How to make Xfce Desktop available at startup

Q&A
1

Hi and thanks for reading,

I’m running Clear Linux OS / build 41760 / Gnome Version 46.
I installed the xfce4-desktop bundle with this command line: sudo swupd bundle-add xfce4-desktop

Now I would just like to know how to make the choice possible at the login screen between Gnome and Xfce because only Gnome is present at reboot.

Thank You.

2

Use the gear button, or if you want a greeter :

Install lightdm :

sudo swupd bundle-add lightdm

Open the config file :

sudo nano /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d

Under the “Seat:” section add :

greeter-session=lightdm-gtk-greeter

Reboot your system.

3

There is a gear icon on the login screen at the bottom right, click on it then on Xfce then enter your password and you’ll be using Xfce desktop

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4

Yes, you don’t need to remove or replace gdm by lightdm

5

I came up with lightdm as the greeter configuration is a bit easier than in gdm :

https://help.gnome.org/admin/gdm/stable/configuration.html.en#greeterconfiguration

6

Probably, but It isn’t needed if you only want to install an XFCE desktop, hehe.

7

I and thanks for the help. I don’t see a “gear icon” at my login screen (Lenovo IdeaPad 3).
Also, lightdm.conf doesn’t exist after install of lightdm following your “code”.

Maybe I should shoot myself in the head?

8

Try :

sudo nano /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d
9

The result = Empty screen on my terminal.
Maybe I’m on the wrong planet.
Thanks for the help.

10

You mean that existentially or in an escapist manner ?

11

For GDM you can try adding this entry to /etc/gdm/custom.conf with this line:

WaylandEnable=false

Restart the GDM service

sudo systemctl restart gdm.service

This is because XFCE does not support Wayland full yet.

Because it xfce session exists in /usr/share/xsessions/xfce.desktop

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