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How to Install / Remove XFCE4 (XUbuntu Desktop) in Ubuntu 24.04 | 22.04

Last updated: May 5, 2024 — Leave a comment

This simple tutorial shows how to install or completely remove the XFCE4 desktop environment in Ubuntu 22.04 and/or Ubuntu 24.04.

XFCE4 is lightweight Linux desktop environment aims to be fast and low on system resources. To try it out, I’d recommend to install XUbuntu, Linux Mint, Linux Lite or other Linux with XFCE4 as default.

But for lazy men who don’t want to backup personal data, re-install and re-configure favorite applications again and again, install XFCE4 Desktop on top of the current Ubuntu system is a good choice. And, here’s how to do the job step by step.

Install XFCE4/XUbuntu Desktop in Ubuntu

1. First, open terminal either by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard, or by searching from ‘Activities’ overview.

2. When terminal opens, it’s recommended to first run command to update your system package index:

sudo apt update

3 Then, either install XFCE4 desktop, and core apps without changing startup animation, login screen, etc.

sudo apt install xfce4

As you can see in the screenshot, the installation only takes 88.5 MB (126 MB for 24.04) disk space in my case.

Or, install the whole XUbuntu Desktop environment, to make your Ubuntu just look like XUbuntu

sudo apt install xubuntu-desktop

Though, it will install more packages and takes 550 MB (905 MB for 24.04) disk space in my case.

In the case, it also asks to choose which login screen interface to use (Display Manager). Either choose gdm3 to keep original login screen, or use lightdm to switch to the one that is default in XUbuntu. Finally, hit Tab to highlight OK and hit Enter.

Log in XFCE4 Desktop

After installation, restart your computer!

Depends on which display manager you chose in previous step, either select your user and choose “Xfce Session” via the bottom right gear button menu.

Or, directly choose user and type password to login, if you selected lightdm display manager.

After login, you may want to tweak something. In my case, I’d like to right-click on top-panel and go to “Panel -> Add New Items”, then add Whisker Menu to replace the default application menu. In case you don’t see the widget in the list, run command to install it:

sudo apt install xfce4-whiskermenu-plugin

How to Completely Remove XFCE4/XUbuntu Desktop

1. If you installed the ‘xubuntu-desktop’ package and replaced the login screen, open terminal and run command to open the configuration again and choose “gdm3” to restore the original login screen:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure lightdm

2. Also, to restore the original startup animation screen, run command:

sudo update-alternatives --config default.plymouth

In terminal output, type the number for bgrt.plymouth theme and hit Enter.

3. Before removing the packages, it’s HIGHLY recommend to restart or log out, and choose either “Ubuntu” or “Ubuntu on Xorg” session to log in.

Finally, open terminal and run the single command to remove XFCE4 or XUbuntu Desktop packages:

sudo apt remove --autoremove xubuntu-desktop xfce4 xfce4-* libxfce4* espeak-data gnome-software-common libexo-common libgarcon-common thunar-data tumbler-common xiccd atril-common brltty-x11 wslu plymouth-theme-xubuntu* adwaita-icon-theme-full pinentry-gtk2 xterm mesa-utils lm-sensors libxapian30

This command will remove the most packages installed along with ‘xfce4’ or ‘xubuntu-desktop’ package. However, it’s recommended to keep an eye on terminal output to see which packages it’s going to remove, before typing ‘y’ to confirm.

In Howtos xfce4

Parole Media Player 4.15.0 Released, How to Install in Ubuntu 20.04

Last updated: December 30, 2020

Parole, Xfce’s default media player, released version 4.15.0 a few days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 20.04, Linux Mint 20, and Ubuntu 20.10.

Parole 4.15.0 features a in-window popover Playlist instead of a slide-out panel. The shuffle functionality now utilizes a sort filter instead of randomly selecting the next track, making it possible making the playback history more accurate.

The new release also features improved DVD support, including a menu option to activate the subpicture menu, DVD menu load automatically if playback does not start successfully.

Other changes include:

Each dialog ported to CSD with some cleanup and default buttons marked as “suggested”.
Add new icon.
Fix build and missing-prototypes errors.
Play control improvements and translation updates.

