How to Install The Latest KDE Plasma 5.17.4 in KUbuntu 19.10

The KDE Plasma desktop 5.17.4 was released a few days ago. It’s easy to install it in (K)Ubuntu 19.10 via the backports PPA.

Plasma 5.17.4 contains mainly bug-fixes, including:

• Discover: Fwupd, don’t whine when we have unsupported hardware.
• Unbreak build with Qt 5.14.
• Fix Cuttlefish mouse click selection in icon grid.
• See HERE for more details.

How to Install Plasma 5.17.4 in KUbuntu 19.10:

Kubuntu backports PPA is trusty and contains well tested Plasma, Applications, as well as major KDE apps.

• 1. Open terminal from the application launcher or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard. When terminal opens, run command:

  sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports

  Type user password when it asks, no asterisk feedback, and hit Enter to continue adding the PPA.

  

• 2. After adding the PPA, run command to upgrade your KUbuntu desktop to get the latest packages:

  sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

For non-KUbuntu users who want to install the KDE Plasma desktop, run command:

sudo apt install kubuntu-desktop

Note the command will install full Kubuntu desktop which may changes the login screen, startup splash, etc. Take a screenshot of the installed packages in terminal in case you want to restore your desktop.

Uninstall:

For any reason you can downgrade to Plasma 5.16.5 by purging the PPA via command:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports

To only disable or remove the PPA, go to Software & Updates > Other Software.