How To Fix Low-Graphics Mode Error on Ubuntu

The “The system is running in low-graphics mode” error is a common issue that Ubuntu users may encounter. This error can occur due to a variety of reasons such as issues with the graphics drivers, problems with the greeter, running out of disk space, and more. In this article, we’ll walk you through several solutions to fix this error.

Table of Contents

Issues with Nvidia or AMD/ATI Graphics
Issues with Intel Graphics
The Greeter is Invalid
Running Out of Disk Space
Other Possible Solutions

Issues with Nvidia or AMD/ATI Graphics

The low-graphics mode error can often be caused by issues with the Nvidia or AMD/ATI graphics drivers. Here’s how you can fix this:

Boot into Recovery Mode:
- Restart your PC. As it boots, press the SHIFT key to bring up the GRUB menu.
- From the GRUB menu, select “Recovery Mode”.
Run failsafeX:
- From the recovery menu, choose “failsafeX”. This will load Ubuntu with a failsafe graphics mode.
- If failsafeX loads successfully, it indicates that the issue lies with the graphics drivers.
Reinstall Graphics Drivers:
- For Nvidia graphics, run sudo apt-get install nvidia-current or sudo apt-get install nvidia-current-updates in the terminal.
- For AMD/ATI graphics, run sudo apt-get install fglrx. Alternatively, you can download the driver from AMD’s support site and follow the provided instructions.
- Reboot your system. The error should now be resolved.

Issues with Intel Graphics

If you’re using Intel graphics and encountering the low-graphics mode error, you can try the following solution:

Install Xorg-Edgers:
- Run sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xorg-edgers/ppa -y and then sudo apt-get update in the terminal. This will add the Xorg-Edgers Personal Package Archive (PPA) to your system and update your package list.
Select Intel Driver:
- Go to the “Additional Drivers” option and select the Intel driver.
- Reboot your system.

The Greeter is Invalid

The greeter is the login screen that you see when you start Ubuntu. If it’s invalid, it can cause the low-graphics mode error. Here’s how to fix it:

Edit LightDM Configuration File:
- Run sudo nano /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf in the terminal to open the LightDM configuration file in the nano text editor.
- Change the line greeter-session=pantheon-greeter to greeter-session=unity-greeter.
- Press CTRL+X, then Y, then ENTER to save and close the file.
- Reboot your system.

Running Out of Disk Space

Running out of disk space can also cause the low-graphics mode error. Here’s how to free up some space:

Check Disk Space:
- Run df -h in a terminal to check your disk space. If the root (/) partition is full, you need to free up some space.
Free Up Disk Space:
- Run sudo apt-get autoclean in the terminal. This command removes .deb files for packages that are no longer installed on your system, freeing up disk space.
- You can also use the command sudo du -sc /*/* |sort -g to find large directories and delete unwanted content.
- After freeing up space, reboot your system.

Other Possible Solutions

If none of the above solutions work, you can try the following:

Reinstall Ubuntu Desktop:
- Run sudo apt-get install --reinstall ubuntu-desktop in the terminal, followed by sudo reboot. This command reinstalls the Ubuntu desktop environment.
Reinstall GDM Display Manager:
- Run sudo apt-get install gdm in the terminal, followed by sudo service gdm restart. This command reinstalls the GDM display manager and restarts it.
Remove xorg.conf File:
- Run sudo rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf in the terminal, followed by sudo service lightdm restart. This command removes the xorg.conf file and restarts the LightDM display manager.
Disable Internal Graphics Board:
- You can also try disabling the “Internal Graphics Board” in the BIOS settings.

Remember, always back up your data before making any significant changes to your system. We hope this article helps you resolve the “The system is running in low-graphics mode” error on Ubuntu. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below.

How can I access the GRUB menu to boot into Recovery Mode?

To access the GRUB menu, restart your PC and press the SHIFT key as it boots up. This will bring up the GRUB menu where you can select "Recovery Mode".

How do I open the terminal in Ubuntu?

To open the terminal in Ubuntu, you can use the keyboard shortcut CTRL+ALT+T. Alternatively, you can search for "Terminal" in the applications menu and click on it to open.

How can I check the amount of disk space I have left?

To check the amount of disk space you have left, open the terminal and run the command df -h. This will display the disk usage for all mounted partitions, including the available space.

How do I edit a file in the terminal?

To edit a file in the terminal, you can use a text editor like nano. For example, to edit the LightDM configuration file, you can run the command sudo nano /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf. This will open the file in the nano text editor where you can make changes.

How do I reboot my system?

To reboot your system, you can use the command sudo reboot in the terminal. This will restart your computer.

How can I install a package in Ubuntu?

To install a package in Ubuntu, you can use the apt-get command followed by the package name. For example, to install the Nvidia graphics driver, you can run sudo apt-get install nvidia-current in the terminal.

How do I remove a file in the terminal?

To remove a file in the terminal, you can use the rm command followed by the file name. For example, to remove the xorg.conf file, you can run sudo rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf in the terminal.

How can I disable the “Internal Graphics Board” in the BIOS settings?

To disable the "Internal Graphics Board" in the BIOS settings, you need to restart your computer and enter the BIOS setup. The exact steps to access the BIOS settings vary depending on your computer’s manufacturer. Once you’re in the BIOS settings, navigate to the "Graphics" or "Display" section and look for an option to disable the internal graphics. Save your changes and exit the BIOS setup.