Related articles
* [Desktop environment](/index.php/Desktop_environment "Desktop environment")
* [Window manager](/index.php/Window_manager "Window manager")
* [Xfwm](/index.php/Xfwm "Xfwm")
* [Thunar](/index.php/Thunar "Thunar")
* [LXDE](/index.php/LXDE "LXDE")
* [GNOME](/index.php/GNOME "GNOME")
[Xfce](http://www.xfce.org) is a lightweight and modular [desktop environment](/index.php/Desktop_environment "Desktop environment") currently based on GTK+ 2\. To provide a complete user experience, it includes a window manager, a file manager, desktop and panel.
## Contents
* [1 Installation](#Installation)
* [2 Starting Xfce](#Starting_Xfce)
* [3 Configuration](#Configuration)
* [3.1 Menu](#Menu)
* [3.1.1 Whisker menu](#Whisker_menu)
* [3.1.2 Edit entries](#Edit_entries)
* [3.2 Desktop](#Desktop)
* [3.2.1 Transparent background for icon titles](#Transparent_background_for_icon_titles)
* [3.2.2 Remove desktop icons](#Remove_desktop_icons)
* [3.2.3 One wallpaper across multihead](#One_wallpaper_across_multihead)
* [3.2.4 Kill window shortcut](#Kill_window_shortcut)
* [3.3 Session](#Session)
* [3.3.1 Autostart](#Autostart)
* [3.3.2 Lock the screen](#Lock_the_screen)
* [3.3.3 Suspend](#Suspend)
* [3.3.4 Disable saved sessions](#Disable_saved_sessions)
* [3.3.5 Use a different window manager](#Use_a_different_window_manager)
* [3.4 Theming](#Theming)
* [3.5 Sound](#Sound)
* [3.5.1 Keyboard volume buttons](#Keyboard_volume_buttons)
* [3.5.1.1 Shortcuts](#Shortcuts)
* [3.6 Keyboard Shortcuts](#Keyboard_Shortcuts)
* [3.7 Polkit Authentication Agent](#Polkit_Authentication_Agent)
* [3.8 Display blanking](#Display_blanking)
* [4 Tips and tricks](#Tips_and_tricks)
* [4.1 Hide partitions from thunar and xfdesktop](#Hide_partitions_from_thunar_and_xfdesktop)
* [4.2 Screenshots](#Screenshots)
* [4.3 Disable Terminal F1 and F11 shortcuts](#Disable_Terminal_F1_and_F11_shortcuts)
* [4.4 Terminal color themes or palettes](#Terminal_color_themes_or_palettes)
* [4.4.1 Changing default color theme](#Changing_default_color_theme)
* [4.4.2 Terminal tango color theme](#Terminal_tango_color_theme)
* [4.5 Open URLs by middle mouse in terminal](#Open_URLs_by_middle_mouse_in_terminal)
* [4.6 Colour management](#Colour_management)
* [4.7 Multiple monitors](#Multiple_monitors)
* [4.8 SSH agents](#SSH_agents)
* [4.9 Scroll a background window without shifting focus on it](#Scroll_a_background_window_without_shifting_focus_on_it)
* [4.10 Mouse button modifier](#Mouse_button_modifier)
* [4.11 Set the two fingers click to middle click for a touchpad](#Set_the_two_fingers_click_to_middle_click_for_a_touchpad)
* [4.12 Limit the minimum brightness of the brightness-slider](#Limit_the_minimum_brightness_of_the_brightness-slider)
* [4.13 Adding profile pictures](#Adding_profile_pictures)
* [4.14 Power manager plugin label](#Power_manager_plugin_label)
* [5 Troubleshooting](#Troubleshooting)
* [5.1 Desktop icons rearrange themselves](#Desktop_icons_rearrange_themselves)
* [5.2 GTK themes not working with multiple monitors](#GTK_themes_not_working_with_multiple_monitors)
* [5.3 Icons do not appear in right-click menus](#Icons_do_not_appear_in_right-click_menus)
* [5.4 NVIDIA and xfce4-sensors-plugin](#NVIDIA_and_xfce4-sensors-plugin)
* [5.5 Panel applets keep being aligned on the left](#Panel_applets_keep_being_aligned_on_the_left)
* [5.6 Preferred Applications preferences have no effect](#Preferred_Applications_preferences_have_no_effect)
* [5.7 Restore default settings](#Restore_default_settings)
* [5.8 Session failure](#Session_failure)
* [5.9 Fonts in window title crashing xfce4-title](#Fonts_in_window_title_crashing_xfce4-title)
* [5.10 Laptop lid settings ignored](#Laptop_lid_settings_ignored)
* [5.11 User switching action button is greyed out](#User_switching_action_button_is_greyed_out)
* [5.12 Macros in .Xresources not working](#Macros_in_.Xresources_not_working)
* [5.13 Cursor theme doesn't change on login](#Cursor_theme_doesn.27t_change_on_login)
* [6 See also](#See_also)
## Installation
[Install](/index.php/Install "Install") the [xfce4](https://www.archlinux.org/groups/x86_64/xfce4/) group. You may also wish to install the [xfce4-goodies](https://www.archlinux.org/groups/x86_64/xfce4-goodies/) group which includes extra plugins and a number of useful utilities such as the [mousepad](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=mousepad) editor. Xfce uses the [Xfwm](/index.php/Xfwm "Xfwm") window manager by default.
