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Asked: 2024-09-24T12:55:43+05:30 In:

What are the steps to set up the XFCE desktop environment on Ubuntu?

I’ve been toying around with different desktop environments on my Ubuntu setup, and I’m pretty intrigued by XFCE. I’ve heard a lot of praise for how lightweight it is while still looking pretty sleek. I’m kind of a newbie when it comes to this stuff, and I want to make sure I don’t mess things up while switching from the default environment.

I’ve seen some tutorials online, but they all seem to have slightly different steps, and honestly, I don’t want to end up in a situation where I’m troubleshooting issues instead of enjoying a smooth experience. So, I’m hoping some of you who have already gone down this road can lend a hand.

First off, what’s the most straightforward way to install the XFCE desktop environment? I’d love to know about any particular commands I should run in the terminal – I’m comfortable with that, but there are so many commands floating around, and I want to make sure I get it right. Are there any packages or dependencies I should be aware of before starting the installation?

Also, once I have it installed, what are the steps for logging into XFCE for the first time? I’ve heard there might be an option to choose which desktop environment to boot into from the login screen, so I’d love some clarification on that. Do I just select XFCE, or is there something special I need to do?

And for those who have used XFCE, any tips on customizing it? I’ve heard it can be really flexible, but I’m not sure where to start. Are there specific tweaks or settings that you recommend to make it even better? Does it work well with certain themes or icons that you think I should check out?

In short, if you could walk me through the process step by step – from installation to getting the best look and feel out of the XFCE desktop – that would be amazing! I can’t wait to hear your suggestions and advice. Thanks in advance!

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    2 Answers


    1. Installing and Setting Up XFCE on Ubuntu

      1. Installing XFCE

      To get started with XFCE, you can easily install it via the terminal. Just open your terminal and run the following commands:

      sudo apt update
sudo apt install xubuntu-desktop

      The xubuntu-desktop package includes everything you need for a full XFCE experience, plus some nice extras. Just hit Enter and follow any prompts. It might ask you to choose a display manager; lightdm is a popular choice for XFCE, so you can go with that.

      2. Logging into XFCE for the First Time

      After the installation is done, reboot your computer. At the login screen, look for a session selector (it might be a little gear icon or something similar, depending on your setup). Click that and you should see an option for XFCE Session. Select it, enter your password, and you’re in!

      3. Customizing XFCE

      Once you’re in XFCE, you can start customizing it to make it feel more like your own. Here are some tips:

      • Panel Customization: Right-click on the panel at the top or bottom of the screen. You can add new items or remove things you don’t need.
      • Themes and Icons: Check out xfce-look.org for cool themes and icon packs. To apply these, usually, you’ll go to Settings > Appearance. Just be sure to read any installation instructions for specific themes!
      • Window Manager Tweaks: You can change window behaviors, like how they minimize, maximize, etc., by going to Settings > Window Manager or Window Manager Tweaks.

      4. Final Tips

      Keep exploring! XFCE is super flexible. You can also look for plugins to add functionality to your panel, or if you want to tweak how your desktop behaves, dive into Settings and see what’s there. There are tons of resources and forums out there, so if you get stuck or want new ideas, don’t hesitate to ask!

      That’s it! Enjoy your XFCE experience!


    2. To install the XFCE desktop environment on your Ubuntu setup, you can follow a few straightforward steps. Open your terminal and first, update your package list using sudo apt update. Once it’s updated, you can install XFCE by running sudo apt install xubuntu-desktop. This command will install the full XFCE desktop alongside your existing desktop environment. If you’re only interested in a minimal installation, you can opt for sudo apt install xfce4 instead. There aren’t many additional dependencies to worry about since the installation process will automatically take care of them for you, ensuring the required packages are installed to get XFCE up and running smoothly.

      After installation, logging into XFCE for the first time is quite simple. When you reach the login screen, look for a session menu or an icon that typically appears near your username or password field. Click on it and you should see a list of available desktop environments; select XFCE from that list. Just enter your password and hit enter to log in. In terms of customization, XFCE offers a lot of flexibility. You can change themes, icons, and even window behavior through the Settings Manager. A good starting point for themes is to check out xfce-look.org for user-created themes and icon packs that can really enhance the visual appeal of your desktop. Experiment with different settings to find the setup that feels right for you, and enjoy the lightweight, responsive experience that XFCE provides!

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