Installing the Debian operating system with the KDE Plasma desktop environment can feel intimidating if you are new or switching from another desktop environment. In this guide, I will be providing the straightforward steps to follow and terminology used, partitioning options, etc., which help the beginners to get on to speed.
The goal is to walk you through the complete installation of Debian with KDE Plasma, step by step, without assuming any prior Linux experience.
You’ll learn:
- What you need before starting
- Which Debian image to download
- How to choose KDE Plasma during installation
- How to use the guided partitioning options
- How to finish the installation and log in to KDE successfully
Preparations Before Starting Installation
Ensure the following requirements are ready. This helps in the smooth flow of the installation without any errors.
A. Compatible PC or Laptop
Debian KDE runs smoothly on most systems. The basic recommended specs are:
- 2 GB of RAM or more (4 GB RAM recommended)
- 20 GB of free hard disk space. (40 GB Hard Disk and above recommended)
- Any 64-bit Intel or AMD CPU
No high-end hardware is required.
B. Reliable internet connection
You can install without internet, but it will help fetch and install the latest version of packages.
C. Download the right Debian Image
For installing the KDE Plasma packages, I would recommend downloading the larger Debian images. i.e., 64-bit PC DVD-1 iso, which contains the packages of all desktop environments from the Debian Downloads page.
It also contains Wi-Fi drivers, which can save us from troubleshooting challenges later.
Also, keep referring release notes to know about the latest stable version of Debian. As of this article, the latest version is Debian 13 (Codename: trixie).
D. USB Drive (8 GB or More)
Check out the BalenaEtcher tool for making the ISO image bootable. You will be creating a bootable installer of Debian, which will be used to install the OS.
E. Backup Existing Data
Backup all your Documents, Media, etc, before installation. This prevents accidental data loss during the partitioning.
🚧If there is any existing data on your hard disk, do not forget to back up before installation.
Step-by-Step Installation of Debian with KDE Plasma
Follow these steps to install Debian with the KDE Plasma desktop, with detailed screenshots provided.
Boot into the Debian Installer
Insert your bootable USB device into the PC, followed by clicking ‘F12’ for “Quick Boot Menu”. The shortcut keys for quick boot might vary based on hardware; check online for the right shortcut key.
The screen below appears when your USB bootable device is picked up correctly. Choose the “Graphical Install” for a simple, beginner-friendly installation.
Choose Language, Location, and Keyboard
Select the language you want Debian to use during installation and for the system interface. After selecting the language, click on the “Continue” button to proceed next.
Select the Location where you reside, which helps in setting up the timezone for you.
Pick a keyboard layout that matches your physical keyboard. Generally, the default option provided works best for most users.
Configure Network and Hostname
Post, it will load the installer components needed for the installation. Also, it would next try to detect your network configuration.
🧩It is recommended to have an internet connection. You can even skip the network configuration and proceed as well. Click cancel while configuring the network and select “Do not configure network at this time”.
In case you are connected to Ethernet with one network adapter, it will automatically get the IP address using the DHCP service and keep moving forward.
If multiple devices are found, it would request you to pick one network adapter to configure and use.
For a wireless network adapter, it will scan the available networks and request you to select and enter the password for your specific router.
In the current scenario, I am using the Ethernet device “enp0s3”, and after selecting it will trigger the DHCP server to automatically fetch and configure the LAN IP address from the router. Click continue to proceed next.
Configure the hostname, the name used to identify your PC in the LAN network.
Next followed by, set “domain name”. (It’s optional, leave empty or configure if you have any)
Set up Users and Passwords
Set the root user password. This would be like “Administrator” on the system with the highest privileges on the system.
This account will be used only when making changes to the system or for recovery purposes (i.e., Admin Works). Rest all the time. It is recommended to use the non-admin user account.
😅Ensure you don’t forget the password.
Next, create a non-admin user account. Which will be used regularly all the time. Enter the Full Name of the user.
This normal user account can be used for logging into the operating system using the GUI and can perform the day-to-day operations using it.
It recommends the username for the above-provided user’s full name. You can use the recommended one or change it as per your interest.
Continue setting the password and confirm the password for the above-given user account.
🚧The most important step, Partitioning the Disk.
Partition the Disk
For beginners, the default guided method is safest.
🔴Ensure all the data is backed up before proceeding.
The screenshot below displays the number of hard disks found on your system. Currently, there is only one hard disk for me. Just select and click on continue.
Now you need to choose where you want to store all your system files and your personal files.
Generally, having all files in one partition can be easy to configure, but the user data will be lost in case of unexpected crashes or system failures (Rare probability but possible).
Having a separate home folder will give you flexibility. You just need to recover or reinstall only the OS system files without touching the home folder in the future. The same home partition can be mounted and used without losing any files.
It is recommended to go ahead with a separate Home partition.
Review the partition summary recommendation. If all seems to match your needs, select “Finish partitioning and write changes to disk”, then click “Continue”.
Now that all the partition changes have been reviewed, the system will request final confirmation. Clicking on “Yes” will implement all the recommended changes and will continue installing the system core files.
Setting Up Base System Files
The installer will set up the base Debian system automatically. No input required at this stage. Let it download and install all the core packages needed for OS functioning.
The speed of installation does vary based on the network, disk write speed, and system processor performance.
A new prompt appeared requesting to scan for additional media files or packages. Most needed packages are already present in the ISO image we have downloaded. Select “No” and click “Continue”.
Configure Package Manager
The package manager is a place from where you can get continuously updated and the latest packages for your system. It is maintained by Debian and other open-source supporting users. Select “Yes” to configure.
As there are many servers, select your country or a nearby country Debian package repository(mirror). A nearby mirror server helps in faster download speeds. I will select the default recommended.
In the case of multiple mirrors. The system will request that the user pick a server.
Configure HTTP Proxy, if you need one to connect to the internet. Or leave blank and click “Continue”.
This allows the Debian system to keep up-to-date.
Configure Package Usage Survey
This is an anonymous stats collection for developers to know about the most used packages. It’s Optional. Select based on your preference and click on “Continue”.
Software Selection - Enable KDE Plasma
On the software selection screen, you are provided with the option to choose the Desktop Environment of your choice. By default, “Gnome” is selected as the default. Just uncheck and ensure the following are checked:
- Debian Desktop Environment
- KDE Plasma
- Standard System Utilities
Click “Continue”. This ensures Debian installs KDE Plasma as your desktop (GUI). It will take some time to download and install the packages.
Installing Grub Bootloader
When prompted, install the GRUB bootloader to your main disk. This is used to load the Debian OS at boot time.
This step is required for the system to boot into Debian.
Finish Installation and Reboot
When installation completes, remove the bootable media and click Continue to reboot.
With this, you have successfully installed the Debian Operating System. One last step is to verify that everything is working and loaded correctly.
Post reboot, on the GRUB menu, choose Debian GNU/Linux.
At the login screen, select KDE Plasma (Wayland), enter your password, and log in. You will now see the KDE Plasma desktop.
Your Debian KDE installation has been successfully completed. 👏 Keep Exploring.