Install Xfce Desktop on Ubuntu and Turn it Into Xubuntu

Want the clean, lightweight Xubuntu experience without reinstalling your whole system? Good news: you can turn regular Ubuntu into something nearly identical to Xubuntu by installing the Xfce desktop environment. Here’s how to do it, step by step.

Why Xfce?

Xfce is fast, simple, and easy on your computer’s resources. If Ubuntu’s default GNOME desktop feels heavy or sluggish, Xfce is a perfect upgrade for older hardware or anyone who prefers speed over flash.

Step 1: Update Your System

Before you start, open your terminal (press Ctrl + Alt + T) and update your system:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

This makes sure you won’t run into issues during installation.

Step 2: Install the Xfce Desktop

You have two main options here:

Option A: Xfce only (minimal install)

This gives you just the Xfce desktop environment, not all the Xubuntu extras.

sudo apt install xfce4

Option B: Xubuntu Desktop (full experience)

If you want your Ubuntu system to look and feel exactly like Xubuntu, including its themes, default apps, and configuration, install the full Xubuntu desktop package:

sudo apt install xubuntu-desktop

This pulls in the full suite of Xubuntu’s software, so you’ll get Thunar (file manager), Mousepad (text editor), Xfce Terminal, and more.

Step 3: Log Out and Switch Desktop Environments

Once installation is done:

1. Log out of your current session.
2. On the login screen, look for a gear or session menu (usually near your username).
3. Select “Xfce Session” or “Xubuntu Session.”
4. Log in.

You’re now running Xfce. Enjoy the speed boost.

Step 4 (Optional): Clean Up

If you want to remove GNOME or default Ubuntu packages to save space, be careful. Removing core Ubuntu packages can break things. It’s usually safest to leave them alone unless you’re comfortable troubleshooting. If you’re low on disk space, you can remove some GNOME applications manually.

Example:

sudo apt remove gnome-shell

But don’t do this unless you know what you’re doing.

Bonus: Customizing Xfce

One of Xfce’s strengths is customization. Tweak the panel, change the wallpaper, try new themes, and make it your own. The Xfce Settings Manager puts all your customization options in one place.

Wrapping Up

That’s it. You don’t need to reinstall or wipe your drive—just a few commands, and you’ve got the Xubuntu experience on Ubuntu. Fast, light, and easy.

Got questions or want more tweaks? Drop a comment below!

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!