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Xubuntu is an official Ubuntu flavour using the Xfce desktop. It suits people seeking traditional menus, panels and windows with Ubuntu ecosystem software. Suitability depends on your tasks and hardware; a restrained desktop does not guarantee that every application will run smoothly.
Information checked and updated on .
How does Xubuntu differ from Ubuntu?
The most visible difference is the desktop. Xfce combines an application menu, configurable panels, workspaces and the Thunar file manager. Settings let you adapt shortcuts, panels and displays. The Xfce component overview explains this organisation and distinguishes the graphical environment from the complete distribution.
Like other official Ubuntu flavours, Xubuntu is community-developed and uses the Ubuntu archive. It has its own application selection and support period. To compare interfaces, also see Ubuntu and Kubuntu with KDE Plasma.
Which Xubuntu release should you choose?
On 29 October 2026, the project’s release register listed three supported branches:
- Xubuntu 26.04 LTS, released on 23 April 2026 and supported until April 2029. This is a starting point for keeping the same branch for several years.
- Xubuntu 26.10, released on 15 October 2026 and supported until July 2027. Plan the next upgrade sooner.
- Xubuntu 24.04 LTS remains supported until April 2027. If already installed, prepare its replacement before that deadline.
Xubuntu advertises three years of support for its LTS releases. Do not automatically apply Ubuntu Desktop support periods or commercial offers to Xubuntu. A 26.04.1 image refreshes the 26.04 LTS branch; it does not start a new support cycle.
Desktop or Minimal: two starting points
Desktop includes a broader application selection. Minimal provides a smaller base to complete yourself. The distinction appears in the project’s package seed lists. Desktop avoids immediately rebuilding an application collection for a first trial; Minimal suits users who already know what they want to install.
Minimal changes neither processor architecture nor the requirements of applications you add. Current releases are therefore not a solution for a computer limited to 32-bit operating systems.
Installing applications and maintaining the system
The Xubuntu software documentation introduces Ubuntu repositories, APT and Synaptic. Depending on your edition and installed tools, you can also manage Snap applications or add other formats. Check package origins and update methods before adding multiple external repositories.
Start with real work: documents in LibreOffice, media in VLC, then professional tools and peripherals. A Linux application is not necessarily compatible with all your files or extensions.
Could Xubuntu suit an older PC?
The project aims for modest resource requirements. Its download page specifies an Intel or AMD 64-bit processor; recommended guidance includes a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 2 GB memory and 20 GB free storage. These are project guidelines, not measurements of comfort with your browser or documents. Allow extra capacity for applications, updates and data.
Before replacing your system, try Wi-Fi, sound, suspend, an external display and essential applications. Record results in the selection guide’s trial worksheet. Our Xubuntu download page explains editions, verification and pre-installation checks.
Linked official sources checked on 29 October 2026. No hardware tests or performance rankings are presented.