How to Install the LXDE Desktop Environment in Ubuntu 13.04 (Lubuntu)

A default Ubuntu 13.04 installation comes with the unity graphical user interface. As with many things unity is not your only option for a graphical user interface. There are several other desktop environments available for Ubuntu 13.04 that you can download and install for use.  This tutorial will show you how to install the LXDE desktop environment on Ubuntu 13.04 also known as Lubuntu.

LXDE is a very fast and lightweight desktop environment that uses less memory and fewer CPU cycles than either the GNOME, KDE, or Xfce desktop environments. LXDE is developed specifically for lower end computers with less processing power. An example of this would be a netbook. LXDE is also great for recovery disks that are bootable into a Linux desktop environment.

This tutorial will show you two methods for installing installing the LXDE desktop environment. The first method is to go to the Ubuntu software center and installing the “lubuntu-desktop” package as shown below.

Ubuntu_LXDE_Install_01

The second method is to go to the terminal and run the following command.

sudo apt-get install lubuntu-desktop

Once you have installed the lubuntu-desktop package you will be able to go to the top right corner and log off. You will then be taken to the login screen. From the login screen you will click on the Ubuntu logo as shown below.

Ubuntu_LXDE_Install_04

You will then select “Lubuntu” from the menu.

Ubuntu_LXDE_Install_06

You will now be able to login to the LXDE desktop environment with your user password. The LXDE desktop environment should look similar to the screenshot shown below.

Ubuntu_LXDE_Install_07

Congratulations, you are now able to boot into the Unity desktop environment and the LXDE desktop environment. If you have any questions or comments don’t hesitate to leave a comment below. Also, if you found this tutorial helpful please like and share so that other people will find this tutorial more easily.