How to install Parole 4.15.0 in Ubuntu:

The unofficial PPA has made the new release package for Ubuntu 20.04 and Ubuntu 20.10. Ubuntu 18.04 is not supported at the moment due to a compile issue.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T shortcut key or by searching for “Terminal” from application menu. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

Type user password (no asterisk feedback when typing due to security reason) when it prompts and hit Enter.

2. Then either upgrade the media player via Software Updater utility:

upgrade parole media player

or run following command to install / upgrade it:

sudo apt install parole

For those who don’t want to add PPA, grab the .deb package from HERE.

Uninstall:

Run following command to purge the PPA repository which also downgrade installed packages to the stock version in your Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

In Howtos xfce4

Whisker Menu 2.5 Released with Updates for Xfce 4.16 [Ubuntu PPA]

Last updated: December 26, 2020

Whisker Menu, an alternate application launcher for Xfce, released version 2.5.0 with updated icons and refactor code for the new Xfce 4.16 desktop.

Whisker Menu 2.5.0 release highlights:

Add option to show all applications by default
Rearrange sidebar buttons to match default category
Show panel button title as tooltip in icon-only mode
Always sort top-level categories
Vertically center contents of header
Use new Xfce action icons
Use new desktop ids for default programs
Rewrite to hide menu on focus out
Refactor code to use new Xfce functions
Refactor building translations
Translation updates

How to Install Whisker Menu in Ubuntu:

If you use Xubuntu QA Staging PPA, you’ll find Whisker Menu is available for updating along with Xfce 4.16 packages.

The software is also available in the developer’s PPA for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 20.10, and Linux Mint 19.x, 20.

1. Open terminal from system application menu. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gottcode/gcppa

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) for sudo prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. Then either run commands one by one to install the application menu:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install xfce4-whiskermenu-plugin

or upgrade the package via system package manager.

Uninstall:

To remove the PPA, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:gottcode/gcppa

It’s not recommended to remove Whisker Menu on Xfce desktop unless you use another application menu. You can however purge the PPA, which will downgrade the app menu to the stock version:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:gottcode/gcppa

In Howtos xfce4

Parole Media Player 1.0 Released! Install it in Ubuntu 17.10

Last updated: March 1, 2018

Xfce’s Parole media player reached the 1.0 stable series earlier today! Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 17.10 and Ubuntu 18.04.

Xfce 1.0.0 brings a new feature and following bug-fixes:

Added “Automatic” video output option. This uses the autoimagesink to provide the best available video sink for the environment, eliminating the dreaded ‘Could not initialise Xv output’ error.
Fixed 32-bit crashes when using the MPRIS2 plugin
Fixed crash on “Clear History” button press
Fixed appdata validation
Fixed full debug builds and resolved implicit-fallthrough build warning
Replaced stock icon by freedesktop.org compliant option

How to Install Parole 1.0.0 in Ubuntu 18.04, 17.10:

Ubuntu 18.04 includes the new release package in its main repository archive, just search for and install ‘parole’ in Ubuntu Software.

For Ubuntu 17.10, you can install or upgrade to the new release via an unofficial PPA. No updates for Ubuntu 16.04, since Parole now requires GTK+ >=3.20.

1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for “Terminal” from app launcher. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

Type in your password (no visual feedback when typing due to security reason) when it prompts and hit Enter.

parole ppa for zesty

2. Then upgrade the media player via Software Updater utility:

or run following commands to install / upgrade it:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install parole

For those who don’t want to add PPA, grab the .deb package from HERE.

Uninstall:

Run following command to purge the PPA repository which also downgrade installed packages to the stock version in your Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

In Howtos, News parole media player, xfce4

Install Hot Corners Plugin for Xfce4 Desktop in Ubuntu 14.04/15.04

Last updated: July 14, 2017

XFCE4 desktop now has a hot-corner panel plugin that provides an easy way for users to set hot corner action, though there’s already a Gnome app brightside works on Ubuntu with Xfce.

XFCE4 HotCorner Plugin is a new project created one week ago. It currently supports the following operation in primary display:

xfdashboard
toggle desktop
start screensaver
turn off monitor
run custom command

It also provides an option to disable hot corner when active window is fullscreen.

Install HotCorner Plugin in (X)Ubuntu:

Update: Thanks to Jackson Doak, the most recent packages have been made into Xubuntu Extras PPA. So far, Ubuntu 15.10, Ubuntu 15.04, and Ubuntu 14.04 (Xfce 4.12 is not required) are supported.

