Xfce is a lightweight, modular Linux desktop environment that you can add without reinstalling your operating system. The exact package name differs by distribution, but the basic process is the same: install the Xfce desktop packages, log out or reboot, and choose the Xfce session from your login screen.
This guide covers current installation methods for Ubuntu, Debian, Arch Linux, Fedora, and openSUSE. Xfce's own documentation describes the desktop as a collection of components including a window manager, panel, file manager, and settings tools. See the official Xfce documentation for component-specific help.
Save open work and install pending system updates first. Adding a second desktop environment can also add applications, themes, and a display manager. It is usually safer to keep your current desktop installed until you have confirmed that Xfce starts correctly.
Ubuntu provides the xubuntu-desktop metapackage, which installs the Xubuntu desktop experience built around Xfce. Ubuntu currently publishes this package for supported releases, including Ubuntu 26.04 LTS. You can verify availability on the Ubuntu package search.
sudo apt update.sudo apt install xubuntu-desktop.
If Ubuntu asks you to choose a display manager during installation, read the prompt before selecting one. The display manager controls the graphical login screen; Xfce itself can work with common Linux display managers.
On Debian, the most complete option is the task-xfce-desktop task package. Debian describes it as the desktop task that provides Xfce along with packages users normally expect on a desktop system. See the official Debian package page.
sudo apt update.sudo apt install task-xfce-desktop.
If you prefer a smaller Xfce installation, Debian also provides the xfce4 metapackage. You can add common Xfce extras with sudo apt install xfce4 xfce4-goodies.
Arch Linux ships Xfce as the xfce4 package group. The ArchWiki Xfce guide also recommends the optional xfce4-goodies group for additional plugins and utilities.
sudo pacman -Syu.sudo pacman -S xfce4 xfce4-goodies.
On a minimal Arch setup without a display manager, ArchWiki documents starting Xfce through Xinit by adding exec startxfce4 to your Xinit configuration.
Fedora provides an Xfce desktop environment group. The Fedora Project's Xfce page lists dnf install @xfce-desktop-environment for adding it to an existing Fedora system.
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh.sudo dnf install @xfce-desktop-environment.
openSUSE packages Xfce as an installation pattern. The current openSUSE pattern set includes an XFCE Desktop Environment pattern, while the official Zypper documentation shows how to install patterns with the -t pattern option.
sudo zypper refresh.sudo zypper install -t pattern xfce.
After installation, sign out. On the login screen, look for a gear icon, session menu, or similar control near your username. Choose Xfce Session; on Ubuntu with the Xubuntu package set, you may also see a Xubuntu session. Then sign in normally.
You can switch back to your previous desktop later by logging out and choosing its session at the same login screen. If Xfce does not appear, reboot once and confirm that the installation command completed without package errors before trying again.
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