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How to Install XFCE Desktop in RHEL, Rocky Linux & AlmaLinux

XFCE is a lightweight and user-friendly desktop environment that offers a great balance between functionality and resource usage. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of installing XFCE on RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux), Rocky Linux, and AlmaLinux. Whether you're looking to enhance your desktop experience or simply explore a new environment, this guide will help you get started.

2026-03

Table of Contents#

  1. Prerequisites
  2. Updating the System
  3. Installing XFCE Desktop
  4. Configuring the Display Manager
  5. Logging into XFCE Desktop
  6. Customizing XFCE Desktop
  7. Troubleshooting
  8. Conclusion
  9. References

1. Prerequisites#

Before we begin the installation process, make sure you have the following:

  • A system running RHEL, Rocky Linux, or AlmaLinux.
  • Sudo or root privileges to install packages.

2. Updating the System#

It's always a good practice to update your system before installing new software. Open a terminal and run the following command:

sudo dnf update -y

This will update all the installed packages on your system.

3. Installing XFCE Desktop#

Before installing XFCE, you need to enable the EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) repository, as XFCE and LightDM are not available in the default RHEL-based repositories:

sudo dnf install epel-release -y

Now, let's install the XFCE desktop environment. Run the following command in the terminal:

sudo dnf groupinstall "Xfce" -y

This command will install the XFCE desktop group, which includes all the necessary packages for XFCE to run.

4. Configuring the Display Manager#

Once XFCE is installed, we need to configure the display manager to use XFCE as the default desktop environment. There are several display managers available, such as GDM (GNOME Display Manager), LightDM, and SDDM (Simple Desktop Display Manager). In this guide, we will use GDM, which is pre-installed on RHEL-based distributions.

Enabling GDM#

GDM is typically already installed on RHEL-based systems. Enable it to start at boot:

sudo systemctl enable gdm

Setting XFCE as the Default Desktop#

Now, we need to set XFCE as the default desktop environment for GDM. Create a new file /etc/gdm/custom.conf with the following content:

[daemon]
DefaultSession=xfce.desktop

This configuration tells GDM to use the XFCE session by default.

5. Logging into XFCE Desktop#

Reboot your system to apply the changes:

sudo reboot

After the system reboots, you should see the GDM login screen. Enter your username and password, and select "XFCE" from the session dropdown menu. Click "Login" to start using the XFCE desktop.

6. Customizing XFCE Desktop#

XFCE offers a wide range of customization options to personalize your desktop experience. Here are some ways to customize XFCE:

Changing the Theme#

You can change the theme of XFCE by going to "Settings" > "Appearance" > "Style". Select a theme from the list or install new themes from the XFCE repositories.

Customizing the Panel#

The panel in XFCE is highly customizable. Right-click on the panel and select "Panel Preferences" to change its size, position, and add or remove plugins.

Installing Plugins#

XFCE has a variety of plugins available to enhance its functionality. You can install plugins by going to "Settings" > "Add/Remove Panel Items" > "Manage Installed Plugins". Search for the plugin you want to install and click "Install".

7. Troubleshooting#

If you encounter any issues during the installation or use of XFCE, here are some common troubleshooting steps:

Check Package Dependencies#

Make sure all the required packages are installed. Run the following command to check for missing dependencies:

sudo dnf check

If there are any missing dependencies, install them using the sudo dnf install command.

Verify Display Manager Configuration#

Check the display manager configuration files to ensure they are set up correctly. For example, if you're using GDM, check the /etc/gdm/custom.conf file.

Reinstall XFCE#

If all else fails, you can try reinstalling XFCE. Run the following command to remove XFCE:

sudo dnf groupremove "Xfce" -y

Then, reinstall XFCE using the sudo dnf groupinstall "Xfce" -y command.

8. Conclusion#

In this blog post, we have shown you how to install XFCE desktop on RHEL, Rocky Linux, and AlmaLinux. We covered the prerequisites, system update, XFCE installation, display manager configuration, logging into XFCE, customization, and troubleshooting. With XFCE, you can enjoy a lightweight and user-friendly desktop environment that offers a great balance between functionality and resource usage.

9. References#

We hope this guide has been helpful to you. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below.