How do I reduce padding on the xfdesktop?

And XFCE For All · 2026-01-30 22:32:50

Hello!

I have tried numerous attempts to reduce the padding between the desktop icons and the corner of the screen via css, and I am afraid the properties I am looking for are hard coded into xfdesktop.

I’ve applied styles to the selectors XfdesktopIconView and XfceDesktop, and even tried using the class ".view", but the properties like margin, padding, max-height, and min-height aren't having any effect.

Below, I've included pictures that illustrate the issue I'm facing

Wanted result:
Screenshot_2026-01-30_22-10-25.png?raw=true

Reality:
Screenshot_2026-01-30_22-19-01.png?raw=true

I have also noticed in earlier versions of xfce (xfce 4.18.1) that the desktop padding is actually reduced.

The padding from 4.18.1 :
Screenshot_2026-01-30_22-54-23.png?raw=true

To create the "wanted result" picture I actually used GTK-inspector and adjusted the "X-position".
Screenshot_2026-01-30_22-08-47.png?raw=true

Looking forward to hear from you.

Last edited by And XFCE For All (2026-01-31 18:02:34)

ToZ · 2026-01-30 23:06:52

I don't believe that property is available through css (it is hard-coded), but try:

XfdesktopIconView.view {
  -XfdesktopIconView-cell-padding: 0;
}

...in your ~/.config/gtk-3.0/gtk.css file. You'll need to restart xfdesktop for the effect to take effect.

Search for "XfdesktopIconView" in these forums and you'll see many other posts that talk about the available options.

And XFCE For All · 2026-01-31 06:29:06

ToZ wrote:

I don't believe that property is available through css (it is hard-coded), but try:
XfdesktopIconView.view {
  -XfdesktopIconView-cell-padding: 0;
}
...in your ~/.config/gtk-3.0/gtk.css file. You'll need to restart xfdesktop for the effect to take effect.
Search for "XfdesktopIconView" in these forums and you'll see many other posts that talk about the available options.

I forgot to mention that I have already tinkered around with that property.

It is was set to -0.9 on the two first pictures I sent.

Looks like I will have to install an older version of xfdesktop, then, since I was satisfied enough with the padding on xfce 4.17. neutral

Added later 9 h 58 min 11 s:

ToZ wrote:

I don't believe that property is available through css (it is hard-coded)

By the way, what does "/home/user/.config/xfce4/desktop/icons.screen0.yaml" do?

And what does these properties inside icons.screen0.yaml do?

    geometry:
      x: 0
      y: 0
      width: 1920
      height: 1080

I have tried to edit the properties to do this (to match what I did in gkt-inspector), but nothing happens:

    geometry:
      x: -13
      y: -8
      width: 1920
      height: 1080

Last edited by And XFCE For All (2026-01-31 17:03:59)

ToZ · 2026-01-31 17:29:17

By the way, what does "/home/user/.config/xfce4/desktop/icons.screen0.yaml" do?

Saves/tracks icon positions on the desktop.

And XFCE For All · 2026-01-31 18:19:36

And I am a noob at building xfdesktop 4.18.1 from source. At this point it looks like I'll have to just stop caring and give up. tongue

checking for exo-2 >= 0.11.0... not found
*** The required package exo-2 was not found on your system.
*** Please install exo-2 (atleast version 0.11.0) or adjust
*** the PKG_CONFIG_PATH environment variable if you
*** installed the package in a nonstandard prefix so that
*** pkg-config is able to find it.

sudo apt install exo-2
Error: Unable to locate package exo-2

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#1 2026-01-30 22:32:50

How do I reduce padding on the xfdesktop?

#2 2026-01-30 23:06:52

Re: How do I reduce padding on the xfdesktop?

#3 2026-01-31 06:29:06

Re: How do I reduce padding on the xfdesktop?

#4 2026-01-31 17:29:17

Re: How do I reduce padding on the xfdesktop?

#5 2026-01-31 18:19:36

Re: How do I reduce padding on the xfdesktop?

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