## Starting Xfce
Choose *Xfce Session* from the menu in a [display manager](/index.php/Display_manager "Display manager") of choice, or add `exec startxfce4` to [Xinitrc](/index.php/Xinitrc "Xinitrc").
**Note:** Do not call the `xfce4-session` executable directly; `startxfce4` is the correct command which, in turn, calls the former when appropriate.
## Configuration
Xfce stores configuration options in [Xfconf](http://docs.xfce.org/xfce/xfconf/start). There are several ways to modify these options:
* In the main menu, select [Settings](http://docs.xfce.org/xfce/xfce4-settings/start) and the category you want to customize. Categories are programs usually located in `/usr/bin/xfce4-*` and `/usr/bin/xfdesktop-settings`.
* `xfce4-settings-editor` can see and modify all settings. Options modified here will take effect immediately. Use `xfconf-query` to change settings from the commandline; see [the documentation](http://docs.xfce.org/xfce/xfconf/xfconf-query) for details.
* Settings are stored in XML files in `~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/` which can be edited by hand. However, changes made here will *not* take effect immediately.
### Menu
See [Xdg-menu](/index.php/Xdg-menu "Xdg-menu") for more info on using the Free Desktop menu system.
#### Whisker menu
[xfce4-whiskermenu-plugin](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=xfce4-whiskermenu-plugin) (also part of [xfce4-goodies](https://www.archlinux.org/groups/x86_64/xfce4-goodies/)) is an alternate application launcher. It shows a list of favorites, browses through all installed applications through category buttons, and supports fuzzy searching. After package being installed, it can replace 'Applications Menu' as first item in Panel 1 (in 'Settings/Panel/Items' add 'Whisker Menu'...).
#### Edit entries
A number of graphical tools are available for this task:
* **MenuLibre** — An advanced menu editor that provides modern features in a clean, easy-to-use interface.
[https://launchpad.net/menulibre](https://launchpad.net/menulibre) || [menulibre](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/menulibre/).
* **Alacarte** — Menu editor for GNOME
[http://www.gnome.org/](http://www.gnome.org/) || [alacarte](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=alacarte)
* **XAME** — GUI tool written in Gambas designed specifically for editing menu entries in Xfce, it will not work in other environments. (Discontinued)
[http://www.redsquirrel87.com/XAME.php](http://www.redsquirrel87.com/XAME.php) || [xame](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/xame/)
Alternatively, create the file `~/.config/menus/xfce-applications.menu` manually. See the example configuration below:
```
```
The `` tag includes the default Xfce menu.
The `` tag excludes applications which we do not want to appear in the menu. Here we excluded some Xfce default shortcuts, but you can exclude `firefox.desktop` or any other application.
The `` tag defines the layout of the menu. The applications can be organized in folders or however we wish. For more details see the [Xfce wiki](http://wiki.xfce.org/howto/customize-menu).
You can also make changes to the Xfce menu by editing the `.desktop` files themselves. To hide entries, see [Desktop entries#Hide desktop entries](/index.php/Desktop_entries#Hide_desktop_entries "Desktop entries"). You can edit the application's category by modifying the `Categories=` line of the desktop entry, see [Desktop entries#File example](/index.php/Desktop_entries#File_example "Desktop entries").
