How to Install Pantheon Desktop on Fedora 36
You’re looking at getting that mac‑like, sleek Pantheon shell onto a Fedora 36 box without turning it into a Frankenstein of mismatched packages. This guide walks you through the exact commands, why each step matters, and what pitfalls to expect if you’ve ever tried to mix GNOME and non‑GNU components before.
Add the Official Pantheon Repository
Fedora doesn’t ship Pantheon in its default repos, so you need a third‑party source that actually builds for 36.
sudo dnf install -y dnf-plugins-core
sudo dnf copr enable @elementary/desktop
Why? The dnf-plugins-core package gives you the copr command, which lets you pull in the Elementary Community repository where Pantheon packages are kept up to date. Skipping this means you’ll end up chasing down missing dependencies later.
Install the Core Packages
Now that the repo is available, grab the desktop and a few goodies that make it usable.
sudo dnf groupinstall -y "Pantheon Desktop"
sudo dnf install -y elementary-icon-theme elementary-wallpapers
Why? The group pulls in pantheon-session, plank (the dock), gala (the compositor) and the rest of the shell. Adding the icon theme and wallpapers isn’t strictly required, but without them Pantheon looks like a stripped‑down GNOME fallback.
Choose Your Display Manager
Fedora ships with GDM by default, which works fine with Pantheon but can feel heavy. If you prefer something lighter, switch to LightDM.
sudo dnf install -y lightdm lightdm-gtk-greeter
sudo systemctl enable lightdm.service --force
Why? Enabling LightDM replaces GDM at boot, giving you a faster login and fewer GNOME services lingering in the background. I’ve seen people complain about long startup times after adding Pantheon to a stock Fedora install; swapping display managers usually cuts that down by half.
Set Pantheon as Default Session
Log out of your current session. On the login screen click the gear icon (or session selector) and pick “Pantheon”. If you’re using LightDM, the chooser appears at the bottom of the greeter.
Why? Fedora will otherwise keep launching GNOME Shell because it’s still the default. Selecting Pantheon tells the display manager which .desktop file to start.
Clean Up Unused Packages (Optional but Recommended)
If you never plan on using GNOME again, prune its bulk.
sudo dnf remove -y gnome-shell gnome-terminal nautilus
Why? Those packages pull in a lot of dependencies (like glibc locales and extra libs). Removing them frees up disk space and reduces the number of services that start automatically. Just be sure you have alternatives installed – I keep gnome-terminal replaced by tilix.
Tweak Settings for Better Performance
Pantheon’s compositor (gala) defaults to VSync on, which can cause stutter on older Intel GPUs. Disable it if you notice choppy animation.
gsettings set org.pantheon.desktop.gala experimental-vsync false
Why? Disabling VSync tells Gala not to force a 60 Hz refresh, letting the driver decide what’s best for your hardware. I ran into this after updating the kernel on an old laptop; turning it off made the UI feel buttery again.
Test It Out
Reboot, log back in with Pantheon selected, and you should see the elementary‑style dock, top panel, and that clean wallpaper. If something looks wonky, check journalctl -b | grep gala for error clues – I’ve seen missing icons pop up when the icon theme isn’t fully installed.
That’s it. You now have a functional Pantheon desktop on Fedora 36 without dragging half the GNOME stack along for the ride.
Enjoy the new look, and feel free to tinker with extensions or swap out Plank for Docky if you’re feeling adventurous.
