Xfce4
![]() Nexus 5x running Xfce4 | |
In postmarketOS | |
---|---|
Package | postmarketos-ui-xfce4 |
Status | Available |
Xfce4 is a GTK-based desktop environment aiming to be fast and lightweight.
Status
It works on most devices with a working display, and runs fine without hardware acceleration. Uses latest xfce version packages from Alpine repo.
Installation
pmbootstrap init
User interface: xfce4
Extra packages: xf86-video-vesa mesa-egl
Fixes
- Follow the Display guide to change and fix display related issues.
- Add
gvfs
andthunar-volman
for mounting drives and drive management. - Change the hidpi settings to 2x in
Display
setting. - Install
lxdm
to get restart options in power manager. - Disable
Compositor
fromWindow Manager Tweaks
in settings to get faster experience.
Better usability

The best way to use the Xfce will be in Horizontally. So do this step to get better usability from Xfce.
- Rotate the display and touch to horizontal using Display guide.
- In panel setting, change the mode to
Deskbar
, addwisker-menu
and remove other plugins. - In
FileManager
settings, shortcut pane icon size to 48 px and enableSingle Click
in Behavior section. - Use CoreApps as they work best in Horizontal screens.
Improving Touchscreen-Friendliness

In Window Manager
settings, changing the theme to Default-hdpi
or Default-xhdpi
will make window buttons and title bars larger. A font size of about 16 can work well with these themes.
In Panel
settings, increasing panel height, and setting panels to hide Intelligently
, will make them easier to interact with, without losing effective screen real estate.
This results in something like the right. The only obvious problem is the large, permanent, title bars.