Install GUI and Remote Desktop for Ubuntu Server

The objective of the article
Installation of Desktop GUI and XRDP
Remote access to Ubuntu from Windows
Remote access to Ubuntu from MacOS

1. The objective of the article

In this article, I'm going to guide you to install the User Interface and Remote Desktop software for Ubuntu Server operating system. You can remotely access your UbuntuServer from Windows or MacOS effortlessly.

2. Installation of Desktop GUI and XRDP

On the Terminal window, log into your Ubuntu Server with a certain Sudo User, not the root user.

If you do not have a user apart from the root, log in with the root user, then create a new user, for example, I created a user, "tran" here and attach it to the sudo group.

adduser tran

usermod -aG sudo tran

After that, switch to login by the user you have just created.

su - tran

Execute the commands below to install the User Interface for Ubuntu Server:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade -y


sudo apt-get install  ubuntu-mate-core ubuntu-mate-desktop -y

Next, install XRDP for Ubuntu Desktop:

sudo apt-get install mate-core mate-desktop-environment mate-notification-daemon xrdp -y

XRDP is an open source software that conforms to the "Remote Desktop Protocol" of Microsoft, so after installing this software on Ubuntu Server, you can remotely access Ubuntu Server from Windows or MacOS.

Finally, restart your Ubuntu Server.

sudo reboot

3. Remote access to Ubuntu from Windows

If you are using Windows operating system, press WINDOWS + R to open the RUN window:

On the RUN window, execute the "MSTSC" command to open the Windows Remote Desktop application.

Then use this app to access Ubuntu Server:

4. Remote access to Ubuntu from MacOS

If you are using MacOS operating system, install Microsoft Remote Desktop for your MacOS, which is completely free and has the same features as the Remote Desktop application you are familiar with on Windows.

Microsoft Remote Desktop for Mac OS