How to change your Xfce theme in XRDP

When you connect to a remote computer through XRDP and use the Xfce desktop environment, you can change how it looks by switching themes. The theme controls colors, window borders, icons, and fonts across the whole desktop. To change it, you open the Xfce Settings Manager on the remote machine, find the Appearance section, and select a different theme from the list already installed.

The process takes about two minutes and requires no restart. If you are connecting from Windows, Mac, or Linux, the steps on the remote side are identical — you are just changing settings on the computer you are connecting to, not on your own machine.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Settings Manager from the Xfce menu or by typing xfce4-settings-manager in a terminal to reach the Appearance panel.
  • Click the Style tab to see installed themes and select a new one; the change takes effect when ready without restarting.
  • If you want to install additional themes beyond what came with Xfce, you can read them through your system's package manager or place them manually in the .local/share/themes folder in your home directory.
  • Some themes may not display correctly over XRDP if they rely on advanced graphics features, so stick with simpler themes if you see rendering problems.

Opening the Xfce Settings Manager

The Settings Manager is the control panel for Xfce. To open it, click the Xfce menu (usually in the top-left or bottom-left corner of the screen) and look for an option labeled Settings, Settings Manager, or a gear icon. Click it and the Settings Manager window will open.

If you do not see a Settings option in the menu, or if the menu is not visible, open a terminal instead. Right-click on the desktop and select Open Terminal Here, or use the process menu to find Terminal. Type xfce4-settings-manager and press Enter. The Settings Manager window will appear.

Finding and selecting a new theme

In the Settings Manager window, look for an icon or label that says Appearance. Click it. A new window will open with several tabs across the top: Style, Icons, Fonts, and sometimes others depending on your Xfce version.

Click the Style tab. You will see a list of theme names on the left side. Each theme name represents a complete look — colors, button shapes, window borders, and more. Click any theme name in the list to preview it. The desktop will change when ready so you can see how it looks. If you like it, that theme is now active. If you want to try another, just click a different name.

Common themes that come with Xfce include Xfce (the default), Xfce-4.12, Greybird, and Numix. Darker themes like Numix-Dark or Adwaita-dark are good choices if you find the default theme too bright. Lighter themes like Greybird work well if you prefer a softer appearance.

Installing additional themes if you want more choices

If the list of themes is short and you want more options, you can install additional themes. The easiest way depends on your Linux distribution. On Ubuntu or Debian-based systems, open a terminal and type sudo apt install xfce4-themes, then press Enter and type your password. This installs a package of extra themes that will appear in the Style list when ready.

On other distributions, the package name may differ — search your distribution's documentation for "xfce themes" to find the correct package name. After installation, close the Settings Manager and reopen it; the new themes will appear in the list.

If you want to install a theme you downloaded from the internet, place the theme folder in ~/.local/share/themes (the tilde means your home directory). You may need to create the folders if they do not exist. After placing the theme there, close and reopen the Settings Manager to see it in the list.

Troubleshooting theme display problems over XRDP

Occasionally a theme will not display correctly when you are connected through XRDP. You might see missing colors, broken window borders, or icons that do not appear. This usually happens with modern themes that use advanced graphics features that XRDP does not fully support.

If this occurs, switch back to a simpler theme like the default Xfce theme or Greybird. These themes use basic graphics and display reliably over remote connections. Avoid themes with names containing "modern", "flat", or "gradient" if you are having problems, as these often rely on features that do not work well over XRDP.

If a theme looks broken, you can always switch back by opening Settings Manager again and selecting a different theme. Your choice is saved when ready, so you are never stuck with a broken theme.

Understanding what a theme actually changes

A theme in Xfce controls the visual appearance of the desktop environment itself — the window borders, buttons, menus, scrollbars, and the overall color scheme. It does not change the wallpaper (background image), which is a separate setting in the Appearance panel under the Desktop tab.

Themes also do not change individual process windows like Firefox or LibreOffice. Those applications have their own appearance settings. What a theme does change is everything that Xfce itself draws: the panel at the bottom or top, the file manager windows, the Settings Manager itself, and any dialog boxes that Xfce creates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the theme affect my connection speed or performance over XRDP?

No. Simpler themes may render slightly faster than complex ones, but the difference is not noticeable. If you are experiencing slow performance over XRDP, the cause is usually your network connection or the remote computer's resources, not the theme.

Can I create my own custom theme?

Yes, but it requires editing configuration files by hand. Xfce themes are stored as text files in the theme folder. Most people find it easier to modify an existing theme by copying its folder, renaming it, and editing the color values inside. Detailed instructions are available in the Xfce documentation online, but this is beyond what most users need to do.

If I change the theme, will it change on my local computer too?

No. You are only changing the theme on the remote computer you are connected to. Your local computer's appearance is not affected. When you disconnect from XRDP, your local desktop looks exactly as it did before.

What if the Settings Manager will not open?

Try opening a terminal and typing xfce4-settings-manager directly. If that does not work, the Xfce installation may be incomplete or corrupted. Reinstalling the xfce4 package through your system's package manager usually fixes this. On Ubuntu or Debian, type sudo apt install --reinstall xfce4 in a terminal.

Can I set different themes for different users on the same computer?

Yes. Each user account has its own theme setting. When a different user logs in, their theme preference is loaded. You can change the theme for your account without affecting other users on the same machine.