How to Install LXQt desktop on Ubuntu and Linux Mint

LXQt the lightweight Qt based desktop environment, result of merging two desktop environments, LXDE and RazorQt.

Here's a quick tutorial about how to install LXQt on ubuntu or Linux Mint and configure it properly.

LXQt has atleast three significant advantage than other lightweight based desktops like XFCE, LXDE, MATE etc.

1. It's built with Qt, so more cleaner and and unified user interface.
2. LXQt has It's own policykit handler, app runner, notification daemon etc . etc.
3. Everything is highly customizable , even you could use own Qt style sheet.

So let's install LXQt Ubuntu, Linux Mint or any other Ubuntu based distro.

If you're getting a black blank desktop, jump to the Troubleshooting section.

LXQt Ubuntu repository and PPA

LXQt is available in the main repository of Ubuntu 16.04 and above, no need to install LXQt from any PPA.

But if you want to try latest LXQt and other features, then you may want to use the PPA from Lubuntu devs.

For experimental LXQt installation, add the LXQt PPA and update the software repo.

sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:lubuntu-dev/lubuntu-daily
sudo apt-get update

1. Installing Ubuntu LXQt desktop

In Ubuntu, it could be installed manually package by package, but it's going to be headache for newbies, difficult to locate what is not working why it's not working.

So if you have no worry about how much internet bandwidth will be consumed, just install the lxqt metapackage , it'll install the rest as dependency.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install lxqt

A little harder way, install just what is needed

sudo apt-get install openbox pcmanfm-qt lxqt-admin lxqt-common lxqt-config lxqt-globalkeys lxqt-notificationd lxqt-panel lxqt-policykit lxqt-powermanagement lxqt-qtplugin lxqt-runner lxqt-session lxqt-sudo

This will install most LXQt related packages, but still something may be missing, depending on your system.

2. Choosing a LXQt window manager

Traditionally LXQt uses the openbox window manager to be lightweight, but other window managers like Kwin , compiz, mutter, xfwm4 etc. could be used as well.

Here I'm using the kwin window manager, which is highly costomizable, nice window decoration and lots of other feature.

Installing minimal kwin and systemsettings on Ubuntu.

sudo apt-get --no-install-recommends install kwin-x11 kwin-style-breeze kwin-addons systemsettings

Set kwin_x11 as window manager in LXQt Session Settings, read more about Kwin with LXQt. If you're using Openbox, them you may also want fix screen tearing issue.

3. Choosing a widget style for Qt apps

LXQt could use many Qt widget style like Breeze, Oxygen, Fusion, QtCurve Gtk+ , the Breeze style looks very clean and unified. To install Breeze style, run the command bellow.

sudo apt-get install kde-style-breeze kde-style-breeze-qt4

Change the widget style from with the LXQt appearance Configuration application. More about Qt5 application style in detail How to change Qt5 application style with qt5ct .

4. Final LXQt configuration

If you use a graphical login manager like lightdm , sddm or gdm, just logout , select LXQt desktop and login again.

Only if you are not using any graphical login manager, just using the startx command from the login shell, run the command bellow and select lxqt-session .

sudo update-alternatives --config x-session-manager

4. Troubleshooting

If You're getting a black screen after logging in to the new lxqt ubuntu desktop, then you may need to export few environment variable.

Either it's on the .profile file or on the .bashrc file. Edit any one of those, and put the line XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=lxqt at the end.

Or even better, edit the .config/lxqt/session.conf file, and put the line there under the [Environment] block.

mkdir -p ~/.config/lxqt/
touch .config/lxqt/session.conf

Here's my session.conf file, you can get an overview from it.

[General]
__userfile__=true
window_manager=kwin_x11

[Environment]
BROWSER=qupzilla
GTK_CSD=0
QT_PLATFORM_PLUGIN=qt5ct
QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME=qt5ct
TERM=qterminal
XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=lxqt

[Keyboard]
beep=false
delay=500
interval=30
numlock=false

[Mouse]
accel_factor=50
accel_threshold=10
cursor_theme=Pop
left_handed=false

6. Bonus ! Best icon themes for LXQt and apply dark theme to LXQt

If you're looking for a pleasant icon theme these are best LXQt icons, choose what you like the most from few hand picked icon themes.

Here's how to apply dark Qt style, if you like dark widget style or want to make the Desktop darker at night.

No doubt it's a bit tricky to apply dark themes to Qt applications if you're not using KDE, but above I'm using a qt5ct to do so, no KDE. Finally here's some elegant LXQt theme.

So, here's my system configuration,

1. Widget style - Breeze White or Dark
2. Window manager - minimal KWin 5
3. Icon theme - Pop!
4. Font family- Noto Sans UI 10pt, from Google

Conclusion

So it's fairly simple to install LXQt in ubuntu or Linux mint, sadly LXQt is becoming more bloated day by day.

Share your experience with LXQt desktop here, any suggestion, question or feedback is welcome.