How to make Xfce look like almost any desktop you want
- ID
- 23923
- Status
- summarized
- Published
- 13 Sep 2026, 5:09 PM
- Fetched
- 13 Sep 2026, 5:13 PM
- Provider
- The Register
- Category
- technology
- Original URL
- https://www.theregister.com/software/2026/09/13/how-to-make-xfce-look-like-almost-any-desktop-you-want/5295775
- Source URL
- https://www.theregister.com/headlines.atom
Summary
- Score
- 2.0
- Created
- 13 Sep 2026, 5:13 PM
- Tags
- Audience
- developers
What happened
The Register's Liam Proven walks through using Xfce's optional Panel Profiles tool to switch between predefined desktop layouts mimicking Windows, macOS, GNOME 2, and Ubuntu Unity in two clicks without logging out. Part 1 covers installation of Panel Profiles and its required plugins; part 2 will address manual config file tweaks for more unconventional layouts. The article positions Xfce as more malleable and lighter on RAM/disk than KDE Plasma, which lacks an equivalent automatic layout-switching tool.
Why it matters
If you run Xfce as your dev environment and want a different workflow (e.g., a macOS-style top bar or Unity-style launcher) without switching distros, Panel Profiles lets you flip layouts live. Not actionable for anyone not already on Xfce, and has no AI, cloud, startup, or Malaysia relevance.
Discussion angle
Only worth mentioning if someone on the call actually uses Xfce — ask whether desktop layout tooling affects productivity enough to matter versus just using a tiling WM.