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Set up XFCE and XRDP on Ubuntu

Published on November 8, 2025 at 07:38 PM

This guide explains how to install a lightweight XFCE desktop environment and configure Remote Desktop access via XRDP on a Linux server (Ubuntu/Debian), so you can access it graphically from another computer.

Set up XFCE and XRDP on Ubuntu (Remote Desktop)

Installation Instructions

1) Update the system

Connect to your VPS via SSH and run:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

2) Install a lightweight desktop environment (XFCE)

Install the graphical environment:

sudo apt install xfce4 xfce4-goodies -y

3) Install XRDP

XRDP is a service that allows remote connections using the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP):

sudo apt install xrdp -y
sudo systemctl enable xrdp
sudo systemctl start xrdp

4) Configure XRDP to use XFCE

Set XFCE as the session environment:

echo "startxfce4" > ~/.xsession

Add the XRDP user to the SSL group:

sudo adduser xrdp ssl-cert

Restart XRDP to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart xrdp

5) Open the RDP port in the firewall (if enabled)

Allow inbound connections on port 3389:

sudo ufw allow 3389/tcp

6) Connect to the VPS via Remote Desktop

Open the Remote Desktop application on your computer (e.g., mstsc on Windows).
Enter the public IP address of your VPS.
Log in using your Linux credentials (username and password).

Verification and Troubleshooting

If the screen stays black or closes:

Ensure that the .xsession file contains:

startxfce4

Restart the server or the XRDP service:

sudo systemctl restart xrdp

If you use a desktop environment other than XFCE, adapt the command (e.g., startmate, gnome-session, etc.).

Conclusion

By following these steps, you will have functional graphical access to your Linux VPS via Remote Desktop. This is especially useful for those who want to manage their server visually or host services like an Assetto Corsa server in a more user-friendly environment.