### Desktop
#### Transparent background for icon titles
To change the default white background of desktop icon titles to something more suitable, create or edit `~/.gtkrc-2.0`:
```
style "xfdesktop-icon-view" {
XfdesktopIconView::label-alpha = 10
base[NORMAL] = "#000000"
base[SELECTED] = "#71B9FF"
base[ACTIVE] = "#71B9FF"
fg[NORMAL] = "#fcfcfc"
fg[SELECTED] = "#ffffff"
fg[ACTIVE] = "#ffffff"
}
widget_class "*XfdesktopIconView*" style "xfdesktop-icon-view"
```
#### Remove desktop icons
Issue the following command:
```
$ xfconf-query -c xfce4-desktop -v --create -p /desktop-icons/style -t int -s 0
```
To reinstate icons on the desktop, issue the same command with a value of 2.
#### One wallpaper across multihead
Open `xfce4-settings-editor` and create a new property with the following settings:
```
Property: /backdrop/screen0/xinerama-stretch
Type: Boolean
Value: TRUE|1|Enabled
```
#### Kill window shortcut
Xfce does not have a shortcut to kill a window, for example when a program freezes.
With [xorg-xkill](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=xorg-xkill), use `xkill` to interactively kill a window. For the currently active window, use [xdotool](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=xdotool):
```
$ xdotool getwindowfocus windowkill
```
Alternatively:
```
$ sh -c "xkill -id $(xprop -root -notype | sed -n '/^_NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW/ s/^.*# *\|\,.*$//g p')"
```
To add the shortcut, use *Settings > Keyboard* or an application like [xbindkeys](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=xbindkeys).
### Session
#### Autostart
To launch custom applications when Xfce starts up, click the *Applications Menu > Settings > Settings Manager* and then choose the *Session and Startup* option and click the tab *Application Autostart*. You will see a list of programs that get launched on startup. To add an entry, click the *Add* button and fill out the form, specifying the path to an executable you want to run.
Autostart applications are stored as *.desktop* files in *~/.config/autostart/*.
Alternatively, add the commands you wish to run (including setting environment variables) to [xinitrc](/index.php/Xinitrc "Xinitrc") (or [xprofile](/index.php/Xprofile "Xprofile") when a [display manager](/index.php/Display_manager "Display manager") is being used).
**Tip:** Sometimes it might be useful to **delay the startup of an application**. Note that specifying under *Application Autostart* a command such as `sleep 3 && *command*` does not work; a workaround is to use the syntax `sh -c "sleep 3 && *command*"`
#### Lock the screen
*xflock4* is the reference Bash script which is used to lock an Xfce session . It tries consecutively four screen lockers or exits with return code 1 if it fails to find any. Therefore, for *xflock4* to succeed, either [xscreensaver](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=xscreensaver), [gnome-screensaver](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=gnome-screensaver), [slock](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=slock) or [xlockmore](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=xlockmore) needs to be installed.
The [List of applications/Security#Screen lockers](/index.php/List_of_applications/Security#Screen_lockers "List of applications/Security") contains a short description of these four screen lockers together with other popular applications.
In particular, [light-locker](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=light-locker) integrates well with [xfce4-power-manager](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=xfce4-power-manager): once installed, Xfce Power Manager's setting gains an additional *Security* tab to configure *light-locker* and the existing *Lock screen when system is going for sleep* setting is relocated under this tab. It is then possible to set in this GUI whether the session should be locked upon screensaver activity or whenever the system goes to sleep.
To have *xflock4* **run *light-locker* or any custom session locker** not among the four cited above, some steps are required. The latest 4.13 version of [xfce4-session](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=xfce4-session), not available in the official repositories yet, eases the integration of custom screen lockers with *xfclock4* (see the [latest xflock4 on git.xfce.org](https://git.xfce.org/xfce/xfce4-session/tree/scripts/xflock4)) by checking first for the `LockCommand` set in the session's xfconf channel. Therefore to use a custom locker with *xflock4* one can follow the two steps below:
1. Use the command line below to set `LockCommand`, here for example to use *light-locker*: `$ xfconf-query -c xfce4-session -p /general/LockCommand -s "**light-locker-command --lock**" --create -t string` The command inside the quotes can be adapted accordingly for other screen lockers.
2. Enhance the *xflock4* script with either one of the following methods:
1. Replace manually `/usr/bin/xflock4` with the latest version of the script, so that it calls the command specified in `LockCommand`.
2. Install [xfce4-session-git](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/xfce4-session-git/) in order to replace the official repository package with the updated 4.13 version which takes into account `LockCommand`.
The **panel lock button** in the *Action Buttons* panel simply executes `/usr/bin/xflock4`. It should work as expected as long as *xflock4* is functioning i.e. one of the native lockers is installed or a custom locker is configured to integrate with it as proposed above.
