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XFCE

XFCE is the default desktop environment for ADL. It hits the right balance between resource efficiency and a complete feature set, making it the best choice for running a Linux desktop inside proot on Android hardware.

For background on what XFCE is and how it compares to other desktop environments, see What is XFCE?.

Why XFCE is the Default​

XFCE was chosen as the ADL default for several practical reasons:

  • Low resource usage --- runs comfortably in 180-250 MB of RAM, leaving room for applications on memory-constrained Android devices
  • GTK3-based --- supports modern themes and HiDPI scaling without needing a legacy compatibility layer
  • Highly configurable panels --- critical for adapting the interface to phone screens, tablets, and external monitors
  • Stable compositing --- xfwm4's built-in compositor provides window shadows and transparency without additional software
  • Large ecosystem --- more themes, plugins, and community support than any other lightweight DE
  • Tested in proot --- XFCE runs reliably in the proot environment with minimal workarounds

Panel Configuration​

The XFCE panel (taskbar) is the most important element to configure correctly for your screen size. A panel layout that works on a 27-inch monitor will be unusable on a 6-inch phone screen.

Phone Screens (under 7 inches)​

On a phone, screen space is extremely limited. Use a single panel at the top with minimal items.

$xfce4-panel --preferences

Recommended phone configuration:

  • Single panel at the top, height 28-32 pixels
  • Items: Application Menu, Task List, Clock, Notification Area
  • Remove the second (bottom) panel if present
  • Set the Application Menu to use a compact icon-only button
  • Enable "Automatically hide the panel" to reclaim screen space
$xfconf-query -c xfce4-panel -p /panels/panel-1/autohide-behavior -s 1
✅💡 Tip

Setting autohide to 1 means "intelligently hide" --- the panel hides when a window would overlap it. Set to 2 for "always hide" (panel only appears on mouse-over at the edge).

Tablet Screens (7-13 inches)​

Tablets provide enough space for a more traditional layout. A single panel at the top with a full set of controls works well.

Recommended tablet configuration:

  • Single panel at the top, height 32-36 pixels
  • Items: Application Menu (with text label), Window Buttons, Separator (expand), Workspace Switcher, System Tray, Clock, Action Buttons
  • No autohide needed at this size
  • Consider adding a dock-style launcher panel at the bottom for frequently used applications

External Monitor (DeX or wired display)​

With an external monitor, you have full desktop real estate. Use the standard dual-panel XFCE layout.

Recommended monitor configuration:

  • Top panel: Application Menu, Window Buttons, Separator (expand), Workspace Switcher, System Tray, Clock, Action Buttons
  • Optional bottom panel: Launcher icons for frequently used apps
  • Height 28-30 pixels (standard desktop size)
  • Multiple workspaces (2-4) for organizing windows
$xfconf-query -c xfwm4 -p /general/workspace_count -s 4

Touch-Friendly Configuration​

Running XFCE on a touchscreen requires some adjustments. The default click targets are designed for mouse cursors, not fingertips.

Increase Click Target Sizes​

Increase the title bar button size:

$xfconf-query -c xfwm4 -p /general/title_font -s 'Sans Bold 12'

Increase the panel height for easier touch targets:

$xfconf-query -c xfce4-panel -p /panels/panel-1/size -s 40

Enable Edge Resistance​

Edge resistance prevents you from accidentally dragging windows off-screen, which is common with touch input:

$xfconf-query -c xfwm4 -p /general/snap_to_border -s true
$xfconf-query -c xfwm4 -p /general/snap_to_windows -s true

Window Snapping​

Enable window tiling so you can drag windows to screen edges to snap them into half-screen layouts:

$xfconf-query -c xfwm4 -p /general/tile_on_move -s true
⭐Best Practice

On touchscreen devices, increase the window border width to make window edges easier to grab for resizing. Set it to 4-6 pixels instead of the default 1-2.

Keyboard Shortcuts​

XFCE keyboard shortcuts are especially useful when you have a physical keyboard connected through DeX or Bluetooth.

