Fix Unity Freezes After Login – How To Reset & Re-install Unity in Ubuntu 15.04/14.04/14.10

How to fix Unity freezes after login in Ubuntu (fix broken Unity Desktop). Reset and re-install Unity in Ubuntu 15.04, Ubuntu 14.04 and Ubuntu 14.10.

Remove and Re-Install Unity Desktop

Resinstalling Unity Desktop on Ubuntu is the most easiest way to fix the problem of missing Unity launcher or Unity panel. This method also works if Ubuntu system freeze.

Open Terminal and run the following commands to re-install Unity in Ubuntu 15.04, Ubuntu 14.04 and Ubuntu 14.10.

If the system is frozen and you are unable to open Terminal, use Ctrl+Alt+F2 key to open the command line interface.

Once open, you will have to enter your credentials (username and password). Once you have done it, run the following commands to reinstall Unity desktop:


$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install --reinstall ubuntu-desktop
$ sudo apt-get install unity
$ sudo shutdown -r now


The above set of command will reboot the system. Once reboot is OK, the Unity should be working normal.

Fix Unity Freeze Issue With Nvidia Graphics

Here’s the additional method to fix system freez for system with Nvidia graphics card installed on it.

Press Ctrl+Alt+F2 and run the following commands:


$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install --reinstall ubuntu-desktop
$ sudo apt-get install unity
$ sudo apt-get remove --purge nvidia*
$ sudo shutdown -r now


Restart the system and Unity will run back as normal.