#### Suspend
Whenever asked to suspend, Xfce executes the [xfce4-session-logout(1)](https://jlk.fjfi.cvut.cz/arch/manpages/man/xfce4-session-logout.1) command with the `suspend` option:
```
$ xfce4-session-logout --suspend
```
Whether or not the session is systematically locked on *suspend* can be configured through the xfconf properties or from the GUI.
To control this state using the CLI: there are two settings that are used, `LockScreen` and `lock-screen-suspend-hibernate`, in respectively the session and the power manager xfconf channels. To prevent locking on suspend, turn them to `false`:
```
$ xfconf-query -c xfce4-session -p /shutdown/LockScreen -s **false**
$ xfconf-query -c xfce4-power-manager -p /xfce4-power-manager/lock-screen-suspend-hibernate -s **false**
```
Similarly, turn them to `true` to lock the session on suspend.
The setting can also be controlled from the GUI: open the *Session and Startup* application and turn the flag *Advanced > Lock screen before sleep* on or off.
Whenever the suspend keyboard button is pressed, it can be handled by either Xfce's power manager or by *systemd-logind*. To give precedence to logind, the following xfconf setting must be set to `true`:
```
$ xfconf-query -c xfce4-power-manager -p /xfce4-power-manager/logind-handle-suspend-key -n -t bool -s **true**
```
**Note:** To check how *systemd-logind* handles events whenever it has precedence over Xfce, check [logind.conf(5)](https://jlk.fjfi.cvut.cz/arch/manpages/man/logind.conf.5)
#### Disable saved sessions
Per user, saved sessions can be disabled by executing the following:
```
$ xfconf-query -c xfce4-session -p /general/SaveOnExit -s false
```
Then navigate to *Applications > Settings > Session and Startup > Sessions* and press the *Clear saved sessions* button to remove all previously saved sessions.
**Tip:** If the command above does not change the setting persistently, use the following command instead: `xfconf-query -c xfce4-session -p /general/SaveOnExit -n -t bool -s false`
Alternatively, Xfce [kiosk mode](https://wiki.xfce.org/howto/kiosk_mode) can be used to disable the saving of sessions systemwide. To disable sessions, create or edit the file `/etc/xdg/xfce4/kiosk/kioskrc` and add the following:
```
[xfce4-session]
SaveSession=NONE
```
If kiosk mode is not working, the user can set read only permissions for the sessions directory:
```
$ rm ~/.cache/sessions/* && chmod 500 ~/.cache/sessions
```
This will prevent Xfce from saving any sessions despite any configuration that specifies otherwise.
#### Use a different window manager
**Note:** For the changes to take effect, you will need to clear the saved sessions and ensure that session saving is disabled when logging out for the first time. Once the window manager of choice is running, session saving can be enabled again.
The files specifying the default window manager are found in the following locations:
* `~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-session.xml` - per user
* `/etc/xdg/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-session.xml` - systemwide
The default window manager for the user can be set easily using *xfconf-query*:
```
$ xfconf-query -c xfce4-session -p /sessions/Failsafe/Client0_Command -t string -sa **wm_name**
```
If you want to start the window manager with command line options, see the command below:
```
$ xfconf-query -c xfce4-session -p /sessions/Failsafe/Client0_Command -t string -t string -s **wm_name** -s **--wm-option**
```
If you need more command line options, simply add more `-t string` and `-s **--wm-option**` arguments to the command.
If you want to change the default window manager systemwide, edit the file specified above manually, changing *xfwm4* to the preferred window manager and adding more `` lines for extra command line options if needed.
You can also change the window manager by autostarting `**wm_name** --replace` using the autostart facility or by running `**wm_name** --replace &` in a terminal and making sure the session is saved on logout. Be aware though that this method does not truly change the default manager, it merely replaces it at login. Note that if you are using the autostart facility, you should disable saved sessions as this could lead to the new window manager being started twice after the default window manager.
### Theming
XFCE themes are available at [xfce-look.org](http://www.xfce-look.org). *Xfwm* themes are stored in `/usr/share/themes/xfce4`, and set in *Settings > Window Manager*. [GTK+](/index.php/GTK%2B "GTK+") themes are set in *Settings > Appearance*.
To achieve a uniform look for all applications, see [Uniform look for Qt and GTK applications](/index.php/Uniform_look_for_Qt_and_GTK_applications "Uniform look for Qt and GTK applications").
See also [Cursor themes](/index.php/Cursor_themes "Cursor themes"), [Icons](/index.php/Icons "Icons"), and [Font configuration](/index.php/Font_configuration "Font configuration").
