Xfce Forum

Omnimaxus

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Registered: 2024-12-02

Posts: 27

Best distro for XFCE ... ?

Right now, I am using Debian 13 XFCE. But I am curious as to your thoughts about what the best implementation of XFCE as an desktop environment is with Debian as the base. For example, MX Linux. Peppermint OS. And so on and on. Thanks!

eriefisher

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From: ON, Canada

Registered: 2008-10-25

Posts: 1,006

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Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

Many of the distro developers configure Xfce4 to look and behave a certain way based mostly on their preferences or user requests. Debian doesn't do much other than to add it's own artwork and package it up. A default Debian install is pretty much vanilla just as if you installed the packages yourself in any distro. It's basically how the Xfce4 developers left it.

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ToZ

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From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 12,660

Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

"Best" is also very subjective. Its easy to try the different Xfce spins to see which one appeals most to you. There is even a website where you can test them through your browser without having to install anything: https://distrosea.com/.

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Omnimaxus

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Registered: 2024-12-02

Posts: 27

Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

Many of the distro developers configure Xfce4 to look and behave a certain way based mostly on their preferences or user requests. Debian doesn't do much other than to add it's own artwork and package it up. A default Debian install is pretty much vanilla just as if you installed the packages yourself in any distro. It's basically how the Xfce4 developers left it.

I understand, yes.  Thanks.  I have moved on from Debian XFCE.  I feel that an OS should be "complete" and work out of the box.

Am open to any suggestions you or anyone else might have about what variant of XFCE to use going forward (based on Debian/Ubuntu).

Added later 01 min 03 s:

"Best" is also very subjective. Its easy to try the different Xfce spins to see which one appeals most to you. There is even a website where you can test them through your browser without having to install anything: https://distrosea.com/.

That's what I'm doing - downloading different "live" ISOs of XFCE distros and trying them.  Also - thanks for the reminder about DistroSea.

Last edited by Omnimaxus (2025-08-29 17:16:08)

deleted_08102026

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Registered: 2024-02-12

Posts: 71

Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

If you want a just works distro with everything configured and pre-installed, MX is a great one.

Omnimaxus

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Registered: 2024-12-02

Posts: 27

Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

If you want a just works distro with everything configured and pre-installed, MX is a great one.

I've tried the live version of MX Linux. It's good, but it has way too much going on. Too many programs.

eriefisher

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From: ON, Canada

Registered: 2008-10-25

Posts: 1,006

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Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

You haven't said what you consider complete or the best implementation. This will be different for everybody. Programs can be added or removed to suite your needs. The only thing I require is a good set of tools to configure thing the way I prefer and use my system. Xfce4 provides that in every distribution. I keep my desktop clean and minimal for me. It maybe too much or not enough for another person but that's the thing with Linux desktops, it's all up to you.

It's possible that Xfce4 is not for you but there are many choices ranging from minimal to overblown. Everything from Openbox to KDE Plasma and Gnome. The choice is yours.

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Omnimaxus

Member

Registered: 2024-12-02

Posts: 27

Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

You haven't said what you consider complete or the best implementation. This will be different for everybody. Programs can be added or removed to suite your needs. The only thing I require is a good set of tools to configure thing the way I prefer and use my system. Xfce4 provides that in every distribution. I keep my desktop clean and minimal for me. It maybe too much or not enough for another person but that's the thing with Linux desktops, it's all up to you.

It's possible that Xfce4 is not for you but there are many choices ranging from minimal to overblown. Everything from Openbox to KDE Plasma and Gnome. The choice is yours.

You're not wrong.  I haven't said what I'd consider a "best-case" installation.  It'd be something similar to ... I don't know.  Debian 13, even?  But I'm looking for something a tad more complete and with maybe a little more "polish" with user-friendly touches.  I don't know.  Maybe MX Linux, but a minimal version of it without all the extra programs the developers did (e.g., "MX-this," "MX-that," and so forth).  I'm still feeling my way on and off.  I do like XFCE.  It takes me back to the days of Windows 98, 2000, and XP.  Clean and simple.  That's what I also like.  Thanks.

Last edited by Omnimaxus (2025-08-31 16:05:18)

him610

Member

From: Pennsylvania USA

Registered: 2022-02-19

Posts: 44

Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

Best distro for XFCE...? Is this a popularity contest? What is your favorite distro underneath XFCE?

I use XFCE on both Debian 13 and Ubuntu 24.+. I prefer XFCE to look and behave the same on both distros. I am out of the 'trying different looks' for the sake of trying different looks and behavior. Stability and predictablity is what I strive for.

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Omnimaxus

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Registered: 2024-12-02

Posts: 27

Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

tongue Best distro for XFCE...? Is this a popularity contest? What is your favorite distro underneath XFCE?

Ha.  Not a "popularity contest" or anything silly like that.  Meant that more in the way of user convenience.  For example, one distribution already has GDebi installed (instead of having to add it and whatnot).  Same for the screensaver.  Stuff like that.  It's not a huge deal to have to customize a distribution to your liking, but it helps to be able to cut back on the steps needed to get an OS to where it's to your liking.  Thanks.

