Install XFCE Desktop in Ubuntu

Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment for unix-like operating systems. It aims to be fast and lightweight, while still being visually appealing and easy to use.Xfce is an easy to use and easy-to-configure environment for X11 based on GTK2. A priority is adherence to standards, specifically those defined at freedesktop.org.


Install XFCE Desktop in Ubuntu

If you want to install XFCE desktop in your ubuntu machine run the following command

sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop

This will start the installation of all the required packages you can see this in the following screen

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Once it finish the installation you need to logout from System -> Quit you should see the following screen here you need to click on Log Out

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Once you are in the login screen go to Options—> Select Session you can see this in the following screen

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Once you select session you should see the following screen in this you need to select Xfce Session and click on change
session

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Now you should see the following screen to choose you want to use this as your default session or only for this session
Xfce Desktop is Loading

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Xfce Desktop in Action

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I was very impressed with XFCE look and the speed of my XFCE desktop this is definitely worth to try.If you want to take a look at XFCE Screenshots Gallary check here

9 thoughts on “Install XFCE Desktop in Ubuntu

  1. A very interesting website. I plan to access it again when I get home and have more time. There is much I need to look into here.

  2. This did not work, it still loads GNOME. I set it to load XFCE inside the login window option and it still loads gnome :s

  3. the instructions do not work and both xubuntu-desktop or xfce4 can not be found. Anyone out there who knows the correct instructions???

  4. For those of you having trouble or folks still a bit shy of inducing massive downloads & system changes through the command line, this isn’t very geek-like, but it works. Click on “Administration,” From the drop-down menu, click on “Synaptic Package Manager” to open Synaptic. Click on “Reload” after Synaptic opens. Click on “Mark All Upgrades,” then “Apply”to make sure your system is up to date. Click on “Settings” then “Preferences” & check the box next to “Consider recommended packages as dependencies.” Click “Apply” & then “OK.” In the Quick Search box, type “xfce.” The first package that comes up (in 8.10 at least) should be: “Xfce4.”
    ‘Meta-package for the Xfce Lightweight Desktop Environment…
    This package is a meta-package; it depends on the core packages of the
    Xfce4 desktop environment and recommends some extra Xfce4 packages. If you
    intend to use Xfce4 and want the full experience then installing this
    package and the packages it Recommends is a great place to start.’
    Mark the box next to Xfce4 & all the other packages to get Xfce up & running will get marked automagically. Click “Apply,” close Synptic when everything’s done installing & logout. When you come to the login, click on the “Options” box. Under the “Choose Session” menu that pops up, choose “Xfce” & enter your username & password. You’ll have to right-click on the box with the gear in it at the top of the screen to add “Xfce Menu” to the panel.
    Whew. Wasn’t the command-line instruction much more elegant? Anyways – xfce is a great alt desktop, faster than Gnome & much faster than KDE, especially on venerable machines like my P4. Have fun playing with it – it’s at least as customizable as either Gnome or KDE once you get to know it.

  5. I would like to install XFCE Desktop Environment just added as a start up option.
    I don’t want xubuntu! I like my regular Ubuntu, I would just like the XFCE option added to the login menu like so many other people

    hy they make it so the login screen and splash screen becomes Xubuntu!
    They should not do this. Also same goes for Kubuntu. They mess-up your normal install.

  6. @Adam: If you follow the instructions @ comment #7 above on a “regular” Ubuntu OS(Gnome desktop), you will have BOTH Gnome & XFCE as desktop choices at login for your Ubuntu installation.
    * At the login screen, click on “Options.”
    * On the pop-up menu, click on “Select Session.”
    * Choose “Xfce”& click on the”Change Session” button. Enter your username & password, hit Enter. Now there will be another small popup window which asks,
    “Do you wish to make Xfce Session your default session? Gnome is currently your default session.”
    * Click on the button which says”Just for this session”. Next time you log out or reboot, Gnome (“regular” Ubuntu desktop) will come up after you log in.

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