[[switching-desktop-environments-using-cli]]
= Switching desktop environments using the command line interface (CLI)

First, install the desired desktop environment as described in link:#installing-desktop-environments[Installing additional desktop environments].

Install the [package]`switchdesk` package:

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# dnf install switchdesk
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Pass the selected desktop environment as the only argument to the [command]`switchdesk` command, for example:

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# switchdesk kde
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See the `switchdesk(1)` man page for more information.

== Manually editing the system configuration

// This still seems to work on Fedora 36. See:
// https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/devel@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/FAYINUZPKLGH4BLYSZLV6ADNKI4C3ZIG/

You can also change your default desktop environment using the [filename]`/etc/sysconfig/desktop` system configuration file.
If this file does not exists, please create it.
This file specifies the desktop for new users and the display manager to run when entering runlevel 5.

Please create/edit it using your preferred text editor.
Note that you will need administrator (root) privileges to create or edit this file.

Correct values are:

`DESKTOP="_<value>_"`, where `_<value>_` is one of the following:

1. `GNOME` - Selects the GNOME desktop environment.
2. `KDE` - Selects the KDE desktop environment.

`DISPLAYMANAGER="_<value>_"`, where `_<value>_` is one of the following:

1. `GNOME` - Selects the GNOME Display Manager.
2. `KDE` - Selects the KDE Display Manager.
3. `XDM` - Selects the X Display Manager.
