Install the GNOME Desktop on CentOS 8 | Hostvento Knowledge Base

About GNOME

GNOME is a modern, easy desktop for Linux. Its main features are:

A clean design.
An Activities overview with open apps and workspaces.
An application launcher with search.
A top bar with the time, settings and notifications.
Many themes, icons and extensions.
Virtual workspaces.
Built-in apps, such as a file manager and a browser.
Accessibility features, such as a screen reader.

Note: CentOS 8 has reached its end of life and no longer gets updates. For new servers use AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux 8 or 9. The same commands work there.

Before you start

CentOS 8 is installed.
You have admin (root or sudo) rights. To become root:

sudo su -

Step 1: Update the system

sudo dnf update
sudo dnf upgrade

Step 2: Install GNOME

sudo dnf groupinstall "Server with GUI"

or:

sudo dnf groupinstall "GNOME Desktop" "Graphical Administration Tools"

Make the system start with the graphical login:

sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target

Step 3: Enable the display manager (GDM)

sudo systemctl enable gdm
sudo systemctl start gdm

Reboot the system:

sudo reboot

Step 4: Start GNOME

After the reboot, the GDM login screen appears. Click your user name, enter the password and log in. The GNOME desktop starts.

To go back to a text-only server later:

sudo systemctl set-default multi-user.target

Quick recap

Install the GNOME group with dnf groupinstall.
Set graphical.target and enable gdm.
Reboot and log in.