How do I remove desktop environment

[Jeffrey Walton]

On Thu, Oct 9, 2025 at 6:30 AM Bret Busby <bret at busby.net> wrote:
>
> I am wondering how I can quickly, simply, and, safely, remove a desktop
> environment.
>
> One of my computers that I am using, with an i5 CPU and only 16GB of
> RAM, had both the LXQT and the Mate desktop environments installed, due
> to concerns about the capability to run Mate, with the lesser resources
> of the computer.
>
> Mate is the default desktop environment, and, I have been satisfactorily
> using it, with the deprecated theme that I retain and use, for a number
> of years.
>
> At boot up, the login GUI screen offers the option of logging in to the
> LXQT desktop environment or the Mate desktop environment, showing the
> Mate desktop environment as the default one, and, I do not remember
> having logged into the LXQT desktop environment, for some years, on the
> computer.
>
> So, I want to remove the LXQT desktop environment, if I can quickly,
> simply, and, safely, remove it, as it is redundant, and, I am not aware
> of using any of the components of that desktop environment.
>
> So, can I quickly, simply, and, safely, remove it, and, if so, how?

Somewhat related, you can test the configuration by selecting the
multi-user target:

    sudo systemctl set-default multi-user.target

You can switch back using:

    sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target

The multi-user target is usually regarded as a server configuration.
The graphical target is usually regarded as a desktop configuration.

If you are happy with the results, then proceed with an `apt remove`.

Jeff