How to Install a Lightweight Desktop Environment in Linux

Installing a lightweight desktop environment (DE) on Linux can significantly enhance your system’s performance, especially if you’re using older hardware or want to minimize resource usage. This guide will walk you through the steps to install lightweight DEs like XFCE, LXQt, and MATE on any Linux distribution. We will also explain the key concepts and terms associated with desktop environments.

What is a Desktop Environment?

A Desktop Environment (DE) provides a graphical interface for interacting with your operating system. It includes window managers, file managers, panels, icons, and applications. Lightweight DEs are designed to use minimal system resources while maintaining usability.

Popular Lightweight Desktop Environments

1. XFCE: One of the most popular lightweight DEs, known for its simplicity and low resource usage.
2. LXQt: The successor to LXDE, built to be extremely lightweight and fast.
3. MATE: A continuation of the GNOME 2 desktop, offering a traditional desktop experience with low resource consumption.

Prerequisites

• A Linux distribution: Any Linux system, such as Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, or others.
• Sudo access: You will need administrator privileges to install and configure a desktop environment.
• Stable internet connection: To download packages and dependencies.

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing any desktop environment, it’s always good to update your system to ensure you have the latest packages and security patches. Use the following commands based on your Linux distribution:

For Ubuntu/Debian-based systems:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

For Fedora-based systems:

sudo dnf update

For Arch-based systems:

sudo pacman -Syu

Step 2: Installing XFCE Desktop Environment

XFCE is one of the best lightweight desktop environments for Linux. It’s simple, fast, and doesn’t consume many resources.

For Ubuntu/Debian-based Systems:

sudo apt install xfce4 xfce4-goodies

For Fedora-based Systems:

sudo dnf groupinstall "Xfce Desktop"

For Arch-based Systems:

sudo pacman -S xfce4 xfce4-goodies

After the installation, reboot your system:

sudo reboot

Step 3: Installing LXQt Desktop Environment

LXQt is another excellent option for those seeking a minimal, fast desktop environment. It uses Qt, making it lightweight and suitable for older hardware.

For Ubuntu/Debian-based Systems:

sudo apt install lxqt sddm

After installation, set SDDM (LXQt’s display manager) as default:

sudo systemctl enable sddm

For Fedora-based Systems:

sudo dnf groupinstall "LXQt Desktop"

For Arch-based Systems:

sudo pacman -S lxqt sddm

Reboot your system to enter LXQt:

sudo reboot

Step 4: Installing MATE Desktop Environment

MATE is a fork of GNOME 2 and offers a more traditional desktop experience, balancing simplicity and resource efficiency.

For Ubuntu/Debian-based Systems:

sudo apt install mate-desktop-environment

For Fedora-based Systems:

sudo dnf groupinstall "MATE Desktop"

For Arch-based Systems:

sudo pacman -S mate mate-extra

Once the installation is complete, reboot the system:

sudo reboot

Step 5: Switching Between Desktop Environments

If you have more than one desktop environment installed, you can easily switch between them during login. Here’s how:

1. Log out of your current session.
2. At the login screen, look for a gear or settings icon next to your username.
3. Select the desktop environment you want to use (XFCE, LXQt, MATE).
4. Log in, and the chosen environment will load.

Step 6: Troubleshooting

• Black Screen or No Login Window: If your system fails to load the desktop environment properly, you may need to reinstall the X Window System. For Ubuntu-based systems:

  sudo apt install --reinstall xorg

• Display Manager Issues: If your desktop environment isn’t loading, check the status of your display manager (e.g., SDDM for LXQt):

  sudo systemctl status sddm

• Uninstalling Desktop Environments: If you want to remove a desktop environment, use the following commands: For XFCE:

  sudo apt remove --purge xfce4

For LXQt:

  sudo apt remove --purge lxqt

For MATE:

  sudo apt remove --purge mate-desktop-environment

Conclusion

By following this tutorial, you’ve learned how to install and switch between lightweight desktop environments like XFCE, LXQt, and MATE on Linux. Whether you’re using older hardware or simply prefer a faster, more minimal interface, these environments provide an excellent user experience with low resource consumption.