How to Install LXQt on Ubuntu 22.04

Introduction

Before we discuss how to install LXQt on Ubuntu 22.04, let's first understand-What is LXQt?

LXQt is a lightweight and efficient desktop environment built upon the Qt framework. It offers a clean and minimalistic interface, making it ideal for systems with limited resources or users who prefer a lightweight desktop environment.

This tutorial will walk you through the installation process of LXQt on Ubuntu 22.04.

Advantages

1. Lightweight & Fast: LXQt is designed to be lightweight, using fewer system resources, and providing a responsive desktop experience, making it suitable for low-resource systems or older hardware.
2. Customizable: LXQt offers various customization options, allowing users to personalize the desktop environment, including changing themes, appearance settings, and panel configurations.
3. Modular: LXQt follows a modular design, meaning each component (file manager, panel, desktop manager, etc.) operates independently, providing flexibility and allowing users to use their preferred alternatives if desired.
4. Qt Framework Integration: As LXQt is built upon the Qt framework, it benefits from the extensive features and excellent Qt application integration, providing a consistent and polished experience.
5. Extensible: LXQt supports plugins and additional Qt-based applications, offering users the opportunity to extend the functionality and further customize their desktop environment.

Section 1: Install LXQt on Ubuntu Linux

Step 1: Updating Ubuntu System Before LXQt Installation

Starting with a fully updated system is crucial, ensuring the latest software and security patches are installed. This reduces the risk of potential conflicts during the LXQt installation. The following commands are used to achieve this:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

The first command, sudo apt update, refreshes your system’s package lists, ensuring that Ubuntu is aware of the latest versions of software available. The second command, sudo apt upgrade, will subsequently upgrade all outdated software on your system.

Step 2: Installing LXQt via APT Command on Ubuntu

LXQt is conveniently available in Ubuntu’s repositories, simplifying the installation process. Its lightweight nature ensures that download and installation are considerably faster than other desktop alternatives. Here’s how you install LXQt on your system:

sudo apt install task-lxqt-desktop

In this command, sudo is used for executing the command with root privileges. apt install is the command for installing software, and task-lxqt-desktop is the package name for the LXQt desktop environment.

For minimal server installations, LXQt can be installed with the following command:

sudo apt install lxqt

During the installation process, you’ll encounter the “Configuring sddm” screen. SDDM (Simple Desktop Display Manager) is the display manager and login screen that LXQt uses. To continue, press the TAB key to highlight <Ok> and press ENTER.

Step 3: Rebooting the System

Upon successful installation of LXQt, reboot your system to finalize the changes. Rebooting allows your system to initialize LXQt properly and ensures its proper functioning. Here’s how you can reboot your system using the terminal:

sudo reboot

Section 2: Accessing LXQt on Ubuntu

Step 1: Navigating the Login Screen with LXQt on Ubuntu

After your system restarts following the LXQt installation, you will encounter your login screen. By default, LXQt should be automatically selected as your desktop environment. If this is not the case, you can manually select LXQt.

To choose LXQt, locate the desktop environment selection option in the top left-hand corner of the login screen. Click on this dropdown and select “LXQt” as your desktop environment. This will replace the default choice of “GNOME (Wayland)”.

Step 2: Understanding the Initial Appearance with LXQt on Ubuntu

When you first log in to LXQt, the appearance of your login screen may resemble a Debian interface. This can initially seem confusing, given that you are running Ubuntu. However, there’s no need for concern; this occurrence can be attributed to Ubuntu’s lineage.

Ubuntu is fundamentally built upon Debian; hence, certain aspects of Debian’s aesthetic design can manifest in Ubuntu, particularly when installing alternative desktop environments like LXQt. It’s important to remember that this initial appearance can be customized and adjusted to your liking in subsequent steps, offering a truly tailored desktop experience.

Section 3: Tips on Getting Started with LXQt on Ubuntu

LXQt can be a powerful addition to your Linux workflow, offering many customization options to enhance your user experience. To aid you in settling into LXQt, we’ll explore some helpful tips and tricks specific to the software’s Linux-based installations.

Setting a Desktop Background

Unlike many desktop environments, LXQt typically has no background set by default. This blank canvas provides an excellent opportunity to make the desktop truly yours. To set a background, right-click anywhere on the desktop and select “Desktop Preferences”. From here, you can browse your system for your preferred wallpaper image.

Configuring the Panel

The LXQt panel is a versatile tool, allowing you to access various features swiftly. However, the default configuration might not align perfectly with your workflow. To customize the panel, right-click on an empty area and select “Configure Panel”. This opens the panel settings, where you can modify its location, size, and more.

Managing Windows

Windows management in LXQt is highly configurable, which can significantly improve your productivity. Accessing the “Openbox Settings” in the LXQt configuration center lets you fine-tune window behavior to your liking, including focusing, placing, and resizing windows.

Personalizing LXQt Themes

LXQt allows for extensive theme customization, allowing you to alter the look and feel of your desktop environment. To explore this, head to LXQt Settings> Appearance. Here, you can customize LXQt themes to suit your aesthetic.

Remember, the beauty of LXQt lies in its flexibility and versatility. Don’t be afraid to play around with the settings and configurations. These tips are just a starting point. The more you experiment, the more you can mold LXQt to fit your needs and preferences. Enjoy your exploration of LXQt on Ubuntu Linux!

Section 4: Managing LXQt on Ubuntu

Navigating a system equipped with LXQt can sometimes necessitate a switch back to the GNOME Desktop Environment and its default display manager, GDM. This process involves moving away from LXQt and the LightDM display manager it uses. In this section, we will walk you through the procedure for this transition.

Switching Default Display Managers with LXQt on Ubuntu

Reverting to GNOME from LXQt starts with resuming the display manager selection screen, similar to what you encountered during the LXQt installation process. This can be achieved by running the following command in your terminal:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure sddm

This command initiates the SDDM display manager’s configuration process, allowing you to select an alternate default option, such as GDM, for GNOME. Please note it is essential to reboot your system whenever you switch display managers or desktop environments to ensure all changes are accurately incorporated.

sudo reboot

Uninstalling LXQt on Ubuntu

There might be situations where you decide to uninstall LXQt. Maybe you’re keen on trying out another desktop environment or want to revert to your previous configuration. If you find yourself in this position, you can remove LXQt as follows:

Run the following command in your terminal:

sudo apt-get remove lxqt*

The command will expel LXQt and any associated files from your system, returning your desktop environment to its prior state.

Following the LXQt removal, it’s probable that you’ll need to reinstall the GNOME Desktop Environment. The process of LXQt uninstallation might have led to the removal of some packages that GNOME relies on. Hence, to reinstall GNOME, update your package list and install the ubuntu-gnome-desktop package:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install ubuntu-gnome-desktop

Finally, to ensure all modifications are correctly applied, reboot your system:

sudo reboot

FAQs to Install LXQt on Ubuntu 22.04

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we walked through the steps to install LXQt on Ubuntu 22.04.

If you have any queries, feel free to ask them in the comments section, and we would be happy to respond to them.