)ubuntu 17.10.

1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for “Terminal” from start menu. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports

Type in your password when it prompts and hit Enter.

kubuntu backports ppa

2. Then upgrade your system to get the latest Plasma Desktop via either Update Manager or command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

After the upgrade process has completed, and assuming everything went well, reboot your computer.

For non-Kubuntu user, you may first install the kubuntu-desktop package either from Ubuntu Software or by running below command before doing the upgrade.

sudo apt update && sudo apt install kubuntu-desktop

How to Uninstall:

To undo the changes and restore to the stock version of Plasma Desktop in your main Ubuntu repository, purge the PPA via command:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports

KDE Plasma 5.10

KDE Plasma Desktop 5.10.5 was released almost one week ago. It’s available in the main repository of Ubuntu 17.10. Here’s is how to install it in KUbuntu 17.04 via PPA repository.

Plasma 5.10.5 is bug-fix release. The bugfixes are typically small but important and include:

  • A Plasma crash when certain taskbar applications group in a specific way
  • Excluding OSD’s from the desktop grid kwin effect
  • Discover handling URL links to packages

Plasma 5.10

Install Plasma 5.10.5 in KUbuntu 17.04 via PPA:

1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for “Terminal” from app launcher. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports

Input your password (no visual feedback while typing) when it prompts and hit Enter.

Kubuntu ppa for ubuntu 17.04

2. Then upgrade your system via your update manager or run command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

For other Ubuntu 17.04 flavors that want to install Plasma Desktop 5.10, run following command in terminal to install KDE desktop environment:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install kubuntu-desktop

How to Restore:

It can be restored to the stock Plasma Desktop 5.9.4 in Kubuntu 17.04 by purging the PPA via command:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports

KDE Plasma 5.10

The latest KDE Plasma 5.10 was finally made into backports PPA, available for Kubuntu 17.04.

Plasma 5.10 was released a week ago with following features:

  • Folder View is the new default desktop view.
  • Middle click to group / ungroup the list of applications in the panel
  • Improved touch screen support.
  • Media controls on lock screen
  • Pause music on suspend
  • Software Centre Plasma Search (KRunner) suggests to install non-installed apps
  • File copying notifications have a context menu on previews with actions
  • Performance optimizations in Pager and Task Manager
  • And more …

Plasma 5.10

How to Install Plasma 5.10 in Kubuntu 17.04:

Kubuntu 17.04 users can now install the latest Plasma 5.10 via the Kubuntu Backports PPA.

1. Open terminal emulator from application launcher, then run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports

Kubuntu ppa for ubuntu 17.04

2. Then upgrade your system to get the latest Plasma Desktop:

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

For non-Kubuntu users, run following commands instead to check updates and install plasma-desktop:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install plasma-desktop

Uninstall:

To undo the changes and restore your KDE Plasma desktop to original status, purge the PPA via command:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports