1 yr. ago • 92%

How do I switch desktop on Debian?

I need to switch from KDE to xfce without losing my files, any advice?

12 comments

If you already have a DE installed (in your case KDE) you would do something like sudo apt install xfce and then restart (I don't think you actually have to, but I like to reboot after installing a DE). From there you should see a button on your login manager (SDDM for KDE I think?) That lets you pick the DE for the session. Usually looks like a drop down menu.

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I have 5+ DEs on my pop_os install, you don't lose files in your users home.

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- May I ask why you have 5+ DEs installed? And also, isn’t that quite the mess with all the dotfiles?
  
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  for testing, and no, no issues at all with the various dot files.
  
  Cluttered app menus, and an occasional "default open with app" setting changed is about the only issues.
  
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  Is the dotfile overhead of a DE substantially more than any other program? Is there a particular conflict that you're thinking of?
  
  For a multiuser system it can be great to have multiple DEs or WMs.
  
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why do you think you are going to loose your files if change desktop?

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- OP is most likely new to Linux and is used to the intertwining of the GUI and OS like they are in OS X and Windows.
  
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- Presumably they equate changing desktops with "reinstalling".
  
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  Dangerous asumption: one man, one finger, one second...and you will have a disaster.
  
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I mean people already answered your question, but I want to know why you want to leave kde plasma? It was the best I have found (after gnome, but in gnome I can't change shit)

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- Not OP, but KDE has always seemed super fidgety to me. Like, I just can't leave it alone, and get overwhelmed by all the fine grained tuning. I'm also not a fan of the plasticky design language.
  
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Use tasksel to install, then choose a different desktop on the login screen

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