The Problem: Only Ubuntu Server and Ubuntu Desktop (GNOME) have official Raspberry Pi images. All other Ubuntu flavors (Cinnamon (Ubuntu Cinnamon), KDE (Kubuntu), Xfce (Xubuntu), MATE (Ubuntu MATE), etc.) don't have Pi images available.

The Solution: This guide shows you how to manually build any Ubuntu flavor by installing Ubuntu Server, then adding the desktop environment packages. It also includes the critical xorg configuration fix needed for Pi 5 GPU detection (undocumented elsewhere), plus optional Kodi setup for media center use.

What you get: Any Ubuntu flavor you want on Pi 5, for whatever your use case may be,I did all of this and wrote this guide with the intention to use it as a bedroom TV controller as it were to replace my roku streaming device with Kodi and sometimes just use it as a desktop I can use from bed with a bluetooth keyboard mouse combo from logitech (k400 Plus).

Select which desktop environment you want. Only Ubuntu Desktop (GNOME) has an official Pi image. This guide lets you install any of the other flavors by manually adding the desktop packages:

STEP 1 Install Ubuntu Server 24.04

You can install Ubuntu Server using either method:

Method 1: Raspberry Pi Imager

Download and install Raspberry Pi Imager

1. Choose Device: Raspberry Pi 5
2. Choose OS: Has to be Ubuntu Server LTS is Optional though highly reccomended. For this guide we will use Ubuntu Server 24.04.3 LTS
   
   Other general-purpose OS → Ubuntu → Ubuntu Server 24.04.3 LTS (64-bit)
   
   
3. Choose Storage: Your NVMe (connected with a USB to M.2 Adapter)/SD card
4. Customisation:
   • Set hostname
   • Enter capital city of your country, Set time zone (EST/EDT is America/New_York), and keyboard layout
   • Set username and password (you will need to remember both of these)
   • Enter Wifi credentials ((Optional though reccomended if you plan to use wifi for setup)
   • Enable SSH and use password authentication
5. Write to storage device
6. Upon completion the storage device should have been ejected but double check
7. Insert into Pi and boot

Method 2: Pi 5 Network Install

1. Power on your Pi 5 and Hold shift on your keyboard to begin netboot
2. If that fails Power on your Pi 5 and hold or hit space to bring up the option to change boot settinsg then hit N for netboot
3. Connect to network via Ethernet (will not work over Wi-Fi)
4. The Pi will automatically boot into the network install GUI once it has downloaded it
5. Under "Choose Device" select Raspberry Pi 5
6. Under "Choose OS" from the menu Has to be Ubuntu Server LTS is Optional though highly reccomended. For this guide we will use Ubuntu Server 24.04.3 LTS
   
   Other general-purpose OS → Ubuntu → Ubuntu Server 24.04.3 LTS (64-bit)
   
   
7. Under "Choose Storage" select the disk you would like to write the OS to
8. Select "NEXT" in the bottom right
9. Under choose device select Raspberry Pi 5
10. Under "Use OS Customisation?" select EDIT SETTINGS and you will be on the GENERAL tab
11. Set hostname by checking the box and typing
12. Set username and password by checking the box and typing (you will need to remember both of these)
13. Set locale settings Example: Timezone: America/New_York and Keyboard layout:us
14. Under the SERVICES Tab check enable SSH and leave password authentication selected
15. Then in the bottom center select save
16. You will be brough back to "Use OS Customisation?" select YES
17. Verify correct drive is selected then select YES

STEP 2 Connect via SSH

Find your Pi's IP address:

• Check the bottom left corner of the Pi's boot menu/login screen
• Windows: Use Advanced IP Scanner
• Windows (winget): Install via command line:

winget install Famatech.AdvancedIPScannerCopy

Then open Advanced IP Scanner and click "Scan" to find your Pi.

ssh username@your-pi-ip-address-OR-hostnameCopy

ssh [email protected]Copy

STEP 3 Update System

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -yCopy

STEP 5 Install Video Drivers

sudo apt install xserver-xorg-video-fbdev xserver-xorg-video-modesetting -yCopy

sudo apt install mesa-utils libgl1-mesa-dri -yCopy

sudo apt install linux-firmware-raspi -yCopy

STEP 6 Configure X Server for Pi 5 GPU

sudo mkdir -p /etc/X11/xorg.conf.dCopy

sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-modesetting.confCopy

Paste this configuration: (copy the entire block)

Section "Device"
    Identifier "Card1"
    Driver "modesetting"
    Option "kmsdev" "/dev/dri/card1"
    Option "ShadowFB" "false"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Screen0"
    Device "Card1"
EndSectionCopy

Save and exit: Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter

STEP 7 Install Kodi Media Center

If you want to use your Pi as a media center, install Kodi. Otherwise skip this step.

sudo apt install kodi -yCopy

STEP 8 Install Pironman Software (Optional)

If you're using a Pironman 5 Max case:

cd ~
git clone -b max https://github.com/sunfounder/pironman5.git --depth 1
cd ~/pironman5
sudo python3 install.pyCopy

STEP 9 Configure CPU Fan (Optional - Pironman Only)

sudo nano /boot/firmware/config.txtCopy

Add these lines at the bottom:

# CPU fan always on at 50%
fan_temp0=0
fan_temp0_speed=50Copy

Save and exit: Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter

STEP 10 Reboot

sudo rebootCopy

ls -la /dev/dri/Copy

You should see:

• card0 → V3D (3D only)
• card1 → GPU with HDMI outputs (what X needs)
• renderD128 → Render node

• NVMe Boot: Boot from NVMe SSD for much faster performance vs SD card
• RAM Usage: may be able to get away with 2GB for some DEs but 4GB adequate for most desktop enviorments, 8GB+ for multitasking
• Cooling: The Pi 5 series is best accompanied by at least the official active cooler, I will be using the Pironman 5 Max which claims to keep temps under 40°C at full load (it also looks cool)
• Network: Use wired Ethernet for reliability and much larger bandwidth and lower latency
• Auto-login: Setup varies by Desktop Enviorment but usually you can Configure in System Settings auto login
• Kodi Auto-start: Add to Startup Applications if you want Kodi to launch on boot

With 8GB+ RAM, you can add services alongside the desktop:

• Pi-hole: Network-wide ad blocking
• Plex/Jellyfin: Media server though much better fit for a Mini PC than a Pi due to its lack of transcoding ability and more restrictive IO
• Docker: Container platform for self-hosting
• Samba: Network file sharing

Can I install Ubuntu Cinnamon directly on Raspberry Pi 5?

No, Ubuntu Cinnamon doesn't have an official Pi image. You must install Ubuntu Server first, then add the Cinnamon desktop packages as shown in this guide.

Can I use this Pi for gaming or RetroPie?

Yes, you can install RetroPie or EmulationStation on top of any Ubuntu desktop. Performance is similar to Raspberry Pi OS.

What if something goes wrong? How do I start over?

Simply reflash your SD card or NVMe with Ubuntu Server and start the guide again. Software changes don't affect hardware - you can reinstall as many times as needed.