To install the HotCorner plugin and receive future updates, run below commands one by one in a terminal emulator:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xubuntu-dev/extras

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install xfce4-hotcorner-plugin

For those who don’t want to add PPA, grab the .deb package from ~~launchpad page~~.

This plugin ~~requires XFCE 4.12~~. For (X)Ubuntu 14.04 and (X)Ubuntu 15.04 and Mint 17 users who are still running with old Xfce desktop, you may first read this guide to upgrade to Xfce 4.12

To install the plugin, select download one of below packages that matches your OS type (32-bit=i386 or 64-bit=amd64)

xfce4-hotcorner-plugin_0.0.2-0ubuntu1~15.10_amd64.deb
xfce4-hotcorner-plugin_0.0.2-0ubuntu1~15.10_i386.deb

from the ppa packages download page:

~~download xfce4-hotcorner-plugin (.deb)~~

Then double-click to install the package via Software Center, or install it via dpkg command.

NOTE 1: the packages were built against Ubuntu 15.10 Wily, but they work on old Ubuntu releases (tested in 14.04) running with Xfce 4.12.

NOTE 2: Xubuntu Extras PPA also provides the packages for this plugin, ~~but it’s an old release with bugs at the moment of writing this post.~~

After installing the plugin, go to Xfce4 panel preference window and add HotCorner plugin to panel:

Finally set your hot corners actions from the plugin’s preference window and enjoy!

In Howtos hot corners, xfce4

Color UI – An Elegant Simple Theme for XFCE Desktop

Last updated: March 17, 2015

Color UI is a new simple and good looking theme project includes support for Xfwm4, Unity, Cinnamon, GTK3, GTK2, Metaciy, Mutter, Openbox.

Color UI was made with maximum usability in mind, from the window borders to the color scheme, Color UI was made for the user who wants an elegant simple theme that does not look broken. If any part of Color UI has any problems in any of the things I listed as this theme supporting, please notify me in the comments and I will try to fix it ASAP! Feedback is always appreciated, if it was not for feedback how else would Color UI improve.

Below is the screenshot of Color UI theme in Xfce Desktop, along with Numix-icon-light and Pen Tool Wallpaper.

Wanna try this theme? Do the steps below:

1. Download the theme from right pane of the project page.

2. Unpack the theme package, copy & paste Color UI folder to /usr/share/themes. You may do the copy and paste thing by running below command in terminal:

cd ~/Downloads/Color-UI-* && sudo cp -r Color-UI /usr/share/themes

3. Change the theme folder permission:

sudo chmod -R 755 /usr/share/themes/Color-UI

4. For XFCE, apply the theme at Settings Manager -> Appearance -> Style, and Icons tab. Also change the window border by going to Settings Manager -> Window Manager -> Style.

In Xfce gtk themes, xfce4

How to Enable Hot Corners in XFCE Desktop [Quick Tip]

Last updated: July 2, 2015

This is a quick tip that shows you how to enable and tweak hot corners actions in (X)Ubuntu Xfce Desktop.

Brightside is a gnome support hot corners app which also works in Xfce Desktop. It allows you to assign configurable actions to occur while you rest the mouse in a corner of the screen.

Currently available actions comprise:

Fade out volume
Prevent screensaver starting
Start screensaver
Enter DPMS standby mode
Enter DPMS suspend mode
Enter DPMS off mode
Toggle showing desktop.
Custom action

Brightside can be installed via Ubuntu Software Center or by running below command in terminal:

sudo apt-get install brightside

Once installed, run brightside-properties (see previous pic.) command to start its configuration window and setup your hot corners actions.

To make brightside daemon start at login, go to Session and Startup window and add it under Application Autostart tab. See the picture below:

via:lffl.org

UPDATE 2015-7: There’s now a native Xfce plugin to set hot corners actions, see this post.

In Howtos hot corners, xfce4

Upgrade to Whisker Menu 1.5 in (X)ubuntu or Linux Mint Xfce

Last updated: February 20, 2015

Whisker Menu, the default application menu for Linux Mint Xfce edition, has reached the 1.5 release with some new features and bug fixes.

According to the release note, Whisker Menu 1.5 adds an option to set background opacity and allows searching Xfce settings manager items.

