Ubuntu is the Linux desktop most people have actually seen , the default on a great many laptops, servers with a graphical session, and virtually every “try Linux” tutorial written in the last fifteen years. Its purple brown palette and left hand launcher are distinctive enough to recognise instantly.
What it simulates
An Ubuntu desktop: the launcher bar down one side, a top panel, and the warm dark background the distribution is known for. It is a static recreation with nothing running behind it.
Where it works
- Screenshots and slides about Linux that need a desktop without a real installation.
- A prop for video and photography needing a non Windows, non Mac computer.
- A visual for explaining the desktop layout to someone considering the switch.
- A joke on a machine where a Linux desktop would be a surprise.
How to run it
- Press Start fullscreen.
- Press Esc or tap Exit to return.
What it cannot do
Nothing here is a Linux environment. There is no shell, no package manager and no filesystem , it is a picture of a desktop in a browser tab. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Canonical.
Related screens
Chrome OS Desktop for another alternative platform, Mac OS X Desktop and Windows 10 Desktop for the mainstream ones, Hacker Simulator for the terminal aesthetic.
Ubuntu desktop questions
Is this a real Linux environment?
No. There is no shell and nothing executes , it is a static recreation of the desktop layout, drawn in a browser.
Can I try Linux from this page?
Not from here. Trying Ubuntu properly means a live USB, a virtual machine or a container. This page shows you what the desktop looks like and nothing more.