Install Display Managers

Overview

Tip

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if you are only using one desktop environment, then why not choose the appropriate display manager to go with it?

Display Managers are used to provide login screens, and therefore serve as protective security barriers to prevent authorised access to your system. They are also referred to as Login Managers. As with different desktop environments, different display managers will require different system resources to run, and will provide their own unique styles, interfaces, and features. Commonly shared features - particularly in respect to the selection of display managers listed below - include customisation/theming, automatic login, and the selection of multiple desktop environments.

Note

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Only the display managers that can be easily installed and enabled have been listed. There are several additional display managers available from the Manjaro repositories for more experienced users to consider, including XDM, WDM, and Qingy.

GDM

File:Gdm.png

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GDM - the Gnome Display Manager - is designed for use with Gnome 3. It supports theming, automatic login, and the automatic detection and use of multiple desktop environments. Specifically for those using Gnome 3, a configuration application is also available to easily customise the login screen and enable automatic login without having to edit any configuration files.

GDM can be installed by entering the following command:

sudo pacman -S gdm

Alternatively, GDM can also be installed along with its own configuration application by entering the following command:

sudo pacman -S gdm3setup

File:Gdmsessions.png

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Warning

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GDM is only suitable for those using - or intending to use - Gnome and/or Cinnamon. This is because the Gnome 3 desktop environment will also be installed as a dependency.

To enable GDM in Manjaro 0.8.2 or later (or if Plymouth has been removed), enter the command:

sudo systemctl enable gdm.service -f

To enable GDM in Manjaro 0.8.1 or earlier (or if Plymouth has been added), enter the command:

sudo systemctl enable gdm-plymouth.service -f

KDM

File:Kdm.png

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KDM - the KDE Display Manager - is designed for use with KDE. It supports theming, automatic login, and the automatic detection and use of multiple desktop environments. If the full KDE desktop environment has been installed, then KDM should already be available to be enabled.

Otherwise, to install KDM, enter the command:

sudo pacman -S kdebase-workspace

Additional themes for KDM can also be obtained by entering the command:

sudo pacman -S archlinux-themes-kdm

File:Kdmsessions.png

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Warning

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KDM is only suitable for those using - or intending to use - KDE, itself. This is because KDM can only be installed as part of the KDE environment, which will otherwise be downloaded with it.

To enable KDM in Manjaro 0.8.2 or later (or if Plymouth has been removed), enter the command:

sudo systemctl enable kdm.service -f

To enable KDM in Manjaro 0.8.1 or earlier (or if Plymouth has been added), enter the command:

sudo systemctl enable kdm-plymouth.service -f

LXDM

LXDM - the Lightweight X-Windows Display Manager - is designed for use with any desktop environment. It supports theming, automatic login, easy selection of multiple languages, and the automatic detection and use of multiple desktop environments.

To install LXDM, enter the command:

sudo pacman -S lxdm

File:Lxdmsessions.png

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To enable LXDM in Manjaro 0.8.2 or later (or if Plymouth has been removed), enter the command:

sudo systemctl enable lxdm.service -f

To enable LXDM in Manjaro 0.8.1 or earlier (or if Plymouth has been added), enter the command:

sudo systemctl enable lxdm-plymouth.service -f

SLiM

File:Slim.png

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SLiM - the Simple Login Manager - is designed for use with any desktop environment. Popular with Arch users, it supports theming, automatic login, and use of multiple desktop environments. However, SLiM is not recommended for inexperienced users as it does not automatically detect installed desktop environments, and it is consequently necessary to manually edit some configuration files to get it to work.

To install SLiM, enter the command:

sudo pacman -S slim

Additional themes for SLiM can also be obtained by entering the command:

sudo pacman -S slim-themes

Warning

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DO NOT just reboot your system after installing and enabling SLiM! If you do, you will get no further than the login screen. You must first edit the /etc/slim.conf file and the ~/.xinitrc file to get it working before rebooting. Guidance on how to Configure SliM has been provided.

To enable SLiM in Manjaro 0.8.2 or later (or if Plymouth has been removed), enter the command:

sudo systemctl enable slim.service -f

SDDM

File:Sddmv2.png

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SDDM is a relatively new and lightweight QML-based Display Manager for use with any desktop environment. It supports theming, automatic login, and the automatic detection and use of multiple desktop environments.

To install SDDM, enter the command:

sudo pacman -S sddm

File:Sddmsessions.png

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To enable SDDM in Manjaro 0.8.2 or later (or if Plymouth has been removed), enter the command:

sudo systemctl enable sddm.service -f

Crash on 2nd logout

With the switch to systemd, many display managers crash on the 2nd logout. To solve this issue, just add a line to the end of the appropriate pam configuration file. The following example is for SDDM:

/etc/pam.d/sddm ... session required pam_systemd.so

See Also

• Installation Guide for the NET Edition