### Sound
#### Keyboard volume buttons
[xfce4-pulseaudio-plugin](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=xfce4-pulseaudio-plugin) provides a panel applet which has support for keyboard volume control and volume notifications. As an alternative, you can install [xfce4-volumed-pulse](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/xfce4-volumed-pulse/), which also provides keybinding and notification control, but without an icon sitting in the panel. This is handy, for example, when using [pasystray](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/pasystray/) at the same time for a finer control.
Alternatively, [xfce4-mixer](https://git.xfce.org/apps/xfce4-mixer/) also provides a panel applet and keyboard shortcuts which supports Alsa as well. Note however, that it is based on a feature of GStreamer 0.10 which has been abandoned in 1.0.
For non desktop environment specific alternatives, see [List of applications#Volume managers](/index.php/List_of_applications#Volume_managers "List of applications").
##### Shortcuts
If you are not using an applet or daemon that controls the volume keys, you can map volume control commands to your volume keys manually using Xfce's keyboard settings. For the sound system you are using, see the sections linked to below for the appropriate commands.
* ALSA: see [Advanced Linux Sound Architecture#Keyboard volume control](/index.php/Advanced_Linux_Sound_Architecture#Keyboard_volume_control "Advanced Linux Sound Architecture").
* PulseAudio: see [PulseAudio#Keyboard volume control](/index.php/PulseAudio#Keyboard_volume_control "PulseAudio")
* OSS: see [OSS#Using multimedia keys with OSS](/index.php/OSS#Using_multimedia_keys_with_OSS "OSS").
### Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts are defined in two places: *Settings > Window Manager > Keyboard*, and *Settings > Keyboard > Shortcuts*.
### Polkit Authentication Agent
The [polkit-gnome](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=polkit-gnome) agent will be installed along with [xfce4-session](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=xfce4-session) and autostarted automatically; no user intervention is required. For more information, see [Polkit#Authentication agents](/index.php/Polkit#Authentication_agents "Polkit").
A third party polkit authentication agent for Xfce is also available, see [xfce-polkit](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/xfce-polkit/) or [xfce-polkit-git](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/xfce-polkit-git/).
### Display blanking
Some programs that are commonly used with Xfce will control monitor blanking and [DPMS](/index.php/DPMS "DPMS") (monitor powersaving) settings. They are discussed below.
Xfce Power Manager
*Xfce Power Manager* controls blanking and DPMS settings. These settings can be configured in the *Power Manager* GUI within the *Display* tab.
Note that when *Display power management* is turned off, DPMS is fully disabled, it does not mean that *Power Manager* will simply stop controlling DPMS. It does not disable screen blanking either. To disable both blanking and DPMS, right click on the power manager system tray icon or left click on the panel applet and make sure that the option labelled *Presentation mode* is ticked.
XScreenSaver
If [xscreensaver](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=xscreensaver) is installed and runs alongside Xfce Power Manager, it may not be clear which application is in control of blanking and DPMS as both are competing for control of the same settings. Therefore, in a situation where it is important that the monitor not be blanked (when watching a video for instance), it is advisable to disable blanking and DPMS through both applications. To know more about *XScreenSaver* options, see [XScreenSaver#DPMS and blanking settings](/index.php/XScreenSaver#DPMS_and_blanking_settings "XScreenSaver").
xset
If neither of the above applications are running, then blanking and DPMS settings can be controlled using the *xset* command, see [DPMS#Modifying DPMS and screensaver settings using xset](/index.php/DPMS#Modifying_DPMS_and_screensaver_settings_using_xset "DPMS").
**Note:** There are some issues associated with blanking and resuming from blanking in some configurations. See [[1]](https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=194313&p=2)[[2]](https://bugzilla.xfce.org/show_bug.cgi?id=11107).
## Tips and tricks
### Hide partitions from thunar and xfdesktop
If your installation partitions are shown as mounted devices on the desktop and in Thunar, try to install [gvfs](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=gvfs). See [Udisks#Hide selected partitions](/index.php/Udisks#Hide_selected_partitions "Udisks") for more advanced configuration options.
### Screenshots
Xfce has its own screenshot tool, [xfce4-screenshooter](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=xfce4-screenshooter). It is part of the [xfce4-goodies](https://www.archlinux.org/groups/x86_64/xfce4-goodies/) group.
Go to *Applications > Settings > Keyboard*, *Application Shortcuts*. Add the `xfce4-screenshooter -f` (or `-w` for the active window) command to use the `Print` key in order to take fullscreen screenshots. See screenshooter's man page for other optional arguments.