Last edited by Omnimaxus (2025-09-02 13:26:53)

BenyaminL

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Registered: 2019-10-11

Posts: 81

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Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

I prefer using Fedora Xfce spin. Used to Debian and Ubuntu in the past, apt is killing me, so I stick with rpm/dnf and SELINUX. it's fun

treeview

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From: Holly Springs, NC

Registered: 2025-07-27

Posts: 19

Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

IMO your question is wrongheaded, Xfce should be viewed simply as a desktop environment overlaid on a Linux/Unix base. The inferred question is which configuration does one appreciate most which displays the spectrum of module configuration available in Xfce. This proven and ample ability to configure the GUI is exactly why I choose Xfce.     

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kwizzz

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Registered: 2024-11-10

Posts: 51

Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

Well, it's just XFCE.  No matter where it is running on...

...however, it boils down how distributions configure and spice it up with additional packages to ease up things w/o me having to figure out which packages are needed to get things done (like SMB access for Thunar (install additional missing gvfs stuff)) and if they decide to introduce their own (reasonable?) shortcuts (e.g. I prefer alt-` for switching to windows of the same application, but somehow some distros use super-tab).

And it's a matter of personal taste.

I had a look at some distros like debian stable, fedora, mint, openSUSE and decided -- for me -- that openSUSE has the best out of the box experience for XFCE.  (They even added the latest XFCE to Leap 15.6.)

Omnimaxus

Member

Registered: 2024-12-02

Posts: 27

Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

Update:

Have settled on Debian 13.1 XFCE.  Works and looks great.

deleted_08102026

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Registered: 2024-02-12

Posts: 71

Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

Good choice. You should be covered for some time now.

Omnimaxus

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Registered: 2024-12-02

Posts: 27

Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

Good choice. You should be covered for some time now.

Yup.  Thanks!

ariannavis

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Registered: 2026-07-30

Posts: 1

Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

Best distro for XFCE ... ?

Probably the most polished XFCE implementation on a Debian base. Their custom MX Tools, backports repository for newer kernels/hardware, and fine-tuned XFCE layout make it extremely practical without feeling bloated.

daffyduck

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Registered: 2026-06-25

Posts: 118

Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

Right now, I am using Debian 13 XFCE. But I am curious as to your thoughts about what the best implementation of XFCE as an desktop environment is with Debian as the base. For example, MX Linux. Peppermint OS. And so on and on. Thanks!

I prefer to base my recommendations on usage statistics, as my own preferences are skewed by the fact that I heavily customize every system I use.

According to DistroWatch, MX Linux is the most popular XFCE distro, which is a strong indicator of its quality. I personally seldom use MX Linux, but when I do, I find that changing the default vertical panel to a "deskbar" setup makes it much more usable (although that layout exposes some tolerable Xfce bugs).

The second most popular is obviously Linux Mint Xfce, which is what I use frequently. Their own data shows that a significant portion of the Mint community sticks with XFCE:

Last edited by daffyduck (2026-07-30 08:51:09)

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mbonanomi

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Registered: 2026-06-19

Posts: 11

Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

I think Arch + XFCE is a nice option for most recent hardware: a bleeding edge distro, but the solidity and predictable development path of XFCE preserves the UX/UI from "disruptions".

Another interesting (and opposite) option is MX Linux or Xubuntu (minimal installation): it's a nice "ricing" out of the box.

Uityyy

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From: Central Texas

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Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

My personal preference is for Devuan's Xfce setup. I believe it tries harder than any other distro in the DistroWatch top 100 to have a "traditional" 2000s-style UI (skeuomorphic icons, scrollbars that don't autohide, etc. etc.)

Obviously, taste is personal, and a lot of people are looking for a lot of different things.

MX Linux's default config isn't my jam, but I've got to commend then for really putting work into it. They've added extra things like a tool to allow unmounting removable media from the notification tray rather than Thunar, and I think a few users of other distros might enjoy grabbing that package if they realized they could.

eriefisher

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From: ON, Canada

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Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

I'm surprised to see Cinnamon with such high numbers but that is for Mint alone. I have used Cinnamon and did like it.

What is Edge? I have never heard of an Edge Desktop Environment.

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It's alright, when you find your way, then you see it disappear
It's alright....
Chris Cornell

daffyduck

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Registered: 2026-06-25

Posts: 118

Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

I'm surprised to see Cinnamon with such high numbers but that is for Mint alone. I have used Cinnamon and did like it.

What is Edge? I have never heard of an Edge Desktop Environment.

That image is statistics for Linux Mint,  download per each ISO.

"Edge" is an ISO with a newer kernel, for more recent hardware.

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eriefisher

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From: ON, Canada

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Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

So if it's not a Desktop Environment why is it compared to Desktop Environments?

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But it's all right, when you're all in pain and you feel the rain come down
It's alright, when you find your way, then you see it disappear
It's alright....
Chris Cornell

daffyduck

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Registered: 2026-06-25

Posts: 118

Re: Best distro for XFCE ... ?

So if it's not a Desktop Environment why is it compared to Desktop Environments?

Because that is the ISO download statistics chart made by Linux Mint. It shows all available ISOs, not all available DEs.

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