How to Install XFCE on Ubuntu 25.04

XFCE is a lightweight, fast, and stable desktop environment — perfect for users who want a smooth Linux experience without heavy resource usage. Installing XFCE on Ubuntu 25.04 is simple and ideal for both desktops and VPS environments with GUI needs.

Step 1: Update System Packages

Before installing XFCE, make sure your system is fully updated:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install XFCE Desktop Environment

Install the complete XFCE package:

sudo apt install -y xfce4 xfce4-goodies

The xfce4-goodies package adds extras like plugins, panels, and utilities.

Step 3: Install a Display Manager (Recommended)

If you're installing XFCE on a minimal Ubuntu system, you may need a display manager.

Install LightDM (lightweight and ideal for XFCE):

sudo apt install -y lightdm lightdm-gtk-greeter

Set LightDM as default when prompted.

To manually set it:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure lightdm

Step 4: Reboot Your System

Reboot to load XFCE and LightDM properly:

sudo reboot

After reboot, the XFCE login screen will appear.

Step 5: Select XFCE Session (If Needed)

If multiple desktop environments are installed, choose XFCE Session from the login screen.

Optional Step: Install Themes & Icons

XFCE is fully customizable. Improve the look with modern themes:

sudo apt install -y arc-theme papirus-icon-theme

Optional Step: Install xRDP for Remote GUI Access

For remote desktop via RDP:

sudo apt install -y xrdp
sudo systemctl enable --now xrdp

Enable XFCE for xRDP:

echo "xfce4-session" > ~/.xsession

Restart xRDP:

sudo systemctl restart xrdp

XFCE is perfect for older hardware or cloud servers — it uses very low memory (typically under 600MB), making it faster than GNOME or KDE on lightweight systems.