Alternatively, an independent screenshot program like [scrot](/index.php/Taking_a_screenshot#scrot "Taking a screenshot") can be used.
### Disable Terminal F1 and F11 shortcuts
The xfce terminal binds F1 and F11 to help and fullscreen, respectively, which can make using programs like htop difficult. To disable those shortcuts, create or edit its configuration file, then log out and log back in. F10 can disabled in the Preferences menu.
`~/.config/xfce4/terminal/accels.scm`
```
(gtk_accel_path "/terminal-window/fullscreen" "")
(gtk_accel_path "/terminal-window/contents" "")
```
### Terminal color themes or palettes
Terminal color themes or palettes can be changed in GUI under Appearance tab in Preferences. These are the colors that are available to most console applications like [Emacs](/index.php/Emacs "Emacs"), [Vi](/index.php/Vi "Vi") and so on. Their settings are stored individually for each system user in `~/.config/xfce4/terminal/terminalrc` file. There are also so many other themes to choose from. Check forum thread [Terminal Colour Scheme Screenshots](https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=51818) for hundreds of available choices and themes.
#### Changing default color theme
Xfce's `extra/terminal` package comes with a darker colour palette. To change this, append the following in your terminalrc file for a lighter color theme, that is always visible in darker Terminal backgrounds.
`~/.config/xfce4/terminal/terminalrc`
```
ColorPalette5=#38d0fcaaf3a9
ColorPalette4=#e013a0a1612f
ColorPalette2=#d456a81b7b42
ColorPalette6=#ffff7062ffff
ColorPalette3=#7ffff7bd7fff
ColorPalette13=#82108210ffff
```
#### Terminal tango color theme
To switch to tango color theme, open with your favorite editor
```
~/.config/xfce4/terminal/terminalrc
```
And add(replace) these lines:
```
ColorForeground=White
ColorBackground=#323232323232
ColorPalette1=#2e2e34343636
ColorPalette2=#cccc00000000
ColorPalette3=#4e4e9a9a0606
ColorPalette4=#c4c4a0a00000
ColorPalette5=#34346565a4a4
ColorPalette6=#757550507b7b
ColorPalette7=#060698989a9a
ColorPalette8=#d3d3d7d7cfcf
ColorPalette9=#555557575353
ColorPalette10=#efef29292929
ColorPalette11=#8a8ae2e23434
ColorPalette12=#fcfce9e94f4f
ColorPalette13=#72729f9fcfcf
ColorPalette14=#adad7f7fa8a8
ColorPalette15=#3434e2e2e2e2
ColorPalette16=#eeeeeeeeecec
```
### Open URLs by middle mouse in terminal
On update to version 0.8 open URL with middle mouse turned off by default and just paste clip to cursor. To enable old behavior fix next option in `${XDG_CONFIG_HOME}/xfce4/terminal/terminalrc` (`XDG_CONFIG_HOME=${HOME}/.config` by default)
`${XDG_CONFIG_HOME}/xfce4/terminal/terminalrc`
```
[Configuration]
MiscMiddleClickOpensUri=TRUE
```
### Colour management
Xfce has no native support for colour management. [[3]](https://bugzilla.xfce.org/show_bug.cgi?id=8559) See [ICC profiles](/index.php/ICC_profiles "ICC profiles") for alternatives.
### Multiple monitors
Xfce has support for multiple monitors. Settings can be configured in the *Applications > Settings > Display* dialog. For more information, see the [display](http://docs.xfce.org/xfce/xfce4-settings/display) article from the Xfce documentation.
### SSH agents
By default Xfce 4.10 will try to load gpg-agent or ssh-agent in that order during session initialization. To disable this, create an xfconf key using the following command:
```
xfconf-query -c xfce4-session -p /startup/ssh-agent/enabled -n -t bool -s false
```
To force using ssh-agent even if gpg-agent is installed, run the following instead:
```
xfconf-query -c xfce4-session -p /startup/ssh-agent/type -n -t string -s ssh-agent
```
To use [GNOME Keyring](/index.php/GNOME_Keyring "GNOME Keyring"), simply tick the checkbox *Launch GNOME services on startup* in the *Advanced* tab of *Session and Startup* in Xfce's settings. This will also disable gpg-agent and ssh-agent.
Source: [http://docs.xfce.org/xfce/xfce4-session/advanced](http://docs.xfce.org/xfce/xfce4-session/advanced)
### Scroll a background window without shifting focus on it
Go to *Main Menu > Settings > Window Manager Tweaks > Accessibility* tab. Uncheck *Raise windows when any mouse button is pressed*.
