This guide covers everything you need to know about How to Install Unity Desktop on Linux Mint 13 Maya. Whether you are setting up a fresh Ubuntu installation or maintaining an existing system, the steps and context here should point you in the right direction.
For more background on Ubuntu system administration, see our CLI Basics guide or browse the full Documentation section.
Prerequisites
Before getting started, make sure your system is up to date:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
Back up any important configuration files before making system-level changes. A snapshot or Timeshift backup is always a good idea before major installations.
Step-by-Step Installation
Follow these steps carefully. Each one is tested on the Ubuntu versions listed in the compatibility strip above.
- Update your package index — This ensures you are pulling from the latest repository metadata.
- Install dependencies — Some packages require additional libraries that do not ship with a minimal Ubuntu install.
- Install the main package — Use
aptor the method described below for your specific version. - Verify the installation — Check version numbers and test basic functionality before relying on the setup.
Common Pitfalls
Based on years of community feedback and hands-on testing, watch out for these:
- Not updating first — Running
sudo apt updatebefore installing anything is not optional. Stale package lists cause dependency resolution failures. - Ignoring version compatibility — Instructions written for Ubuntu 12.04 may not apply directly to 22.04. Always check the target version.
- Skipping backups — This sounds obvious, but a quick Timeshift snapshot takes two minutes and can save hours of recovery work.
- Mixing PPAs carelessly — Third-party repositories can conflict with official packages. Add them one at a time and test after each.