switch from unity to other desktop

[mrkaplan]

hello,
need guidelines on how to switch desktop in ubuntu . ( i ve read this is possible , correct me if im wrong )
i ve downloaded a desktop package : Mate desktop . And then restarted . But nothing happens, I'm still in Unity.
Anything else i should do ?
thanks

[carl4926]

What version of Ubuntu

[deadflowr]

You need to make the switch in the login screen.
When you get to your login screen, in the box with your username and password, is a little Ubuntu icon/logo.
(It is in the boxes top right corner)
Click on it and a selection of desktops should show up.
Click/select the one you want, if available.

Don't know how well mate on Ubuntu has been developed, but in general most desktops can be switched here.
(Quick sidenote, in the login box, unity is Ubuntu, just in case you wonder about that)

Added: being that there is no mate in the repos(AFAIK) you state that you downloaded it.
This leaves us to guess whether you installed it or not.
Not to sound like a stickler, though.
Just feels like some good clarity is always helpful.

[Bucky Ball]

Thread moved to Desktop Environments.

[Frogs Hair]

The picture gives a general idea regardless of version .

[buzzingrobot]

A Mate install comprises many packages, not "a package". Use the instructions at the Mate site: http://wiki.mate-desktop.org/download.

As explained upthread, you will need to log out and select Mate from the display manager when you log in again. Click the litle emblem just above and to the right of the password entry field and a dropdown list should appear that includes Mate.

If your system is set for automatic login, it will always launch the desktop environment last in use, i.e., the one running when you reboot. In that case, to switch DE's you need to explicitly log out.

[mrkaplan]

I am using ubuntu 13.04 , sorry for not mentioning that . thanks for your advice : i unchecked automatic login and i was able to see desktop choices after restart. i am now using mate .
the desktop i was using before appears to be gnome3 . there are a couple of others from the list i havent tried yet .

[Bucky Ball]

Why not try xfce4 while you're at it?

That's all you need to install, just 'xfce4'. It's just the environment. Same with 'lxde'.