You can run Xubuntu on a Raspberry Pi 4, but the cleanest current method is not to flash a standard Xubuntu PC ISO. Instead, write an official Ubuntu image made for Raspberry Pi, boot it, and install the xubuntu-desktop package from Ubuntu's repositories. Ubuntu 26.04 LTS supports the Raspberry Pi 4, and the Xubuntu desktop metapackage is available for the arm64 architecture.
This guide uses Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS as the base because Canonical publishes a Raspberry Pi 4 desktop image for that release. Xubuntu 26.04 is also an LTS release. If you already have a supported Ubuntu installation on your Pi 4, you can skip directly to the Xubuntu package installation.
Raspberry Pi recommends its Raspberry Pi Imager for writing operating-system images. Ubuntu's current Raspberry Pi documentation also uses Imager and supports microSD or USB mass-storage media.
Download Imager for Windows, macOS, or Linux from Raspberry Pi's official site. On Ubuntu, Canonical also documents this Snap command:
sudo snap install rpi-imagerInsert the microSD card or connect the USB SSD before opening Imager. Back up anything on that device because writing the Ubuntu image will erase it.
Open Raspberry Pi Imager and select Raspberry Pi 4 as the device. Then choose the operating system. The exact layout can change slightly between Imager versions, but the current workflow is Device, Operating System, Storage, then the write step.
Under the operating-system list, open Other general-purpose OS, choose Ubuntu, and select the current Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Desktop 64-bit Raspberry Pi image offered for your board. Canonical currently lists Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS preinstalled desktop images for Raspberry Pi.
Choose the correct microSD card or SSD. Double-check the device name and capacity so you do not overwrite another drive.
Continue to the write screen, approve the erase warning, and let Imager finish both writing and verification before removing the media.
With the Pi powered off, insert the prepared media, connect the display and input devices, and power on the Raspberry Pi 4. Complete Ubuntu's first-run setup, create your user account, and connect to the internet. Once you reach the desktop, install available updates before adding another desktop environment:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgradeOpen Terminal and install the full Xubuntu desktop metapackage:
sudo apt install xubuntu-desktopThe package is in Ubuntu's Universe repository and is officially published for arm64 in Ubuntu 26.04. You can verify the current package on the Ubuntu Packages page for xubuntu-desktop. If you want a smaller set of preinstalled applications, Ubuntu also provides xubuntu-desktop-minimal.
The installation downloads many packages, so let it finish without interrupting power. If package configuration asks which display manager to use, keeping the current default is fine; the Xubuntu session can still be selected at login.
Reboot when installation finishes:
sudo rebootAt the login screen, open the session selector, choose Xubuntu, and sign in. If you started from Ubuntu Desktop, the GNOME desktop remains installed as another session; you do not need to remove it to use Xubuntu.
Ubuntu's current Raspberry Pi support notes say Raspberry Pi 4 boards need boot EEPROM firmware dated 2022-11-25 or newer for Ubuntu 26.04. If your Pi has much older firmware, boot a supported image such as Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, run sudo rpi-eeprom-update -a, reboot, and then retry 26.04. See Canonical's Raspberry Pi support matrix and EEPROM guidance.
For the full imaging procedure, including USB storage, see Ubuntu's official Raspberry Pi installation tutorial. The key point is that you are using Ubuntu's Raspberry Pi image as the hardware-supported base, then adding the Xubuntu desktop from the same Ubuntu release.
Capture Linux desktop audio in Audacity by routing its recording stream to your output device’s monitor source. Follow PulseAudio and PipeWire steps, export tips, and fixes for silent tracks.
Install Dropbox on Linux from the official package, sign in, sync a local folder, manage selective sync, and check status from the command line.
Install Inkscape from your Linux distribution’s repositories, the Ubuntu stable PPA, Snap, or Flathub, with current commands and notes for choosing a package source.
Use FSlint to scan selected Linux folders, review duplicate groups, and safely delete redundant files or learn when hard-link merging is appropriate.
Install SABnzbd on Ubuntu or Debian, or run it in Docker on another Linux host. Then open the web interface and configure your provider and download folders.
Install the Paper GTK theme from supported Linux repositories, enable it for GTK apps in GNOME Tweaks, and see what the legacy theme can and cannot change.
The old OpenMediaVault Plex plugin is archived. Set up Plex on OMV 8 with OMV-Extras, the Compose plugin, persistent storage, and Plex’s official container.
Clean and speed up Ubuntu with safe APT cleanup, storage checks, and startup controls that help free space and troubleshoot a sluggish desktop.
Install Hiri on Linux with its Snap package or official tarball, add a desktop launcher, and check supported accounts plus a warning about Hiri’s old Snap release.
Use Fastfetch and built-in Linux commands to check your distro, kernel, CPU, memory, graphics, storage, and connected devices, then save a clear report.