There are also a few bug fixes, UI improvements and translations updates. See the full changes:

Fix search activation to allow input methods (bug #11271)
Fix broken menu when closed by window manager (bug #11287)
Fix unnecessary assignment to NULL
Fix possible null pointer dereference
Add option to set background opacity
Add command to edit profile
Add profile picture
Add customizable limit for recently used
Add support for non-square panel button icon
Add items of Xfce settings manager to allow searching
Expand subcategories when activated
Load default settings from XDG location
Make launchers executable when they are added to desktop
Rearrange options in configuration dialog
Refactor list page code
Rename option for including favorites in recently used
Rename option to use single panel row
Rename button to match default menu applet
Use a single instance of the garcon menu
Translation updates: Bulgarian, Catalan, Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Taiwan)

How to Install/Upgrade Whisker Menu:

For Linux Mint 17.1 (or 17), (X)Ubuntu 12.04, (X)Ubuntu 14.04, and later, this software and future updates are available in the developer’s PPA.

To add the PPA, open terminal and run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gottcode/gcppa

Then update your system package cache and install/upgrade the app via below 2 commands:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install xfce4-whiskermenu-plugin

If you’re first time using this app launcher, you have to manually add it to panel from panel preferences -> panel items.

In Howtos Whisker Menu, xfce4

How to Display Network Manager Icon in Ubuntu XFCE4 Panel

Last updated: November 26, 2014

Xfce desktop session in Ubuntu 14.04 /14.10 does not display Network Manager, Messaging Menu, Keyboard Input, and Power icons on the panel out-of-the-box.

Thanks to Mark Trompell, it’s quite easy to add those icons back to Xfce panel by a small plugin called xfce4-indicator-plugin.

1. To install the plugin, open Ubuntu Software Center, search for and install the package xfce4-indicator-plugin.

2. Once you have the plugin installed, right-click on Xfce panel and navigate to “Panel -> Panel Preferences ….

Under Items tab, add new item “Indicator Plugin” and put it right after the “Notification Area” plugin.

While the plugin includes the time and session menu, you can remove the “Clock” and “Action Buttons” from the list.

3. The xfce4-indicator-plugin includes the Global Menu indicator, which displays application menus on panel.

If you don’t like this feature, right-click on the Network Manager icon and select Properties. When it opens, tick the box after “Application Menus (Global Menu)” to hide the applet.

Log out and back in to apply the changes.

In Howtos, Xfce panel, xfce4

Install Windows Like Start Menu in (X)Ubuntu XFCE Desktop

Last updated: November 12, 2014

Quick tutorial that shows you how to install and use Whisker Menu, a Windows like Start Menu for Linux, in (X)Ubuntu Xfce4 Desktop.

Whisker Menu is an alternate application launcher for Xfce Desktop. It is the default app launcher in Linux Mint Xfce edition since Mint 15 Olivia. With it, you can search for and browse through all of your installed applications.

Install Whisker Menu:

For (X)Ubuntu 15.04, (X)Ubuntu 14.10, and (X)Ubuntu 14.04, just click the link below to bring up Ubuntu Software Center and click the install button.

Click to Install Whisker Menu

For (X)Ubuntu 12.04, install it from the developer’s PPA by running the commands below one by one in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T):

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gottcode/gcppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install xfce4-whiskermenu-plugin

To add the menu to panel:

Right-click on panel and navigate to panel -> panel preferences …
When the preferences window opens, navigate to Items tab
Click on the green plus sign to add new item.
Search for and add Whisker Menu to the Items list.
Finally click the arrow button to move it to the top.

Set Windows (Super) key to launch Whisker Menu:

Start Settings Manager from the menu, and navigate to Keyboard
When the Keyboard utility opens, navigate to Application Shortcuts tab.
Add new shortcut with command xfce4-popup-whiskermenu
Press the Super/Windows key when it prompts.

Theming Whisker Menu: See the developer’s post.

In Howtos xfce4

Archives For xfce4

Install XFCE4/XUbuntu Desktop in Ubuntu

Log in XFCE4 Desktop

How to Completely Remove XFCE4/XUbuntu Desktop

How to install Parole 4.15.0 in Ubuntu:

How to Install Whisker Menu in Ubuntu:

Uninstall:

How to Install Parole 1.0.0 in Ubuntu 18.04, 17.10:

Install Whisker Menu:

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