### Mouse button modifier
By default, the mouse button modifier in Xfce is set to `Alt`. This can be changed with *xfconf-query*. For instance, the following command will set the `Super` key as the mouse button modifier:
```
$ xfconf-query -c xfwm4 -p /general/easy_click -n -t string -s "Super"
```
Strictly speaking, using multiple modifiers is not supported. However, as a workaround, multiple modifiers can be specified if the key names are separated with `><`. For instance, to set `Ctrl+Alt` as the mouse button modifier, you can use the following command:
```
$ xfconf-query -c xfwm4 -p /general/easy_click -n -t string -s "Ctrl>
```
The 2 in the array is the middle click.
### Limit the minimum brightness of the brightness-slider
Limiting the minimum brightness can be useful for displays which turn off backlight on a brightness level of 0\. In `xfce4-power-manager 1.3.2` a new hidden option had been introduced to set a minimum brightness value with a xfconf4-property. Add `brightness-slider-min-level` as an int property in xfconf4\. Adjust the int value to get a suitable minimum brightness level.
### Adding profile pictures
To add profile pictures for each user to be displayed in the whisker-menu, simply place a 96x96 PNG file in the respective user's home directory with the name `.face`. For example the PNG file `/home/*bob*/.face` for user *bob*.
Image editing programs like [GIMP](/index.php/GIMP "GIMP") can be used to convert and scale your favourite images down to 96x96.
### Power manager plugin label
The xfconf option `show-panel-label` of type `int` controls the label of the power manager, it can be configured for different label formats: it can be set to 0 (no label), 1 (percentage), 2 (remaining time) or 3 (both).
It is also accessible through the power manager plugin GUI in *Properties > Show label*
## Troubleshooting
### Desktop icons rearrange themselves
At certain events (such as opening the panel settings dialog) icons on the desktop rearrange themselves. This is because icon positions are determined by files in the `~/.config/xfce4/desktop/` directory. Each time a change is made to the desktop (icons are added or removed or change position) a new file is generated in this directory and these files can conflict.
To solve the problem, navigate to the directory and delete all the files other than the one which correctly defines the icon positions. You can determine which file defines the correct icon positions by opening it and examining the locations of the icons. The topmost row is defined as `row 0` and the leftmost column is defined by `col 0`. Therefore an entry of:
```
[Firefox]
row=3
col=0
```
means that the Firefox icon will be located on the 4th row of the leftmost column.
### GTK themes not working with multiple monitors
Some configuration tools may corrupt displays.xml, which results in GTK themes under *Applications Menu > Settings > Appearance* ceasing to work. To fix the issue, delete `~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/displays.xml` and reconfigure your screens.
### Icons do not appear in right-click menus
**Note:** Despite the deprecation of GConf, this method does still work.
Users may find that icons do not appear when right-clicking options within some applications, including those made with [Qt](/index.php/Qt "Qt"). This problem only appears to happen within Xfce. Run these two commands:
```
$ gconftool-2 --type boolean --set /desktop/gnome/interface/buttons_have_icons true
$ gconftool-2 --type boolean --set /desktop/gnome/interface/menus_have_icons true
```
### NVIDIA and xfce4-sensors-plugin
To detect and use sensors of nvidia gpu you need to install [libxnvctrl](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=libxnvctrl) and then rebuild [xfce4-sensors-plugin](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=xfce4-sensors-plugin) with [ABS](/index.php/ABS "ABS"). You also have the option of using [xfce4-sensors-plugin-nvidia](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/xfce4-sensors-plugin-nvidia/) which replaces [xfce4-sensors-plugin](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=xfce4-sensors-plugin).
### Panel applets keep being aligned on the left
Add a separator someplace before the right end and set its "expand" property. [[4]](https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=110&t=155602})
### Preferred Applications preferences have no effect
Most applications rely on [xdg-open](/index.php/Xdg-open "Xdg-open") for opening a preferred application for a given file or URL.
In order for xdg-open and xdg-settings to detect and integrate with the Xfce desktop environment correctly, you need to [install](/index.php/Install "Install") the [xorg-xprop](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=xorg-xprop) package.
If you do not do that, your preferred applications preferences (set by exo-preferred-applications) will not be obeyed. Installing the package and allowing *xdg-open* to detect that you are running Xfce makes it forward all calls to *exo-open* instead, which correctly uses all your preferred applications preferences.
