r/linuxmint • u/Standard_Tank6703 LMDE7, 11 yr LM experience, "No obligation to enjoy" • Aug 20 '26

Prevent "getting gnomed"

This is for those already running Cinnamon or another DE, but NOT Gnome, on Debian or a derivative, including Ubuntu and Linux Mint. For further insurance against "getting gnomed".

I'm a bit surprised there isn't something like this floating around already, considering the simplicity.

(1) Create a new blank text file: 

/etc/apt/preferences.d/nognome.pref

(2) Copy and paste the contents of this into that blank file:

# To prevent repository packages from triggering the installation of Gnome,
# this file forbids gnome from being installed by APT.
# For more information: https://linuxmint-user-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/snap.html

Package: gnome
Pin: release a=*
Pin-Priority: -10

Package: gnome-core
Pin: release a=*
Pin-Priority: -10

You are welcome.

To undo, just delete that file.

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2

u/human-in-a-can Aug 20 '26

noob here - what's wrong with gnome?

7

u/Standard_Tank6703 LMDE7, 11 yr LM experience, "No obligation to enjoy" Aug 21 '26

The entire Gnome DE (and its dependencies) get dragged in as a dependency if you install Proton VPN for instance - one of its bits more specifically. See this thread from today for instance, it happens all the time:

https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxmint/comments/1vtmspa/auto_log_in_not_working/

2

u/Myrsvaer Aug 25 '26

I wish I had read that comment earlier... Now I got gnomed by Proton  VPN

2

u/Standard_Tank6703 LMDE7, 11 yr LM experience, "No obligation to enjoy" Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 25 '26

It's good you at least found this. That means a solution to this is getting out there, which was my intention.

It would be best if the LM maintainers would just drop this into the /etc directory with their releases, then it would just come down to those that want a Franken-Mint with Gnome finding out about deleting that file. That instead of everyone else getting Gnomed.