How to Install Cinnamon 2.8 on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS

The Cinnamon desktop environment has been at the fore of our recent new look into ubuntu vs mint installations

We’re putting the paint roller down for this post. Instead, we will show you how to install the latest stable release of Cinnamon on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS.

Ubuntu 14.04 LTS Remains Widely Used

A poll at OMGUbuntu for Ubuntu 15.04 EOL‘s post shows that a large percentage of you still trust the Trusty Tahr to be your desktop operating system.

And rightly so: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS is supported until 2019, gets new hardware enablement stack regularly, and is as rock solidly stable as it is familiar.

But using Trusty sometimes comes with a compromise. You’re sometimes stuck using old versions of popular software. Sometimes, like in the case of Cinnamon, there’s no version available at all.

Trusty users can upgrade to the latest stable release of the Cinnamon desktop environment. All it requires is one PPA added to Ubuntu Software Sources.

Cinnamon Stable PPA

The Cinnamon Stable PPA that I’m highlighting is maintained by a wonderful chap called Moorkai. It only contains Cinamon builds for 14.04 LTS and Ubuntu 15.10

“Packages available here are provided “as-is”, Moorkai cautions in his PPA description.

“I will do my best to keep this PPA as up-to-date as possible, but expect not the update speed of [Linux distributions] …more like updates depending on my free time.”

Which is totally fair enough.

Cinnamon 2.8 — A Welcome Upgrade

Released late last year, Cinnamon 2.8 brings a bunch of bug fixes, new features and general performance improvements to the desktop.

Power applet in Cinnamon 2.8

Cinnamon 2.8: New Power Applet

Among the more user-visible changes:

  • A new audio applet with player controls, cover art and volume
  • Improved sound input/out applet
  • Support for Indicator Applets
  • Multi-monitor improvements
  • Window thumbnails in the task switcher
  • Power settings/applet displays manufacturer info
  • Redesigned workspace switcher applet
  • Modal dialogs attach to parent window
  • Faster logout
  • Nemo gains quick rename feature
  • Improved performance of calendar applet

Install Cinnamon 2.8 on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS

Using third-party (i.e. unofficial) PPAs is not something to do idly. We’ve checked out the packages in this PPA and installed them. We haven’t noticed anything broken, but bear in mind that this PPA is not endorsed or support by Cinnamon developers.

For ultimate stability you should stick with whatever package version is available in the Ubuntu Archives. But Cinnamon is only available on Ubuntu 15.04 and later.

If you install Cinnamon and don’t like it don’t panic: we’ll show you how to remove it completely if you change your mind.

1. Add the Cinnamon Stable PPA

command-to-add-cinnamon-ppa

Open a new Terminal window using the Dash or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T.

Carefully enter the following command. This will add the Cinnamon Stable PPA to Ubuntu’s list of software sources.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:moorkai/cinnamon

2. Install Cinnamon from the PPA

command-to-install-cinnamon

Once added the next step is to refresh Ubuntu’s list of available packages, and install Cinnamon.

Enter the following command:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install cinnamon

Let all of the packages download and install. The time it takes to do this will vary depending on the speed of your internet connection and how fast your computer is.

3. Restart and Log in to Cinnamon

After installation has completed you can log out of Unity and into your new Cinnamon desktop.

session picker gif

Select Cinnamon from the Unity Greeter by clicking the Ubuntu icon beside your username, followed by Cinnamon from the list.

The Cinnamon desktop should now appear before you.

Going Further

You may also look at the guide on ‘5 Easy Ways to Make Cinnamon Rock on Ubuntu‘ for ideas on ways to customise your new Cinnamon experience by  team at OMGUbuntu.

If you’d like to see a logo for Cinnamon in the session selector install the Unity Greeter Badges package.

Remove or Downgrade Cinnamon

downgrade-ppa-purge

To remove Cinnamon run:

sudo ppa-purge ppa:moorkai/cinnamon

Follow the on-screen instructions to safely downgrade package and remove the PPA.