To make sure xdg-open integration is working correctly, ask *xdg-settings* for the default web browser and see what the result is:
```
# xdg-settings get default-web-browser
```
If it replies with:
```
xdg-settings: unknown desktop environment
```
it means that it has failed to detect Xfce as your desktop environment, which is likely due to a missing [xorg-xprop](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=xorg-xprop) package.
### Restore default settings
If for any reason you need to revert back: to the default settings, rename `~/.config/xfce4-session/` and `~/.config/xfce4/`
```
$ mv ~/.config/xfce4-session/ ~/.config/xfce4-session-bak
$ mv ~/.config/xfce4/ ~/.config/xfce4-bak
```
Relogin for changes to take effect. If you get `Unable to load a failsafe session` upon login, see the [#Session failure](#Session_failure) section.
### Session failure
Symptoms include:
* The mouse is an X and/or does not appear at all;
* Window decorations have disappeared and windows cannot be closed;
* (`xfwm4-settings`) will not start, reporting `These settings cannot work with your current window manager (unknown)`;
* Errors reported by a [display manager](/index.php/Display_manager "Display manager") such as `No window manager registered on screen 0`.
* Unable to load a failsafe session:
```
Unable to load a failsafe session.
Unable to determine failsafe session name. Possible causes: xfconfd isn't running (D-Bus setup problem); environment variable $XDG_CONFIG_DIRS is set incorrectly (must include "/etc"), or xfce4-session is installed incorrectly.
```
Restarting Xfce or rebooting your system may solve the problem, but a corrupt session is the likely cause. Delete the session folder:
```
$ rm -r ~/.cache/sessions/
```
Also make sure that the relevant folders in `$HOME` are owned by the user starting `xfce4`. See [Chown](/index.php/Chown "Chown").
### Fonts in window title crashing xfce4-title
[Install](/index.php/Install "Install") [ttf-droid](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=ttf-droid) and [ttf-dejavu](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=ttf-dejavu). See also [FS#44382](https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/44382).
### Laptop lid settings ignored
You may find that the lid close settings in Xfce4 Power Manager are ignored, meaning that the laptop will always suspend on lid close, no matter what settings are chosen in the power manager. This is because the power manager is not set to handle lid close events by default. Instead, *systemd-logind* handles the lid close event. To change this behavior so that the power manager handles lid close events, execute the following command:
```
$ xfconf-query -c xfce4-power-manager -p /xfce4-power-manager/logind-handle-lid-switch -s false
```
**Note:** Under some circumstances, the `logind-handle-lid-switch` setting will get set to true when changes are made to the laptop lid actions or the lock on suspend setting. See [[5]](https://bugzilla.xfce.org/show_bug.cgi?id=12756#c2). In this case, you will need to toggle `logind-handle-lid-switch` to false again.
### User switching action button is greyed out
The *Switch User* action button assumes that the *gdmflexiserver* executable (provided by [GDM](/index.php/GDM "GDM")) exists. Thus, if GDM is not being used then the button will be greyed out. See the [upstream bug report](https://bugzilla.xfce.org/show_bug.cgi?id=9307).
A possible workaround is to create an executable script called *gdmflexiserver* in `/usr/bin` or `/usr/local/bin` which calls the greeter switch command provided by the [display manager](/index.php/Display_manager "Display manager") which is being used.
* For LXDM - [LXDM#Simultaneous users and switching users](/index.php/LXDM#Simultaneous_users_and_switching_users "LXDM").
* For LightDM - [LightDM#User switching](/index.php/LightDM#User_switching "LightDM").
### Macros in .Xresources not working
Xfce loads `$HOME/.Xresources` file using `xrdb`, but with `-nocpp` option to skip preprocessing. For macros to work properly, copy `/etc/xdg/xfce4/xinitrc` to `$HOME/.config/xfce4` directory and remove `-nocpp` option to `xrdb` from the resulting file. See [this thread](https://bbs.archlinux.org/profile.php?id=104121).
### Cursor theme doesn't change on login
Ensure the systemwide XDG cursor is set to your desired cursor theme - see [Cursor themes#XDG specification](/index.php/Cursor_themes#XDG_specification "Cursor themes").
## See also
* [Xfce - Documentation](http://docs.xfce.org/)
* [Xfce - Wiki](http://wiki.xfce.org)
* [Xfce - About](http://www.xfce.org/about/)
* [Xfce - Tour](https://xfce.org/about/tour)
* [Wikipedia:Xfce](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xfce "wikipedia:Xfce")
* [Xfce-Look](http://www.xfce-look.org/) - Themes, wallpapers, and more.
* [Xfce Wikia](http://xfce.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page)