Default Useful Shortcuts​

ShortcutAction
Alt+F2Application finder (run dialog)
Alt+F4Close window
Alt+F9Minimize window
Alt+F10Maximize/restore window
Alt+TabSwitch between windows
Ctrl+Alt+DShow desktop
Super+ArrowTile window to screen edge

Adding Custom Shortcuts​

Open the keyboard settings to define your own shortcuts:

$xfce4-settings-manager

Navigate to Keyboard > Application Shortcuts. Common additions:

$xfconf-query -c xfce4-keyboard-shortcuts -p '/commands/custom/<Super>e' -s 'thunar' --create -t string
$xfconf-query -c xfce4-keyboard-shortcuts -p '/commands/custom/<Super>t' -s 'xfce4-terminal' --create -t string

These create Super+E to open the file manager and Super+T to open the terminal.

Theme Configuration​

XFCE separates appearance into several layers: the GTK theme (application widgets), the window manager theme (title bars and borders), the icon theme, and the cursor theme.

Setting Themes via Command Line​

Set the GTK theme:

$xfconf-query -c xsettings -p /Net/ThemeName -s 'Adwaita-dark'

Set the window manager theme:

$xfconf-query -c xfwm4 -p /general/theme -s 'Default-hdpi'

Set the icon theme:

$xfconf-query -c xsettings -p /Net/IconThemeName -s 'Adwaita'
ℹ️Note

For detailed theme installation and customization, including installing third-party themes and making XFCE look modern, see the Customization page.

Font Configuration​

Proper font configuration is critical on Android devices, which often have high-DPI screens.

DPI Settings​

Check your current DPI:

$xfconf-query -c xsettings -p /Xft/DPI

For a typical phone screen (400+ PPI), a DPI of 140-192 works well. For tablets, 120-140. For external monitors, 96 (standard).

$xfconf-query -c xsettings -p /Xft/DPI -s 144

Font Rendering​

Enable font anti-aliasing and hinting for clear text:

$xfconf-query -c xsettings -p /Xft/Antialias -s 1
$xfconf-query -c xsettings -p /Xft/HintStyle -s 'hintslight'
$xfconf-query -c xsettings -p /Xft/RGBA -s 'rgb'
⭐Best Practice

On high-DPI screens, use hintslight rather than hintfull. Full hinting distorts font shapes at high resolutions where subpixel accuracy matters more than grid-fitting.

Compositor Settings​

XFCE's built-in compositor (xfwm4) handles window transparency, shadows, and smooth window movement. On resource-constrained devices, you may want to adjust or disable it.

Disable the Compositor​

If you experience sluggish window movement or visual glitches:

$xfconf-query -c xfwm4 -p /general/use_compositing -s false

Adjust Compositor Settings​

Reduce compositor effects while keeping basic compositing enabled:

$xfconf-query -c xfwm4 -p /general/show_frame_shadow -s false
$xfconf-query -c xfwm4 -p /general/show_popup_shadow -s false
🟡Performance — Medium Impact

Disabling the compositor saves roughly 20-40 MB of RAM and reduces CPU usage during window animations. On devices with 4 GB of RAM or less, this is a worthwhile trade-off. You lose window shadows and transparency but gain noticeably smoother performance.

Session Configuration​

Startup Applications​

Control which applications start automatically when you log in:

$xfce4-session-settings

In a proot environment, many default startup services are unnecessary. Consider disabling:

  • Power Manager (xfce4-power-manager) --- Android handles power management
  • Screensaver (xfce4-screensaver) --- Android handles screen lock
  • Update notifier --- package updates should be done manually in proot

Saving Sessions​

By default, XFCE saves your session (open windows and their positions) when you log out. In a proot environment, this can sometimes cause issues on restart. To disable session saving:

$xfconf-query -c xfce4-session -p /general/SaveOnExit -s false
🔧Troubleshooting
Panel disappears or is not visible after login
The panel configuration may have been corrupted. Reset it by running: rm -rf ~/.config/xfce4/panel && xfce4-panel --preferences. This resets the panel to default settings. You may need to restart the session.
Windows are very slow to move or resize
Disable the compositor with: xfconf-query -c xfwm4 -p /general/use_compositing -s false. This eliminates the transparency and shadow rendering that can cause sluggishness on less powerful devices.
Text is too small or too large on screen
Adjust the DPI setting: xfconf-query -c xsettings -p /Xft/DPI -s VALUE. Start with 144 for phones, 120 for tablets, 96 for external monitors. You may need to restart applications for the change to take effect.
Application menu is empty or missing entries
Run: xfce4-panel -r to restart the panel, or run: update-menus to regenerate the application menu entries. If specific applications are missing, check that their .desktop files exist in /usr/share/applications/.

Next Steps​